Twenty-Two Cents an Hour

Doug Crandell's Twenty-Two Cents an Hour examines the history, policy mechanisms, and human consequences of subminimum wage practices for people with disabilities in the United States.

Drawing on federal lawsuits, reporting on places like Henry's Turkey Farm, and Freedom of Information documents, Crandell exposes a system he terms the disability industrial complex that benefits from segregated programs and cheap labor.

The book traces legislative developments, the role of major nonprofits, and the political and financial forces that sustain these practices.

Crandell mixes investigative reporting with personal stories to show how taxpayers and public programs have enabled exploitation while outlining pathways toward inclusive employment reforms.

He argues for phasing out subminimum wages and adopting person-centered models like customized employment to expand real economic opportunity and dignity.