[PAULYPOKER]

Disabled students in Rhode Island forced into manual labor



Disabled students at a school in the U.S. state of Rhode Island have been forced to work for long hours for little or no wages.

A 17-page letter by the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division accused the Harold H. Birch Vocational School in Providence, Rhode Island, of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act for segregating intellectually and developmentally disabled students into contracted work for little or no pay.

According to the letter, Birch operated a “sheltered workshop” and students had little choice but to take part in the workshop, where they worked for long hours doing manual labor like bagging or assembling jewelry.

The Justice Department has said that a “direct pipeline” had been created from Birch to the Training Through Placement program, in North Providence, where students did manual labor.

“One former student stated that she was required to spend a much greater portion of her school day in the workshop, including full days, when the workshop had important production deadlines”, the letter said.

Birch obtains contracts with private businesses and the state-licensed Training Through Placement program sometimes subcontracted work to Birch.

According to the Justice Department, over the past 25 years, very few disabled students were placed in supported employment after leaving the school.

“Disabled students have a civil right to live productive and fulfilling lives,” said Providence Mayor Angel Taveras.

“At the Birch School we have failed the most vulnerable students among us,” he added.

ISH/ARA

[TheRifleman]