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In Twenty-Two Cents an Hour, Doug Crandell unveils the stark reality faced by individuals with disabilities in the United States, who are compelled to work under unethical conditions for subminimum wages, often with little or no chance to advocate for their rights. Meanwhile, affluent CEOs continue to amass wealth as a direct consequence of this exploitation.
As recent as 2016, the U.S. Congress passed bipartisan legislation that perpetuated the allowance for workers with disabilities to be compensated significantly below the federal minimum wage. Through ongoing federal Department of Justice lawsuits, the disturbing case of Henry's Turkey Farm in Iowa, and more, Crandell historically examines the policies that have resulted in these injustices. He scrutinizes who stands to benefit from such legislation and poses essential questions regarding the emergence of a disability rights industrial complex. By exposing this complex—built on profit motives, lobbying efforts, and emotional appeals to the families of workers—Crandell urges readers to rethink how we treat some of our most vulnerable citizens. Twenty-Two Cents an Hour compels readers to confront this exploitation and lays the groundwork necessary for meaningful reform.
Hear me read a short story!
Welcome! This flash fiction piece won an award in 2024. The piece is called Blank Many Days.