Lawsuit: State Required to Limit Use of Sheltered Workshops
Historically, people with disabilities were excluded from many parts of society, including the workforce.
For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, work meant spending their days segregated from the rest of the world in “sheltered workshops.” Their pay was often paltry - far less than the minimum wage.
In 2012, we fought back against the idea that it was okay to isolate people with disabilities in "sheltered workshops" and pay them less than minimum wage. We filed the first U.S. class action lawsuit to challenge sheltered workshops that pay sub-minimum wages to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in segregated environments.
Expanding opportunities for workers with intellectual and developmental disabilities
In 2015, the parties reached a settlement agreement, which calls for:
1,115 Oregonians working in sheltered workshops to receive jobs in the community at equal pay;
7,000 Oregonians to receive services to help them find a community job;
ensuring the employment services include at least 4,900 youth ages 14 to 24 years old, who are exiting school.
Case Documents
Lane v. Brown, Case No. 3:12-cv-00138-ST
January 26, 2012: Class Action Complaint
September 8, 2015: Proposed Settlement Agreement
December 30, 2015: Settlement Agreement
June 30, 2022: Independent Expert Final Report
August 12, 2022: Motion to Dismiss
U.S. Department of Justice Documents
Press Releases
January 25, 2012: Class Action Lawsuit Seeks an End to Segregated Sheltered Workshops
September 8, 2015: Settlement Agreement Announced in Employment Case
December 30, 2015: Settlement Agreement Announced in Lane v. Brown Employment Case
July 19, 2022: Final Hearing Set in Landmark Employment Class Action for Oregonians with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
August 15, 2022: Final Ruling Issued in Employment Case for Oregonians with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Media Coverage
January 25, 2012: Lawsuit challenges “sheltered workshops” for Oregon’s disabled
January 25, 2012: Oregonians with disabilities file class-action suit against the governor, state officials
April 1, 2013: U.S. Department of Justice accuses Oregon of segregating disabled in sheltered workshops
April 11, 2013: Kitzhaber orders shift from sheltered workshops for people with disabilities
May 11, 2015: Portland judge sanctions state in lawsuit over job opportunities for severely disabled Oregonians
September 8, 2015: Gov. Kate Brown, plaintiffs announce settlement of long-running disability rights lawsuit
September 8, 2015: Oregon’s sheltered workshops for the disabled to be phased out under terms of settlement
September 10, 2015: Legal settlement for people with intellectual disabilities opens door for real jobs
September 11, 2015: Reducing Oregon’s reliance on sheltered workshops
September 24, 2015: Lawsuit led to regular jobs for people with disabilities
July 25, 2022: Judge finds Oregon moved people with developmental disabilities from sheltered workshops into mainstream jobs; dismisses suit
July 25, 2022: Landmark case against Oregon over treatment of workers with disabilities ends
Plaintiff Story
Paula’s Story
Meet Paula. She used to work on a "sheltered workshop" assembly line packaging gloves. She earned 66 cents an hour. But she wanted a community job. She became the lead plaintiff in our landmark lawsuit to limit the use of sheltered workshops in Oregon. Today, Paula works at a community job. The lawsuit, Lane v. Brown, was named for her.
Awards
International disability advocacy group TASH awarded Disability Rights Oregon and other advocates the Marc Gold Award for Employment for their work on Lane v. Brown.
The award recognizes significant contribution to increasing access to community, integrated employment for persons with significant disabilities. Read more.
