Our amazing 39-year-old son, Joshua, who has cognitive disabilities, epilepsy, and autism lives a full and productive life in New Ulm. When he was 18 months old, we were told by “experts” that he would never understand language, speak or behave appropriately. Today, he is a polite, kind, hardworking young man. He speaks eloquently, but we want to speak for him today.

For 20 years, Josh has enjoyed attending a center based work facility. At Enterprise North, he learns practical skills, interacts with friends, and is proud of his work. When a setting is too loud for him, he can go to a quiet space to readjust. If he feels seizure activity, he can ask trained staff for help.

After operating a family business here for 54 years, we decided to stay in New Ulm because Joshua has a positive quality of life here. People befriend him as he listens to his beloved church bells. Neighbors wave to him on his walks. Adaptive Recreational Services supported by Park and Recreation and Special Olympic provide him with social activities. He has caring (underpaid) staff at his group home and his work place.

We feel the public should be aware of the Task Force on Eliminating Subminimal Wages Recommendations Summary and how the plan Governor Walz and the legislature are promoting will hurt over 5,000 Minnesotans with disabilities who would like to continue working in a client based center.

The report by a biased task force chosen by the Minnesota Department of Human Services does not take into consideration the preferences of people who cannot be hired by any employer for minimum wage and love the opportunities they now enjoy.

The advocacy group, A-Team MN, promotes a full array of service choices and options for people with disabilities. Its study of the issues reveals that the Minnesota Task Force on Eliminating Subminimal Wages did not have fair representation of those favoring choices in the work place.

According to online explanations from the Department of Human Services, the cost of closing center based work is approximately $50 million dollars, solely for the transition.

My son would like to work at the Minneapolis airport, waving orange batons and guiding planes. He would like to take a girlfriend out to dinner in his sports car. He would like to cross a street on his own. He cannot do any of these, and he cannot work for minimum wage.

At Enterprise North, he can work on a cleaning crew at an office building one day a week. Most days, he packages or completes piecework for larger companies. Some people in his group can do two pieces a day, and some can do fifty. Some do none. Each client works at his own pace, without pressure. Work is mixed with social activities, physical movement, recreation. Interaction with trained, caring (underpaid) staff benefits each client.

For the individual who can earn minimum wage or more, that person should have that opportunity to work at the highest salary and the most challenging job possible.

The Department of Human Services claims client- based centers do not allow for integration into the community. Enterprise North is an integrated community of people with disabilities. It is a heterogenous group. No two people there are the same. Each individual brings gifts and challenges. Joshua has learned to accommodate the needs of others; in this safe heterogenous environment, empathy thrives.

For the individual who can earn minimum wage or more and work in a community setting, that person should have the door open to competitive wages.

Whatever money Enterprise workers earn improves their quality of life. Their salary might provide a new pair of shoes, a gift for a friend, or for going out to a restaurant. It is money spent in the community. If feeling useful helps individuals feel good about themselves, why block this choice?

What would replace the present combination of work and enrichment?

Groups of people with disabilities will be killing time at community programs that do not benefit them or interest them. Riding around in vans. Sitting in groups at coffee shops buying drinks they cannot afford. “Shopping” or just wandering through stores looking at items they cannot buy. Or they will be sitting at home in front of a television.

Please contact your legislative representatives to remind them that one size does not fit all.

Gov. Walz, Minnesota Department of Human Service, legislators, and voters please support the parents and clients who want subminimal wages in appropriate work sites for people with disabilities in Minnesota. We are the experts.

— Ben and Vicki Pieser are the parents of Joshua Pieser