[News from Diversability] February 19: virtual fireside chat on subminimum wages, employment barriers, and the fight for disability rights

Fireside Chat with Doug Crandell, Twenty-Two Cents an Hour: Disability Rights and the Fight to End Subminimum Wages

Newsletter contents:

1. We’re opening up one of our Diversability Leadership Collective (DLC) virtual events to the public on Wednesday, February 19, 2025: Fireside Chat with Author Doug Crandell Moderated by Neil Hughes.

2. Updates from the Diversability® Leadership Collective (DLC)

3. Other things we wanted to include in this newsletter:

   1. Register to attend the Abilities Expo Los Angeles, March 7-9.

   2. Diversability is proud to partner with the ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York, taking place April 3-9.

   3. Directory of GoFundMe campaigns of disabled folks displaced by the LA fires.

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We are excited to open up one of our Diversability Leadership Collective (our members-only space to advance disability leadership, advocacy, and influence) events to the public. All events are free for DLC members to attend.

{Virtual} Wednesday, February 19: Fireside Chat with Doug Crandell, Author of Twenty-Two Cents an Hour: Disability Rights and the Fight to End Subminimum Wages

Image description: rectangular graphic with a light blue background and navy gradient border, At the top, text, “Diversability Leadership Collective. Fireside Chat with Doug Crandell, Author of Twenty-Two Cents an Hour: Disability Rights and the Fight to End Subminimum Wages.” Below, a photo of Doug Crandell and the cover of the book Twenty-Two Cents an Hour. Below, on a navy blue bar, text, “Moderated by Neil Hughes. Member, Diversability Leadership Collective” next to their headshot. On the right, text, “Wed, February 19, 2PM ET / 11AM PT, Virtual.”

Join us for this fireside chat with Doug Crandell, author of Twenty-Two Cents an Hour: Disability Rights and the Fight to End Subminimum Wages.

In Twenty-Two Cents an Hour, Doug Crandell uncovers the harsh reality of people with disabilities in the United States who are forced to work in unethical conditions for subminimum wages with little or no opportunity to advocate for themselves, while wealthy CEOs grow even wealthier as a direct result.

As recently as 2016, the United States Congress enacted bipartisan legislation which continued to allow workers with disabilities to legally be paid far lower than the federal minimum wage. Drawing on ongoing federal Department of Justice lawsuits, the horrifying story of Henry's Turkey Farm in Iowa, and more, Crandell shows the history of the policies that have led to these unjust outcomes, examines who benefits from this legislation, and asks important questions about the rise of a disability industrial complex. Exposing this complex—which is rooted in profit, lobbying, and playing on the emotions of workers' parents and families, as well as the public—Crandell challenges readers to reexamine how we treat some of our most vulnerable fellow citizens. Twenty-Two Cents an Hour forces the reader to face the reality of this exploitation, and builds the framework needed for reform.

About Doug Crandell:

Doug Crandell is the author of six books, one of which beat out former President Jimmy Carter for the Georgia Author of the Year Award. Doug's novel, The Flawless Skin of Ugly People has been optioned by Big Talk Productions, with Jack Thorne writing the screenplay and James Griffiths set to direct.

Doug has won grants and fellowship competitions from the Sherwood Anderson Foundation, the Hohenberg Foundation, and the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. Booker Prize Winner, Peter Carey, chose Crandell's story, Even if He is a Slave, for the River City Award in Fiction. Doug is a frequent contributor to the venerable SUN Magazine.

Note: You don't have to read/finish the book to join the event.

This session will be moderated by DLC member Neil Hughes.

1. Date & time: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 2pm ET (11am PT)

2. Where: A Zoom link will be emailed to you 15 mins before the event begins. This event will also be recorded and the recording will be shared with registered attendees after the event.

3. Tickets: FREE for Diversability Leadership Collective members, sliding scale tickets for non-members

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Updates from the Diversability Leadership Collective (DLC)

Since launching in 2021, our members have made over $37k in opportunities shared through the DLC!

The Diversability® Leadership Collective (DLC) is our members-only space to advance disability leadership, influence, and advocacy. Join over 170+ members for curated paid & visibility opportunities, members-only events, and community.

Our Facebook Group (7,100+ members) will continue to be a free, loosely moderated space for peer support, resources, and community.

Member Updates:

1. Nita Jain created the Spooniverse Directory as a resource hub for folks with dynamic disabilities and their caregivers.

2. Sign up for Making Space’s latest courses (founded by Keely Cat-Wells): Ascend Career Development Program, AI Prompt Engineering, and Collaborative Product Design.

3. Louis Paniccioli was a finalist for the Entrepreneur of Impact award.

4. Danielle Connolly graduated from The One Club x TikTok’s ONE Creator Lab. #DLCwin

5. Nicole Demos was published in Harness Magazine. #DLCwin

6. Jennifer Gasner’s book, My Unexpected Life, received a Difference Maker Award from Store with a Heart.

7. Nico Meyering wrote about how disability hiring is smart business.

8. Tiffany Yu will be speaking at Naidex on March 20, the UK’s leading disability event, to celebrate the UK paperback launch of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto.

Recent opportunities curated for DLC members:

1. Apply for a $10,000 journalism grant.

2. Receive up to $10,000 for photographers/videographers.

3. Get a $10,000 travel grant.

4. Get paid for your blog submission.

5. Get a free copy of Doug Crandell’s book, Twenty-Two Cents an Hour.