[House Hearing, 118 Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS: SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS AND EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES ======================================================================= HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION __________ HEARING HELD JANUARY 30, 2024 __________ [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT] Small Business Committee Document Number 118-037 Available via the GPO Website: www.govinfo.gov __________ U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 54-640 WASHINGTON : 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS ROGER WILLIAMS, Texas, Chairman BLAINE LUETKEMEYER, Missouri PETE STAUBER, Minnesota DAN MEUSER, Pennsylvania BETH VAN DUYNE, Texas MARIA SALAZAR, Florida TRACEY MANN, Kansas JAKE ELLZEY, Texas MARC MOLINARO, New York MARK ALFORD, Missouri ELI CRANE, Arizona AARON BEAN, Florida WESLEY HUNT, Texas NICK LALOTA, New York CELESTE MALOY, Utah NYDIA VELAZQUEZ, New York, Ranking Member JARED GOLDEN, Maine KWEISI MFUME, Maryland DEAN PHILLIPS, Minnesota GREG LANDSMAN, Ohio MARIE GLUESENKAMP PEREZ, Washington SHRI THANEDAR, Michigan MORGAN MCGARVEY, Kentucky HILLARY SCHOLTEN, Michigan JUDY CHU, California SHARICE DAVIDS, Kansas CHRIS PAPPAS, New Hampshire Ben Johnson, Majority Staff Director Melissa Jung, Minority Staff Director C O N T E N T S OPENING STATEMENTS Page Hon. Marc Molinaro............................................... 1 Hon. Morgan McGarvey............................................. 3 WITNESSES Mr. Keith Wargo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Autism Speaks, Washington, DC......................................... 6 Ms. Iva Walsh, Owner, Maeve's Place, Phoenicia, NY............... 8 Mr. Cody Clark, Founder and Owner, Cody Clark Magic, Louisville, KY............................................................. 9 APPENDIX Prepared Statements: Mr. Keith Wargo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Autism Speaks, Washington, DC.............................. 20 Ms. Iva Walsh, Owner, Maeve's Place, Phoenicia, NY........... 23 Mr. Cody Clark, Founder and Owner, Cody Clark Magic, Louisville, KY............................................. 31 Questions for the Record: None. Answers for the Record: None. Additional Material for the Record: American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)...... 37 Autism Society of America.................................... 44 Consumer Technology Association (CTA)........................ 49 Gallaudet University......................................... 51 National Disability Institute (NDI).......................... 59 PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS: SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS AND EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES ---------- TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2024 House of Representatives, Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development Washington, DC. The Subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:03 a.m., in Room 2360, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Mark Molinaro [chairman of the Subcommittee] presiding. Present: Representatives Molinaro, Mann, Salazar, Ellzey, Crane, McGarvey, Thanedar, Pappas, Philips, and Chu. Also Present: Representative Williams. Chairman MOLINARO. Good morning, thank you for joining us. Before we get started this morning, I would like to recognize Mr. McGarvey to lead us in the pledge and a prayer. Mr. MCGARVEY. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Chairman MOLINARO. I now call the Committee, the Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Element to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess of the Committee at any time. I would now like to recognize myself for an opening statement. First, as I said, good morning. I am thrilled to have our witnesses here and thank you all for joining us. We appreciate your time and appreciate the testimony that you are about to present to the Committee. I am particularly looking forward to hearing from Mr. Keith Wargo, President and CEO of Autism Speaks. Let me say on behalf of kids like my own, your leadership and vision for such an impactful organization does not go unnoticed. As the parent of four children, one of whom on the autism spectrum, I am certainly interested, as are my colleagues, in hearing from you about the work of the organization and what you are all doing to enhance the lives of those with autism and supporting their families. Now, I am also very excited to be joined today by Ms. Iva Walsh. I also want to take this moment to recognize, even more importantly, her daughter Maeve, who is with us today as well. Iva is the Founder and Owner of Maeve's Place. This is a popular coffee shop in Phoenicia, New York, and upstate New York, located in my district. Earlier this month, I visited again to present Iva with a congressional certificate for recognition for her amazing work and service to our community. But more importantly, she has been doing amazing work. Inspired by her daughter Maeve, who has down syndrome, Iva has made it her mission to employ and support those with intellectual disabilities through her small business. I am eager, as are my colleagues, to hear from you and your unique perspectives on the positive impacts individuals with disabilities bring to the workplace. And I am thankful that you are here with us today. Today, the Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development hearing will focus on highlighting the Pathways to Success: Supporting Entrepreneurs and Employees with Disabilities. As we all recognize, hiring people with disabilities is not only sound economic investment for any business of any side, it also has significant economic and societal advantages. Everyone puts forth a unique perspective and skill set that makes them attractive and earnest employees. Fortunately, with the current labor shortage, remote work opportunities, and tax incentives, we have seen a significant rise in the number of individuals with disabilities joining the workforce. However, far too many remain unemployed. We must together continue to encourage and provide resources to individuals with disabilities for job opportunities, creating pathways to success. There are various programs that exist for this purpose and do an outstanding job of assisting those who participate alongside many others. Programs like the Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship and Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology currently exist to help guide self- employed entrepreneurs. The PIA has designed apprenticeship programs and works to fund and connect disabled entrepreneurs to mentors, employment opportunities, and training programs. Meanwhile, PAT program promotes employment retention and career advancement by fostering collaborations in the technology space to build an inclusive workplace for people with disabilities. Having access to these programs can make a world of difference for these entrepreneurs, creating a more productive and innovative environment on main streets across America. Furthermore, in the post pandemic workforce, unique employment opportunities have arisen for people with disabilities. Research has shown that people with disabilities are highly motivated to work, can create a more positive work environment, and are more loyal and less frequently absent from their employment. While entrepreneurs and employees with disabilities may face significant barriers to entry when considering opening a business or applying for a job, it is critical we continue to promote the opportunities available to them and ensure this community has access to the resources needed to thrive. And no matter the role, every unfilled position on main street represents a missed opportunity for a small business to serve its local community, increase their bottom line, and grow its operation. As policymakers, we must improve our understanding of those barriers faced by those in this area of the workforce, as well as to encourage future participation, as we prepare the next generation of people with disabilities to enter the workforce. Now, I hope today's hearing can help shape how Congress can work to promote the initiatives that already exist and produce additional legislation and initiatives to pave pathways to success for entrepreneurs and employees of every ability. I thank our witnesses again for being here today. We look forward to the conversation ahead. And lastly, I would ask unanimous consent to submit a letter from the Consumer Technology Association, for the record and without objection, so ordered. With that, do you want to yield to the Chairman first or Mr. McGarvey first? Okay, sorry. Apologize. With that, let me yield to my distinguished Ranking Member from Kentucky, Mr. McGarvey. Mr. MCGARVEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much, not just for holding this incredibly important hearing today, but for also being willing to lead and to share your personal experience. I know that is not easy, but we really appreciate it, particularly in this important topic. I would also like to take one brief moment to recognize-- thank you all of our people here testifying today, but I would like to give a special thanks to Mr. Cody Clark, who came up here from Louisville, Kentucky today. He is the Founder and Owner of Cody Clark Magic. And as the Chairman and I had discussed with you earlier, Mr. Clark, we could use little magic in DC these days, so we appreciate you being up here. Every American deserves the opportunity to take a chance on themselves and contribute to society's productive entrepreneurs. This is the fundamental promise of the American dream, that any person in this country can work. They can work hard, they can take risks, and they can hopefully find success. Yet Americans with disabilities, like other groups we see, have fewer opportunities to make this dream a reality. In fact, 74 percent of people with disabilities do not participate in our nation's labor force. But we can find reasons for optimism through data. Americans with disabilities have a higher self-employment rate than non-disabled Americans. Of Americans, over 33 million small businesses, nearly 2 million are owned by people with disabilities. Entrepreneurship is just as important a path to prosperity for Americans with disabilities as it is for other Americans. Meaningful full-time jobs are also a critical way to empower people with disabilities to succeed and leave and live independent lives. Still, there are barriers, physical and intangible, that block the way to self-sufficiency and independence for people with different abilities. As we examine the benefits of including Americans with disabilities in the workforce and business community, it is also crucial for us to help them through the gate in the first place. People with disabilities cannot reap the rewards of hard work if they do not first have access to affordable health care. This is why President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction act and President Obama signed the ACA, to make health care more accessible and affordable so Americans can focus on working and owning small businesses. In Kentucky alone, the ACA and Medicaid expansion brought health insurance coverage to over 400,000 Kentuckians for the first time. I say this, the ACA is one of the greatest economic development policies that we ever passed in our state and helps so many small businesses in particular. But there is more we need to do. We need to make it easier for Americans with disabilities to enter the labor force and launch small businesses. We can do this by improving the public programs that serve them and implementing policies that make work and entrepreneurship more accessible, through accommodations and tackling ableism. Together, we have the capacity to help unleash the potential that Americans with disabilities have always had. We just need the courage to invest in their success. With that, Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record the written statements of the American Association of People with Disabilities, the National Disability Institute, and the Autism Society of America. Thank all the witnesses for joining us today and yield back. Chairman MOLINARO. Without objections, so ordered. Thank you, Mr. McGarvey. Let me offer an opportunity to Chairman of the Small Business Committee from the Great State of Texas, Chairman Williams. Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the countless Americans of every ability, we are grateful that you have supported today's hearing. And with that, I know you wanted to offer some comments. Mr. WILLIAMS. Thank you, Chairman. I want to say good morning to all of you. And I want to thank my colleague, Chairman Molinaro, for holding today's subcommittee hearing. Opening a small business and working within your community is one of the most rewarding things a person can do. This holds true for all individuals, including those with disabilities. This hearing will shine a light on the amazing work that these individuals are doing in their communities and the challenges disabled individuals face when applying for traditional jobs or considering self-employment. Over the past few years, we have seen increased accommodations being made to increase the number of people with disabilities joining the workforce. However, it is good practice to take a deeper dive to see what is working and what could be improved. Back home, I employ hundreds of people, and we have several persons with disabilities that work for us. One of which comes to my mind this morning, who handles thousands, thousands of dollars of cash flow that are required for us to stay open in our business. And she does a fantastic job, and I am so glad we have her working for us. And I will always be inspired by any individual that bets on themselves to start their own small business. From the very first hearing we had in this Committee, this Congress, we invited a 17-year-old who started his own hot sauce company--and it was hot, let me tell you--who was born with cerebral palsy. His inspirational story showed that with hard work, you can overcome anything. It is important to continue motivating entrepreneurs with disabilities and take risk and open their own small businesses. So with that in mind, I want to thank again, Chairman Molinaro, for holding this hearing. I want to thank the witnesses for being here today, and I yield my time back. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank my colleagues for joining us. Let me introduce today's witnesses. First with us is Mr. Keith Wargo. Mr. Wargo is the President and CEO of Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks is a nonprofit organization that has remained at the forefront of creating an inclusive world for people with autism. Mr. Wargo, who joined the organization in October 2021, is responsible for leading Autism Speaks nationwide. Prior to joining Autism Speaks, Mr. Wargo worked for a number of leading global financial institutions, where he developed a track record of building effective teams and helping to grow and scale businesses across sectors. Mr. Wargo was also the owner of Monarch Cyprus, an amenity manufacturer, with a mission to employ individuals with autism and developed a long-standing passion for supporting the autism community, both within the workplace and beyond. Mr. Wargo graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Finance degree and earned a Master's of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. We are grateful that you are joining us here today and we look forward to the conversation ahead. Our next witness, as I mentioned, is Ms. Iva Walsh. Ms. Walsh is the owner of Maeve's Place, located in Phoenicia, New York. Maeve's Place has been a staple in upstate New York since it opened its doors in 2018. Inspired by her daughter Maeve, who is again with us here today, who has down syndrome, Iva founded this coffee shop as part of her mission to break down barriers for those with disabilities and change the world one cup of coffee at a time, and I have had many cups of coffee. The staff at Maeve's Place intentionally includes a mix of neurotypical and developmentally disabled individuals. The business also works with the R. Hudson Valley, an organization dedicated to empowering our disabled community on prevocational training for adults with developmental disabilities. Ms. Walsh had a deep background in the hospitality industry prior to opening Maeve's Place, managing a catering hall. A native of Prague, the Czech Republic, she moved to Long Island--we wo not hold that against her--in 1989 before coming to the Hudson River Valley in 2003. I am tremendously grateful that you are joining us today for this important conversation and grateful that your daughter Maeve is with us. Now let me recognize the Ranking Member from Kentucky, Mr. McGarvey, to briefly introduce our last witness appearing before the Committee today. Mr. MCGARVEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am excited to welcome Mr. Cody Clark, the Founder and Owner of Cody Clark Magic. Mr. Clark is a professional magician, he's a motivational speaker, and he is an entrepreneur with autism. He received his diagnosis at 15 months old but was mainstreamed into his local elementary school where he received the right support and accommodations for academic success. Today, he crisscrosses the entire country as the sole proprietor of an outstanding small business. His shows combine magic, comedy, and storytelling to share with his many audiences his experiences with autism, and how he is different but never lesser. Mr. Clark is also an activist for people with disabilities and draws upon his experiences to advocate vocally for anti-ableism and equal rights for his community. Mr. Clark holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from the University of Louisville, and we are so glad to have you with us today. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you, Mr. McGarvey. If Mr. Clark can produce some magic in producing a budget, we would be thrilled with his work. Before recognizing each of the witnesses, let me just take this moment to remind them that their oral testimony is restricted to 5 minutes. If you see the light in front of you turn red, it means your 5 minutes has concluded. I will begin to tap and then loudly gavel you out of order, but I suspect that wo not happen. And if that light does kick on, please wrap up your testimony. And so with that, let me recognize Mr. Wargo for your 5 minute opening remarks. STATEMENTS OF KEITH WARGO, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AUTISM SPEAKS; IVA WALSH, OWNER, MAEVE'S PLACE; AND CODY CLARK, FOUNDER AND OWNER, CODY CLARK MAGIC STATEMENT OF KEITH WARGO, PRESIDENT & CEO, AUTISM SPEAKS Mr. WARGO. All right, thank you, Chairman Molinaro, Ranking Member McGarvey, Chairman Williams, and all the Members of the Committee for hosting this hearing today and inviting me to testify on this critical issue. My name is Keith Wargo. I am the president and CEO of Autism Speaks. We are a national nonprofit organization dedicated to creating an inclusive world for people with autism throughout their lifespan. We do this through advocacy, services, supports, research, and advances in care. And as an organization, we are particularly proud of the work that we have done to develop and scale innovative solutions to help ensure that more autistic people can secure meaningful employment. As well as my role as president of Autism Speaks, I also come to you as a father. My wife and I, Anne is my wife, are the parents of two adult children. One of whom is on the spectrum, his name is AJ. And we have observed firsthand AJ's employment journey, witnessed firsthand with him the challenges, the struggles, and the triumphs. Also, as mentioned, prior to joining Autism Speaks, I had nearly three decades of private sector service, including and remain the owner of Monarch Towel Company. We are a hospitality amenity company based in New Jersey, which has, as part of its mission to employ autistic individuals. These experiences have cemented for me the belief in the necessity for the potential and inclusive employment for neurodiverse and other individuals with disabilities, which can be a key driver, we believe, for economic growth for our nation. Despite the strides that have been made in the autism disability community for awareness and acceptance, we still face staggering challenges. In 2022, only 21 percent of individuals with disabilities, including autism, were employed. That data underscores the persistent gap in the employment market. Further, over half of individuals with autism who have graduated from high school or have aged out of high school in the last two years, only half are employed or are not enrolled in any postsecondary education. This compares unfavorably with other disabilities. These statistics highlight the ongoing need for targeted employment, support and opportunities in the community. As a paradox to this, many individuals with disabilities have the skills and the desire to work, and hiring newer, diverse people benefits the companies they work for and the overall economy. A recent study shows the companies that actively seek to employ people with disabilities outperform companies that do not. They have higher revenues, they have higher net income, they have higher profit margins. And at a national level, this analysis revealed that the US GDP could get a boost of up to $25 billion if there was more disability employment going on in the labor force. But beyond these numbers, we know that there is additional benefits that accrue at individual workplaces and our society when employers embrace inclusivity. These include increased creativity and innovation in the workplace, diminish stereotypes, and reduce social stigma and discrimination. What I have learned through my personal experience with both my son and with Monarch, as well as through work the Autism Speaks, is that small but meaningful steps taken by employers make a huge difference. This can include changing hiring practices to considering alternative processes and interviews, which can serve as a Barrett entry for many, particularly in the autistic community. It can include providing training courses to foster acceptance of neurodiverse individuals in the workplace. And it can include major and minor changes to create adaptable workplaces through flexible schedules, making accommodations for sensory needs. One initiative that I want to focus on for a moment is what we call Workforce Inclusion Now. This is a program we started several years ago. We call it WIN. WIN is an evidence-based workplace development program promoting diversity in hiring and helping create an inclusive workplace culture, in which not just the individuals with autism, but also all employees can thrive. The WIN model is really based on an ecosystem that has three parts. Employers that are committed to creating inclusive workplaces, autistic job seekers who have the skills and desire to be there and to succeed, and communities supported with resources that promote inclusive hiring. Our WIN model offers scalable solutions to diverse industries nationwide. Collaborating with the Virginia Commonwealth University's Autism center of Education, we have created online courses accessible nationally. These courses emphasize support for higher need individuals, raise awareness of neurodiversity, and provide inclusive workplaces. They cater to autistic job seekers and to employment specialists, covering topics from understanding autism to self-advocacy. And we see this model work, one example being Greif, formerly named Lee Container, which is a national leader in industrial packaging. In their Iowa facility, our collaboration led to them hiring multiple nontraditional employees. Making alongside operational changes has been a true success. Chairman MOLINARO. Mr. Wargo, I will have to ask you to conclude. Be happy to continue that conversation and question and answer in just a moment. Mr. WARGO. Thank you, Chairman. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you. And with that, we will recognize Ms. Walsh for your 5 minute remarks. STATEMENT OF IVA WALSH, OWNER, MAEVE'S PLACE Ms. WALSH. Thank you, Mr. McGarvey, Molinaro, Ellzey, and Williams for having me here today and I am going to go right to it. There are about 7 million people with intellectual developmental disability in the United States. Of those, 80 percent are unemployed. I am mother of adult of four adult children. 25-year-old Maeve who lives with down syndrome, as well. I have spent my life heavily involved in education and advocacy for my daughter and those with IDDs. I became a small business owner in order to provide a meaningful workplace where Maeve, and others like her could learn, succeed and know the feeling of making their own money. A job promotes self-esteem, independence, and all around growth as contributing member of a society. Maeve's place serves breakfast, lunch, and sells retail items. We employ nine employees, two of whom are individuals with learning and developmental disabilities, offering job opportunities from kitchen staff to customer service. Located in Phoenicia, New York, our resources, transportation, and support aid, are limited and hard to access, making the obstacles for employer and someone living with IDD more complicated. There is a huge gap between school and starting a job for people with IDDs. While most high schoolers experience weekend or summer jobs learning employable skills, a person with IDD does not often. Once people with IDDs find work, lack of access to transportation can prevent success, as most people with IDD do not or cannot obtain drivers license. Obstacles are not limited to education and transportation. Job coaches are limited and not everyone who needs one will get one. Some people with IDDs who do get work are unemployed or employed under limiting conditions. Oftentimes they are in positions with limited customer exposure, work hours, earn income limitations, and if they are working for employer under 14(c) certificate will make less than half federal minimum wage. They must learn skills for job which might not have been adopted or modified for their disability. Along with navigating in a world with limited accessibility and information. With lack of prevocational work training and knowledge of available aid, it is up to employer to ensure the fair hiring and long-term investment into their employee. Cost efficiency, repeated training, and lack of on hand job coaches play heavy role in the end decision of hiring a prospective employee. Obstacles to employing people with IDDs can be daunting, but the benefits are great for those who persevere. Employees with IDD are grateful to have their jobs and demonstrate high work quality. They tend to have increased focus, attention to detail, higher enthusiasm, great customer service, and engagement and appreciation for routine, reducing turnover for the company. Maeve has been part of the business for the entirety of the process. Her growth cannot be ignored. Maeve has learned professionalism, the meaning of money, and how to be fully functioning coworker with her peers. Partnered with ARC of Mid-Hudson Valley in their prevocational program, once a week, three to five individuals from age 20 to 40, in need of work experience and exposure, come to our shop to learn and practice different tasks from in kitchen prep to customer service. We have been told that we are the only partner location which allow the ARC individual to process sales, manage money, and to use a cash register. The partnership with ARC also brings our small community exposure to different people with different disabilities. It benefits everyone as well, as we all become more informed of the problems and solutions that people with IDDs face. In our shop, diversity it is not only appreciated, but it is celebrated. Small businesses and rural communities need more tools in place to support efforts to employ people with IDDs. These would include internship opportunities, direct affordable transportation access, and incentives to employers. Internship opportunities such as Project Search Program in New York City would be a vital addition to our area. Another helpful tool would be to stop issuing new 14(c) certificates. In closing, I like to consider how important your job is to you. Our jobs define us, make us whole and give us purpose. This should be achievable to every individual regardless of ability. Our society benefits when everyone has access to employment. I believe respect, opportunity, and inclusion for people with IDDs are three pillars needed to end segregation in the workforce and have growth in our community. Together, with government action, we can overcome the obstacles and enjoy the benefits, one cup of a coffee at a time. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you, Ms. Walsh. And with that, let me recognize Mr. Clark for your 5 minute remarks. STATEMENT OF CODY CLARK, FOUNDER & OWNER, CODY CLARK MAGIC Mr. CLARK. Chairman Mark Molinaro and Ranking Member Morgan McGarvey, thank you for inviting me. My name is Cody Clark Magic and for the past decade I have been self-employed on a full-time basis with my business called Cody Clark Magic. In spite of being diagnosed with autism at 15 months young and my parents being warned by doctors, I never walk, talk or hold down any sort of job, I do all three, every day, as I share magic shows and talks which educate students, corporate leadership, and young adults with disabilities about what being autistic is like. I credit my success to many factors, but most pertinent to this meeting is the various government policies which have reduced or removed many barriers to entry. To start, I get my health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. It allowed me to remain on my parents health insurance until the age of 26. Then afterward I was able to transition onto Medicaid because of the expansion of eligibility to include any individual with a diagnosed disability. I was also able to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on live presentation businesses thanks to the government extending unemployment benefits to self-employed people and the SBA's EIDL emergency grants. I utilized this direct funding to create a path forward in which, through presenting shows virtually and getting business coaching to expand my client base, I could remain self-employed. And lastly, the Rehabilitation Act in 1973's 2014 amendment called the Workforce Innovations Opportunity Act, WIOA for short, created a series of programs known as Pre-Employment Transition Services, pre ETS for short. These programs are a large portion of my client base and I admire how program participants are given the personal agency to determine their own career path, at least for the most part. A major issue I have noticed is that pre ETS, vocational rehabilitation, and other programs of this nature are structured to support wage employment over other employment option. Which I feel is short sighted because, according to the Department of Labor, people with disabilities are self-employed at a higher rate than the rest of the population. This is likely because self-employment allows us to create our own accessible workplaces, to solve problems related to our disabilities, and offer those solutions to our peers, because many wage based positions for people with disabilities are in a sub minimum wage salary, and because Social Security's disability payments require asset and monthly income caps, few wage based positions fall within. The main reason for my testimony today is because I feel that programs which serve work ready people with disability should, within the scope of their efforts, include self- employment as a valid employment option. This can be accomplished by plugging resources currently available from programs like SBA into existing pre ETS and vocational rehabilitation program structures, by extending pre ETS's philosophy of factoring in personal agency into all forms of disability services and to make direct support and funding of self-employed businesses as a whole a normal practice. I am thankful to live in a country whose policies have directly enabled me to live my dream of being a professional magician and autism advocate. I testify so that the policies I benefited from can be ones other disability owned businesses can benefit from, too. By enabling people with disabilities to become self-employed, if that is their goal, we can take the blank check that we know as American life, and as our founding fathers have said all the time, we can help people with disabilities have life, liberty and full pursuit of happiness. And by the way, there is your budget. Thank you for this honor. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you, Mr. Clark. I do not know if that was the first magic trick performed before the Small Business Committee, but we certainly appreciate it and we certainly could use more of that. Thank you all very much, we will now move to the Member questions under our 5 minute rule. And for that purpose, I will recognize myself for 5 minutes. Let me offer in 2015, I launched an initiative called Think Differently in my home county, meant to break down barriers and create opportunities for all those of every ability. I readily admit it was born out of the failings of a loving but incapable father, me. Doing for my daughter the things that she could do for herself, but also the knowledge that local governments do have the profound ability to make impact. And this is an appropriate moment because I should acknowledge this came at the unyielding encouragement of my wife, Corinne, who knew our daughter could achieve the things that too often I thought that she might not. Let me offer that we have touched thousands upon thousands of lives and really has become a model at the local level. Autism Speaks, as we acknowledge, has a similar and certainly more broad mission as it relates specifically to those neurodivergent and with autism. According to a survey data collected from Source America, 57 percent of Americans with disabilities believe that their disability has limited their career opportunities. It is clear that we need to do more to help those of every ability find their way to jobs. Mr. Wargo, if you could, let us just speak for a moment, if you would speak for a moment of some of the lessons learned that you can share with businesses who want to employ those with disabilities. Mr. WARGO. Yes, thanks. Thank you for that. So, I would say there is really three things that we have learned in our journey of helping companies think through a neurodiverse employment that really move the needle. The first is really rethinking hiring processes. For many in the autism community, communication challenges exist. And so the traditional employment interviews that most of us have gone through, in some points in our lives, oftentimes are very challenging and are a barrier. And so we try to encourage companies to think about alternatives to those. One example would be practical skills applications, bringing somebody in, giving the opportunity to apply those practical skills versus a traditional just going back and forth, asking and answering questions. But I would say particularly with enhancements in technology, Zoom, video, et cetera, there are other ways of approaching it, but thinking about that fundamental hiring process just differently. The second thing I would say is back to the workforce development training programs, such as I talked about with WIN, we think are highly effective, and they are not just highly effective for the job seeker. What we try to do in those programs is to introduce them to everybody. From the most senior management to human resource areas to really frontline workers. And we think that really creates a much more accepting and embraced universe. We have a lot of companies now are coming to us and saying we want our entire staff to use these. And then the final one, I would just say, is looking for opportunities to create a more accessible workplace. Sometimes that is difficult. A lot of times it is really not. To make accommodations in a workplace can mean simply addressing lighting. It can mean simply addressing some noise issues, to allowing job coaches, more flexible hours, et cetera. All that can make a huge amount of difference both for the individual job seeker and for the company and have the opportunity to have that efficiency and have that opportunity to grow their team. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you, Mr. Wargo. Ms. Walsh has noted 20 percent of those with disabilities are employed, meaning that 80 percent are unemployed. And it is simply inexcusable as a society. Could you speak to some of the obstacles that you confronted in growing your business? Ms. WALSH. Well, everybody knows that there is an extreme shortage of employees, but the people with all different kinds of disabilities are pretty much lined up. They all, that I have experienced, would love to have a job. Now for us, it is a little bit difficult. Transportation getting to us, it is a little bit of an issue. When I am hiring people to my coffee shop, people with disabilities, it is a little bit different hiring process. I am not going to ask, this is what I need you to do, but my question is what you are at best, what you can do, what is your best thing that you do? And then we go from there. People without disabilities, the question first that I would ask is, can you work shoulder to shoulder with somebody with all different kinds of disability and ability. A lot of people might be uncomfortable. And I said, please voice out, whatever it is, and let us see if we can help you cross the bridge. And, you know, you are going to be surprised how much you are going to enjoy really working with somebody who has some sort of disability. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you, Iva. My time has expired, but I do want to thank you. And with that, I would like to recognize Mr. McGarvey for 5 minutes. Mr. MCGARVEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you again for sharing your stories with us. Thank you all for being here and sharing your stories. This is really inspiring. Mr. Clark, thank you. I have not been here very long, but I am just going to go out on a limb and say that is the best magic trick ever performed in the Small Business Committee. So we appreciate you---- Mr. CLARK. Thank you. Mr. MCGARVEY.--you being here. Thank you also for telling us about a vulnerable time for your business during the pandemic. I think that is something that is small businesses across our country experience, regardless of where you are or who you are, and I am glad to hear that you were able to navigate that with the resources available to you. I think the beauty of owning a small business is what you are talking about. And what I hear from you, Iva as well, with one cup of coffee at a time. It is that ability to showcase your passions, to put your dreams out there, and hopefully find success. I think that is why we need to continue to work to promote opportunities for self-employment. I think it is why we have to continue to decrease these barriers to entrepreneurship and make sure that everyone has access to the support they need to start their own business. Mr. Clark, one of the things you mentioned was access to affordable health insurance as a key driver of your ability to start a business or even just keep stable work. If you did not have access to health care, that met your needs, would you be able to consider working or owning a small business? Mr. CLARK. Very unlikely, because although not impossible, it is much harder for self-employed businesses to find affordable health insurance, given the way most health insurance companies work. So there would have been a lot more barriers present than with the Affordable Care Act. And what that has done for me is allowed me to have the health insurance and take a major expense off the table. Mr. MCGARVEY. And I will give my home state a plug here. Kentucky did a wonderful job implementing the Affordable Care Act, and we have had a lot of people benefit from it. How important was that to you in preserving and expanding the access to health care, that entrepreneurs and employees with different abilities need? Mr. CLARK. Well, being able to not just have access to affordable, or, in my case, free health insurance, but to be able to make it as easy and plain as day so that we do not have to sacrifice time. We could be building our business to instead go find health insurance. That is freeing in multiple senses of the word. Mr. MCGARVEY. Thank you for that. I am going to open this up to the whole panel. I am a lawyer by training. They say in court, never ask a question to which you do not know the answer. This is not court. This is one where we do not know the answer and we want it. We want you to tell us, which is, you all have a lot of expertise, and as we all know, workers with disabilities, they add tremendous value to the businesses they serve. Too often, though, employers are unaware of this fact, I think, and they might choose not to hire an applicant with differing abilities. How can we best engage businesses on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and moving past misguided reservations, particularly from a policy standpoint. I just open it up. Ms. WALSH. I will go. I think really by employing people with disabilities in communities and show everybody else around is quite possible and it is really beneficial to business. As I mentioned before, it is a long-term investment in your employee, but once you really go past the training and everything else, they will never leave you. You are going to have amazing employee for life. So really showing that to community and modifying a job or--that is just really what is needed. Mr. WARGO. Yeah, I mean, I was looking at the SBA information about diversity employment and neurodiverse employment last night on the website. I thought it to be quite impressive. So I say there is a good start there. I would say it is enforcing and encouraging policies that will provide benefits, tax incentives, et cetera, to programs. But importantly, I think one thing I want to emphasize is, that oftentimes a lot of programs are designed to provide an upfront payment to make an accommodation, whether it is a physical or otherwise. In some in our community, particularly in the autistic community, what is more appropriate is ongoing support. So whether that is a job coach or some kind of training that continue on, assisted technology, and that sort of thing being put in place up front is fantastic for many, but it is not applicable to both. So that kind of flexibility of thinking through the different needs there as we design programs that have benefits and incentives are important. Mr. MCGARVEY. Thank you. My time is up. I yield back. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you. With that, I would recognize Representative Ellzey from Texas. Mr. ELLZEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you all for being here today. I walked in the building and looked at the line wrapped around the Judiciary Committee room today, a bunch of doom scrollers waiting to see some fireworks. We have had hearings like this, especially in Small Business, where we are inspired by the people who show up in front of us. And if you want to talk about the goodness of America, you all three represent that, and everybody in the audience does too. I wish those people would stop waiting in line to see bad things and come up here to see good things. Integration and inclusion must be central to any of these initiatives we are talking about. One of the barriers individuals with disabilities face is bias from employers in the hiring process. Often education and training programs for individuals with disabilities are done in isolation, and as a result, individuals responsible for hiring do not understand the idiosyncrasies of individuals with disabilities and often misinterpret them. And as a veteran myself, that sounds like a very familiar refrain from a very large and willing group of people who want to work hard, both veterans and the folks that we are talking about today, and they are an untapped resource for this country. I would like to start with Mr. Wargo. If kids are in school, kids with disabilities like your sons, are in school sometimes until 21, what is one thing, in our limited time, that K through 12 could do better to integrate and prepare young folks for employment? Mr. WARGO. Thanks for your question. I think that the one thing that would make a material difference would be to start vocational rehabilitation earlier. Vocational rehabilitation-- and we work closely with numerous VR systems through our work. But they are underfunded, they are under resourced, and depending on the area of the country, it can be a real desert, a real pocket. That starting early in the high school years, making it part of a student young individual's IEP and trying to map out that destination together, VR can be a very important part of that. I think that would be the one thing I would point to. Mr. ELLZEY. Thank you very much. Ms. Walsh, ahoy, dobry den. Glad you are here. Mr. Chairman, I think we made a mistake here. We should have taken the 5 hour and 20 minutes road trip up to Phoenicia, to Maeve's place, because I have been perusing your website, and in addition to Maeve having a beautiful smile, that is, I am sure, drawing everybody into your shop. I see this cake here, and I do not know what that is, but I am suddenly very hungry. And I have been looking at the five-star reviews of your shop, and I think it points to, when you talk about folks like Maeve. Outstanding customer service, a beautiful smile, joie de vivre--that is from Texas. I know what that means. But the wonderful environment that you have provided your customers, and your daughter is an inspiration to all of us, and so I want to do a CODEL. If I may suggest a CODEL to Phoenicia. It is 5 hours and 20 minutes. We do have to drive through New Jersey, but I am willing to take that adventure and go do that. So thank you for being here. Mr. CLARK. Without objection, so approved. Mr. ELLZEY. So truly an inspiration, Maeve. You are an inspiration, too. And, Cody, did you tell me that your doctors said that you would never speak? Mr. CLARK. Oh, I am repeating what my parents told me, but, yep, that is what they have told me happened. Mr. ELLZEY. That doctor needs to have that license pulled because one of your gifts is the ability to speak. And I have been looking at your website, too, by the way. Anybody listening looking to employ Cody? It is codyclarkmagic.com, so check it out. Give him a holler. You, too, are an inspiration, too, because you have literally pulled yourself up by your bootstraps. I do not think anybody would have any idea that at 15 months, how you were diagnosed, and so the love of your parents--are your parents here? Mr. CLARK. Unfortunately, they could not make it here. They are at home in Louisville. But I have a feeling, based on my phone vibrations, they watch the live stream. Mr. ELLZEY. Okay, and what are their names? Mr. CLARK. Andrew and Christy Clark. Mr. ELLZEY. Andrew and Christy, thank you for not giving up on your boy and helping him out. This is kind of an emotional type of a hearing, and I am so proud that you have put this together, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman and thank you all for being here. I yield back. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you, Mr. Ellzey. I would note that Mr. Clark speaks better than, I mean, some Members of Congress, not all Members of Congress. With that, let me recognize my colleague from California, Ms. Chu. Ms. CHU. Thank you all for testifying today. You certainly give compelling testimony as to why we should encourage people with disabilities to become entrepreneurs and also why we should hire people with disabilities. Mr. Clark, your business has led you to interact with a number of vocational rehab programs and services which help young people with disabilities identify their career goals and prepare for employment as they enter adulthood. However, I was concerned to hear you say that many of these programs do not seem well equipped to provide students with information about starting a small business. Considering that many people with disabilities choose to become self-employed, it is crucial that we ensure that they have all the information and resources that they need to make the best decision for their futures. So when you decided to pursue entrepreneurship and begin the process of planning and launching your business, what resources did you take advantage of? And how should today's vocational rehab programs be expanded to include business development and entrepreneurial skills resources? Mr. CLARK. Great question, Ms.--is it, Chu? Ms. CHU. Yeah. Mr. CLARK. Great. Great question, Ms. Chu. I was given a vocational rehabilitation counselor by my high school, but unfortunately, they pretty much admitted all we can do for you is get you state funded driving lessons. Although, given that Mr. McGarvey is right, I do travel all over the country through driving and flying. That was a big help. But otherwise, they were like ehh. So the good thing about these programs is that they are already well structured. So all they have to do is include the SBA alongside, including the local businesses that also come into these programs. The structures are there. We just need to plug SBA counselors in, other self-advocates like myself in, and potentially colleges of business. Ms. CHU. Very good. And also, Mr. Clark, you talk about not being able to qualify for Social Security disability insurance. There is a complex set of rules and regulations, including strict income and asset limitations. And they govern the public's access to benefit programs such as SSDI, Medicare, and Medicaid. And yet these programs can be essential to ensuring that people with disabilities can meet the cost of living. But you talk about the fact that the asset requirements are so low that you and your family have almost never qualified. So based on your experiences helping young people with disabilities as they transition to adulthood, how have you seen these income and asset restrictions influence the people with disabilities to decide whether to launch a small business or join the workforce? How do you think these asset restrictions should be changed so that people with disabilities can be helped as they pursue their dreams? Mr. CLARK. Well, with this being the Small Business Committee, I am sure we would understand that restricting yourself to 6 thousand in assets, not cash, but assets, period, in exchange to receive only 19 thousand a year, that is not a good business deal by any measure. And a lot of people with disabilities are having to choose, not just between self- employment and receiving Social Security, but any employment and receiving Social Security. So it should at least be raised from 6 thousand. And in an ideal world, there should be no limit. But I know it is not an ideal world, but one that is way higher than it is right now. And although this is not quite a business issue, there is lots of people with disabilities who can not even get married because it is the joint couple's income that is considered in that. Ms. CHU. And Mr. Clark, right now, many employees with disabilities are paid at or even below $3.50 an hour, which is under half the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. What do you think about this and should employers pay so much less than what the minimum wage is? Mr. CLARK. My simple answer there is no. We should be, at the very least, at the same minimum wage as the rest of our country citizens are, and ideally paid to reflect our true worth. That is a big reason I considered self-employment, because along with the risk is the reward of no income limits at all. And that is one reason such a high percentage of us are self-employed. If the only other options are a three buck wage and the abuse from employers that invites, might as well go big and own a business. Ms. CHU. Thank you. I yield back. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you, Ms. Chu. With that, I recognize Chairman Williams from Texas for five minutes. Mr. WILLIAMS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a great hearing. We are so glad you all are here. And Mr. Wargo, your testimony makes it clear how the beneficial Autism Speaks WIN program is, for both employers hiring people with disabilities and individuals seeking employment. So can you tell us about the economic and cultural benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities? We have talked a lot about that, but I know there is more that we can talk about. So if you would do that. Mr. WARGO. Yes, most certainly. So, just a couple of statistics. One in 45 adults in this country are autistic. We have 5.4 million adults in the population who have been diagnosed with autism, and we have strong reason to believe that that is an underrepresented number. And there are 70 to 100 thousand students, or young adults, every year that age into that, you know, come out of the school system at 22. So we have a huge population there that is ready. Again, what we have found through our research and through studies is that organizations benefit from an increased productivity, their financials are stronger, and that individuals who are autistic, or with any IDD on their staff, to increase loyalty, increase innovation, and increase efficiency, once often small accommodations are made. So, at the end of the day, we look at it as being something that is an opportunity for a huge win. And again, the number that is put together by an Accenture report recently was that the potential upside of increased disability hiring could be a $25 billion increase in productivity to the U.S. economy. Mr. WILLIAMS. Well, that is big because so many of us are looking for employees right now. Ms. Walsh, some of the most successful American businesses were built around a need that a company's founder saw in the market. Maeve's Place is no exception. You saw a need for employment opportunities for people with disabilities and built your company around that with your daughter in mind. So, can you please tell the Committee about how working with Maeve's Place has benefited your daughter and all the people that you employ, both those with disabilities and those without? Ms. WALSH. Well, for Maeve, she learned really how to navigate herself in a community with her peers, how to act properly in social settings, and also she learned the benefit of making her own money. She loves opening her wallet and see money in there. Mr. WILLIAMS. She is a capitalist. Ms. WALSH. If she does not see money in her wallet, she said, I have to go back to work. And until then, you know, learning this in school and pretending play, so to speak, how you work, what do you do that really did not click. Really being in a job place and doing a real thing, that really made a huge difference for her. With other employees that we employ, or they came through our store through last couple of year, it is the same thing. Gives tremendous self-confidence, allows you to really blossom, and the limitations limits are sky high. Mr. WILLIAMS. Well, thank you for that. And Mr. Clark, in the time I have remaining left, what denomination was that bill? Mr. CLARK. The denomination? It was a Ben Franklin. Mr. WILLIAMS. Can I order a $5 thousand bill from you? Mr. CLARK. I am working on that. Mr. WILLIAMS. So here, really quick. It was great hearing your testimonies we have all talked about and having you share your story with anyone that might be watching this hearing today. It is a great story. And I see so many young people that are afraid to take a chance and bet on themselves and become an entrepreneur. And that is the great thing about America. We are all capitalists. We are entrepreneurs. You mentioned risk, but you got reward, and that is what built this country. And I appreciate you being one person that understands that. It is a prime example of it. And too many people have lost hope and do not even know where to start as they look to self-employment opportunities. They get a government check instead of getting a check, like Maeve does, and make it. So, what message would you have to other people that may have a disability as they are thinking about starting their own business? Mr. CLARK. That it is definitely a risk. Be aware that it is a risk. It is indeed not as guaranteed as getting a check, but also be aware that the reward is there. And that, although not easy, there is lots of training resources from the SBA, from vocational rehab, from pre ETS, even as we are talking about how they can be improved, and from the private sector. There is plenty of people who are there willing to support you. And kind of like how I was reassured knowing my parents supported me, I hope that our citizens with disabilities who want to become self-employed and own businesses, can be reassured knowing that their government supports them. Mr. WILLIAMS. Well said. Mr. Chairman, I yield my time back. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are going to, because I care deeply about this issue, going to open up for a 1 second round. I have one question I am going to leave open for the three witnesses. And I think, out of respect to all of my colleagues, if you have a second round and wish to keep it somewhat abbreviated, we will try to do that. I know this firsthand, the power of seeing my daughter achieve not only as a benefit to her, but the people around her. We know this, that by employing those with disabilities, we not only empower them as individuals, we see the humanity that each person can bring to a workplace, but the workplace benefits. And so, in my only question in this last second round. If the three of you could, could you give voice to either your child or the employees? They are not at the witness table. For an employee or an individual living with a disability, what is the one thing that they would want you to tell us we ought to pay attention to, in order to break down a barrier and create a job opportunity? Mr. Wargo. Mr. WARGO. Thank you for the question. So I will comment from the context of my co-ownership of Monarch Cyprus, where we hire--we have four individuals on the spectrum who work in our organization of 23. And I think what any of them would share was, number one, how valuable that has been to them to have this experience. All of them came directly out of vocational rehab Programs. The value of the experience that they've had for them, the purpose, and integrity it has brought to them, in their time with us, the ability to continue to grow. And we have been very dedicated to trying to make sure that increased skill sets along the way as well. That it has been just something that has been incredibly valuable and that programs like VR and job coaching have made that happen, as well as our dedication to doing it. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you. Ms. Walsh, what would Eric Wolf want us to know? Ms. WALSH. Well, Eric would say that--actually I do not have probably any other employee than Eric, who would text me ahead of time and telling me how much he can not wait to come back to work tomorrow. So this is--and he is example of employees with learning disabilities. They just loyal employee. Just give them opportunity and they can show you they can shine just like everybody else. Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you. Mr. Clark, you have been very good at articulating your story. What would your adoring fans want us to know? Mr. CLARK. Just in general or about anything specific? Chairman MOLINARO. About what we can do to make opportunities more abundant for folks like yourself. Mr. CLARK. Give self-employment a seat at the table. It can be as simple as inserting the Small Business Administration into the existing pre ETS structures, or it can be as complicated as more direct funding for small businesses, especially within the disabilities community. And making sure there is more awareness of what the SBA does. I only ever received help from them one time, and I have only learned, because of Mr. McGarvey, how much I could have done. And also that website could use a lot of updating. It is tricky to navigate. Chairman MOLINARO. Mr. Clark, on that there may be unanimous agreement. We have spent a lot of time talking about that platform. With that, I want to thank all of our witnesses. I yield back my time. And thank all of our witnesses for your testimony today and appearing before us and on behalf of those you speak for. We are very grateful that you would spend time enlightening and informing us. Without objection, Members each have five legislative days to submit additional materials and written questions for witnesses, to the Chair, which will be forwarded to the witnesses if submitted. Now, I would ask the--oh, I am sorry. I apologize. Oh, yes. So I would ask witnesses to attempt to respond promptly, should we provide you with those questions. And if then, there is no further business, without objection the Committee is adjourned. [Whereupon, at 11:03 a.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.] A P P E N D I X [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT] [all]