A recent press release from Congressman Glenn Grothman’s office has caused a lot of concern over the future of a local organization.
In the announcement of his Continuing Opportunities for People with Disabilities to Excel Act, Rep. Grothman stated, “This legislation will stop a proposed rule from the Department of Labor (DOL) which could lead to the closure of Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs) such as…Ascend Services, Incorporated in Manitowoc.”
Specifically, the rule would phase out the issuance of 14(c) certificates, which Ascend Services Executive Director Deanna Genske tells SeehaferNews.com that the certificates “Allow agencies or companies to be able to provide work to people and pay them a commensurate wage based on their disability.”
Genske said Grothman’s implication of closure is very misleading.
“Our agency is certainly not going to close if 14(c) licenses go away or phased out,” she ensured SeehaferNews.com. “And even at that, the 14(c), as it’s being proposed right now, it’s over the course of the next three years.”
However, Genske said she was not opposed to the measure itself.
“I love the intention behind Grothman’s new bill. It is commendable,” she said. “But I think the part that I was surprised about was seeing our organization being named as if we were, you know, sharing with him like, ‘Oh, yeah, we’re going to close.’ We are not going to close.”
While losing the 14(c) certificates would affect Ascend Services, Genske said her team has been planning for this possibility for several years.
“If 14(c) goes away, we’ll figure out a way to still offer work opportunities to people in some way, shape or form,” she said. “I don’t believe in anybody being left behind.”
Genske also told us she plans on contacting Congressman Grothman’s office today in an attempt to get him to issue a clarification.
