Pathways to Success: Supporting Entrepreneurs and Employees with Disabilities (House Small Business subcommittee hearing, January 30, 2024)

Summary

The printed record of a hearing of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development, Small Business Committee Document Number 118-037, titled Pathways to Success: Supporting Entrepreneurs and Employees with Disabilities, held January 30, 2024 in the 118th Congress, with Chairman Mark Molinaro presiding at 10:03 a.m. The witnesses are Keith Wargo of Autism Speaks, Iva Walsh of Maeve's Place and Cody Clark of Cody Clark Magic. The appendix holds their prepared statements and additional material from the American Association of People with Disabilities, the Autism Society of America, the Consumer Technology Association, Gallaudet University and the National Disability Institute.

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“Pathways to Success: Supporting Entrepreneurs and Employees with Disabilities (House Small Business subcommittee hearing, January 30, 2024).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/pathways-to-success-supporting-entrepreneurs-and-employees-with-disabi-318bc0b503/, SHA-256 dfdeeca51d5899ec7a7bb82bbf57cd04dcb52a6a42340e1ca8b7658ebe64cfbf.

Full text

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

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 VELÁZQUEZ, 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

(II)
CONTENTS
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

(III)
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 [chair-
man 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 na-
tion under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Chairman MOLINARO. I now call the Committee, the Com-
mittee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepre-
neurship, 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 state-
ment.
First, as I said, good morning. I am thrilled to have our wit-
nesses 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 par-
ent 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 fami-
lies.
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 impor-
tantly, her daughter Maeve, who is with us today as well. Iva is
(1)
2

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. In-
spired 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 col-
leagues, to hear from you and your unique perspectives on the posi-
tive 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 disabil-
ities is not only sound economic investment for any business of any
side, it also has significant economic and societal advantages. Ev-
eryone puts forth a unique perspective and skill set that makes
them attractive and earnest employees.
Fortunately, with the current labor shortage, remote work oppor-
tunities, and tax incentives, we have seen a significant rise in the
number of individuals with disabilities joining the workforce. How-
ever, 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 cur-
rently 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 employ-
ment 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 produc-
tive and innovative environment on main streets across America.
Furthermore, in the post pandemic workforce, unique employ-
ment opportunities have arisen for people with disabilities. Re-
search 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 sig-
nificant barriers to entry when considering opening a business or
applying for a job, it is critical we continue to promote the opportu-
nities available to them and ensure this community has access to
the resources needed to thrive. And no matter the role, every un-
filled 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 pre-
3

pare 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 ad-
ditional legislation and initiatives to pave pathways to success for
entrepreneurs and employees of every ability. I thank our wit-
nesses again for being here today. We look forward to the conversa-
tion 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 experi-
ence. I know that is not easy, but we really appreciate it, particu-
larly 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 Louis-
ville, 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 appre-
ciate 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 dis-
abilities 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-dis-
abled Americans. Of Americans, over 33 million small businesses,
nearly 2 million are owned by people with disabilities. Entrepre-
neurship 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 cru-
cial 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 Presi-
dent 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.
4

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 develop-
ment 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 en-
trepreneurship more accessible, through accommodations and tack-
ling 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 morn-
ing 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 indi-
viduals, 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 ap-
plying 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 dol-
lars of cash flow that are required for us to stay open in our busi-
ness. 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 Con-
gress, we invited a 17-year-old who started his own hot sauce com-
pany—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 entre-
preneurs with disabilities and take risk and open their own small
businesses.
5

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 Mon-
arch 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 Administra-
tion degree from Harvard Business School. We are grateful that
you are joining us here today and we look forward to the conversa-
tion 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 develop-
mentally disabled individuals. The business also works with the R.
Hudson Valley, an organization dedicated to empowering our dis-
abled community on prevocational training for adults with develop-
mental 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 join-
ing 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 el-
ementary school where he received the right support and accom-
modations for academic success.
Today, he crisscrosses the entire country as the sole proprietor
of an outstanding small business. His shows combine magic, com-
6

edy, and storytelling to share with his many audiences his experi-
ences 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 hap-
pen. 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 EX-
ECUTIVE 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 cre-
ating 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 innova-
tive 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 em-
ployment 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
7

challenges. In 2022, only 21 percent of individuals with disabilities,
including autism, were employed. That data underscores the per-
sistent gap in the employment market. Further, over half of indi-
viduals with autism who have graduated from high school or have
aged out of high school in the last two years, only half are em-
ployed or are not enrolled in any postsecondary education. This
compares unfavorably with other disabilities. These statistics high-
light the ongoing need for targeted employment, support and oppor-
tunities 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 re-
vealed 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 bene-
fits that accrue at individual workplaces and our society when em-
ployers embrace inclusivity. These include increased creativity and
innovation in the workplace, diminish stereotypes, and reduce so-
cial 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 com-
munity. It can include providing training courses to foster accept-
ance of neurodiverse individuals in the workplace. And it can in-
clude 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 de-
velopment program promoting diversity in hiring and helping cre-
ate an inclusive workplace culture, in which not just the individ-
uals with autism, but also all employees can thrive. The WIN
model is really based on an ecosystem that has three parts. Em-
ployers that are committed to creating inclusive workplaces, autis-
tic 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 na-
tionwide. Collaborating with the Virginia Commonwealth Univer-
sity’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 in-
clusive workplaces. They cater to autistic job seekers and to em-
ployment specialists, covering topics from understanding autism to
self-advocacy.
8

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 hir-
ing multiple nontraditional employees. Making alongside oper-
ational changes has been a true success.
Chairman MOLINARO. Mr. Wargo, I will have to ask you to con-
clude. Be happy to continue that conversation and question and an-
swer in just a moment.
Mr. WARGO. Thank you, Chairman.
Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you. And with that, we will recog-
nize 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 unem-
ployed. 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 meaning-
ful workplace where Maeve, and others like her could learn, suc-
ceed and know the feeling of making their own money. A job pro-
motes self-esteem, independence, and all around growth as contrib-
uting 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 em-
ployer 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 sum-
mer jobs learning employable skills, a person with IDD does not
often. Once people with IDDs find work, lack of access to transpor-
tation can prevent success, as most people with IDD do not or can-
not 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 avail-
able 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
9

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 serv-
ice. 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 dis-
abilities. It benefits everyone as well, as we all become more in-
formed 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 over-
come 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 insur-
ance through the Affordable Care Act. It allowed me to remain on
my parents health insurance until the age of 26. Then afterward
10

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 get-
ting 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 rehabili-
tation, 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, peo-
ple with disabilities are self-employed at a higher rate than the
rest of the population. This is likely because self-employment al-
lows us to create our own accessible workplaces, to solve problems
related to our disabilities, and offer those solutions to our peers, be-
cause many wage based positions for people with disabilities are in
a sub minimum wage salary, and because Social Security’s dis-
ability 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 re-
sources currently available from programs like SBA into existing
pre ETS and vocational rehabilitation program structures, by ex-
tending 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 happi-
ness.
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 pur-
pose, I will recognize myself for 5 minutes.
11

Let me offer in 2015, I launched an initiative called Think Dif-
ferently in my home county, meant to break down barriers and cre-
ate 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 proc-
esses. For many in the autism community, communication chal-
lenges exist. And so the traditional employment interviews that
most of us have gone through, in some points in our lives, often-
times are very challenging and are a barrier. And so we try to en-
courage companies to think about alternatives to those. One exam-
ple would be practical skills applications, bringing somebody in,
giving the opportunity to apply those practical skills versus a tradi-
tional 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 develop-
ment 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 en-
tire staff to use these.
And then the final one, I would just say, is looking for opportuni-
ties to create a more accessible workplace. Sometimes that is dif-
ficult. A lot of times it is really not. To make accommodations in
a workplace can mean simply addressing lighting. It can mean sim-
ply addressing some noise issues, to allowing job coaches, more
flexible hours, et cetera. All that can make a huge amount of dif-
ference both for the individual job seeker and for the company and
12

have the opportunity to have that efficiency and have that oppor-
tunity 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 con-
fronted 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 experi-
enced, would love to have a job. Now for us, it is a little bit dif-
ficult. 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 some-
body with all different kinds of disability and ability. A lot of peo-
ple 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 dis-
ability.
Chairman MOLINARO. Thank you, Iva. My time has expired,
but I do want to thank you. And with that, I would like to recog-
nize 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 afford-
able health insurance as a key driver of your ability to start a busi-
ness 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?
13

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 afford-
able, 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 insur-
ance. 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 ex-
pertise, and as we all know, workers with disabilities, they add tre-
mendous value to the businesses they serve. Too often, though, em-
ployers are unaware of this fact, I think, and they might choose not
to hire an applicant with differing abilities. How can we best en-
gage 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 real-
ly 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 informa-
tion 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 encour-
aging 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
14

as we design programs that have benefits and incentives are impor-
tant.
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 every-
body in the audience does too. I wish those people would stop wait-
ing in line to see bad things and come up here to see good things.
Integration and inclusion must be central to any of these initia-
tives we are talking about. One of the barriers individuals with dis-
abilities 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 dis-
abilities and often misinterpret them. And as a veteran myself,
that sounds like a very familiar refrain from a very large and will-
ing 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 voca-
tional 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 to-
gether, 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 won-
derful 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
15

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 inspira-
tion, 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 be-
cause one of your gifts is the ability to speak. And I have been look-
ing 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 col-
league 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 employ-
ment 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 busi-
ness. Considering that many people with disabilities choose to be-
come self-employed, it is crucial that we ensure that they have all
the information and resources that they need to make the best de-
cision 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 voca-
tional rehabilitation counselor by my high school, but unfortu-
nately, they pretty much admitted all we can do for you is get you
16

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 struc-
tured. So all they have to do is include the SBA alongside, includ-
ing 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 dis-
abilities can be helped as they pursue their dreams?
Mr. CLARK. Well, with this being the Small Business Com-
mittee, 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 Se-
curity, 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 in-
come that is considered in that.
Ms. CHU. And Mr. Clark, right now, many employees with dis-
abilities 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 recog-
nize Chairman Williams from Texas for five minutes.
Mr. WILLIAMS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a great hear-
ing. We are so glad you all are here. And Mr. Wargo, your testi-
17

mony makes it clear how the beneficial Autism Speaks WIN pro-
gram is, for both employers hiring people with disabilities and indi-
viduals 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 produc-
tivity, 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 accommoda-
tions 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 look-
ing for employees right now. Ms. Walsh, some of the most success-
ful 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
18

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 govern-
ment 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 im-
proved, and from the private sector. There is plenty of people who
are there willing to support you. And kind of like how I was reas-
sured knowing my parents supported me, I hope that our citizens
with disabilities who want to become self-employed and own busi-
nesses, 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 col-
leagues, 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 em-
power 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 expe-
rience. 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
19

and that programs like VR and job coaching have made that hap-
pen, 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 op-
portunity 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 opportu-
nities 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 disabil-
ities 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 unani-
mous 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.]
20

APPENDIX
21
22
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File and source

File: CHRG-118hhrg54640.pdf
Size: 3,564,761 bytes
SHA-256: dfdeeca51d5899ec7a7bb82bbf57cd04dcb52a6a42340e1ca8b7658ebe64cfbf
Our copy: CHRG-118hhrg54640.pdf
Original: www.govinfo.gov