Susan Fleurant

The Project

Susan (she/her/hers) will advance economic justice for Minnesotans with disabilities by representing workers who receive subminimum wages and advocating for policies to implement the phase-out of the subminimum wage statewide.

Federal law authorizes certified employers to pay a subminimum wage to workers with disabilities. Most people receiving subminimum wages are employed in segregated settings and receive less than $4 an hour. Newly enacted legislation in Minnesota will phase out the subminimum wage for people with disabilities in the state by August 1, 2025. An estimated 10,000 Minnesotans with disabilities receive a subminimum wage; over the next three years, these workers will transition to integrated employment with fair wages.

Fellowship Plans

During her Fellowship, Susan will represent workers with disabilities in cases concerning wage and hour violations and disability rights. Her work will focus on supporting workers in their transition to employment in integrated community settings with competitive wages. In addition to direct legal services, she will leverage the monitoring authority of the Protection and Advocacy System to ensure that employment providers are sufficiently working to transition workers with disabilities to employment opportunities with fair wages. Susan will also conduct community outreach and serve on a statewide task force to make recommendations to implement the phase-out of the subminimum wage in Minnesota.