#AdvocacyMatters: Labor Rights are Disability Rights

September 4, 2026 / #AdvocacyMatters

As we prepare to celebrate Labor Day, it’s important to understand how labor rights in our country relate to disability rights. While most people look at Labor Day as a three day weekend for grilling hot dogs, we here at DRO see it a little differently: as a stark reminder of how far we have come, and how far we still must go.

In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FSLA) established a national minimum wage. This was one of the largest positive influences of the labor rights movement, and something we celebrate to this day. What you may not know, however, is that the FLSA also includes a sub-section – 14c, which allows workers with disabilities in certain settings to be paid below minimum wage for their work.

We feel that disabled workers should be paid for their work and their time fairly and in conjunction with their non-disabled peers. Our organization’s annual Goals & Objectives plan – the roadmap of our work – explicitly outlines “Advocacy for the elimination of 14(c) sub-minimum wage certificates in Ohio.”

In recent years, more than 15 states have moved to eliminate sub-minimum wage.

Across Ohio, there are still over 35 organizations with over 2,400 individuals being paid sub-minimum wage. The right to earn a living wage is central to a truly free and equitable society.

So, no matter how you choose to celebrate this weekend, please remember the challenges still ahead.

#AdvocacyMatters