Disability Rights Oregon acheives legal victory

In January 2012, attorneys from DRO filed a class-action lawsuit against the state of Oregon, contending that its use of “sheltered workshops” violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by segregating people with disabilities from the workforce.

In September 2015, the parties reached a proposed settlement potentially allowing employees with disabilities in Oregon to find opportunities outside of segregated work environments.

Thanks to the ruling, more than 1,100 disabled Oregonians who currently labor in sheltered workshops, sometimes earning pennies an hour to do menial, repetitive tasks, will get a chance in the next seven years to take jobs in the general workforce that pay a living wage.