PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- U.S. Rep. David Cicilline called the treatment of disabled students and workers "disgraceful" in a statement issued Thursday.
A federal investigation found that Rhode Island and the City of Providence violated the rights of intellectually and developmentally disabled students and unnecessarily segregated them at the Harold H. Birch Vocational School and the Training Thru Placement program in North Providence.
"It is disgraceful and very sad that young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who deserve so much were so badly mistreated and taken advantage of in this program," said Cicilline, who served as mayor of Providence from 2003 until 2011.
"All of us should resolve today that we will carefully examine the existing laws that govern the employment of individuals with disabilities in the workplace and the programs that provide these services to ensure this never happens again. Young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve to be treated with dignity and afforded all of life's opportunities," he said.
