Oregon Proposed ADA Settlement Reduces Use Of Sheltered Workshop Services

On October 2, 2015, the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) announced a proposed settlement to a 2012 class action lawsuit that alleged that the state’s reliance on sheltered workshops as employers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The premise of the lawsuit was that sheltered workshops unnecessarily segregated people with disabilities from the general population. The settlement will expand options for supported employment for individuals with IDD and reduce the use of sheltered workshops.

In the proposed settlement, Oregon pledged to expand its Employment First program over the next . . .