[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.]
                            
                            
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