Open Letter to The White House and The Department of Labor

Hello!

I am writing to urge you to include workers with disabilities, including those now making less than minimum wage under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, in the President’s forthcoming executive order on a $10.10/hour minimum wage for government contractors.

I am the Black mother of an autistic, nonspeaking son. I lived through a time in American history when my race was used as a reason to give me less than a living wage while coworkers who were white were paid much more. To live now and realize my son will become a man only to remain in poverty is too painful to believe. I doubt any of you will read this open letter. But if you do, imagine being me, and thousands of mother's like me, of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Our children deserve better than what I was subjected to. Their disabilities, like my race, should not be an excuse to bar them from equal pay for equal work.

Sincerely

Mrs, Kerima Cevik

Proud mother of Mustafa, 11, Autistic