The University of Houston-足交视频 will host the next speaker in an ongoing humanities series next week to speak on the importance of recognizing exploitation of people with disabilities and how to reexamine how the U.S. treats them.

Doug Crandell, a journalist and the author of six books, will speak at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, in the Walker Auditorium inside UHV University North, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. His presentation will focus on his book 鈥淭wenty-Two Cents an Hour: Disability Rights and the Fight to End Subminimum Wages.鈥 The event is part of a speaker series funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities that supports the university in developing minors in gender and women鈥檚 studies, race and ethnic studies and disability studies.

鈥淒oug Crandell鈥檚 work offers an insightful perspective that views people with disabilities as being valuable members of society who make worthwhile contributions in spite of their struggles,鈥 said Nadya Pittendrigh, UHV associate professor of English. 鈥淗is skills as a storyteller help to showcase the truth about how society and policies can place a lesser value on these individuals, and he brings the ethical questions about those policies and situations to the forefront in a new way that excites curiosity.鈥

鈥22 Cents an Hour鈥 is just one of the books Crandell has penned that focuses on stories of individuals who face struggles because of their disabilities and the limits created by society and official policies. In the book, he examines 鈥渏ob training鈥 programs that claim to teach disabled individuals life skills while they work at real jobs for less than minimum wage 鈥 some as little as 22 cents an hour.

Crandell鈥檚 work is a particularly relevant addition to the speaker series because there has been an increase in public awareness of and interest in disabilities and accessibility, said Nicole Eugene, UHV associate professor of communication.

鈥淒isability often comes with a stigma, but the truth is that disability is a condition that will likely affect every individual at some point in their life,鈥 Eugene said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important to have people who are committed to working with those who have disabilities. People like Doug Crandell put in the effort to develop a sense of what needs to change in society without putting undue pressure on the disabled population.鈥

That perspective and the questions Crandell raises are why he is the perfect speaker to come to 足交视频 as UHV works to create its disability studies minor, said Justin Bell, UHV professor of philosophy.

鈥淣ot only does Crandall expose how disabled people are systematically and legally exploited, but he demands we investigate what we mean by equality and respect,鈥 Bell said. 鈥淒isability studies demand we take fairness and justice seriously for people who are marginalized by no fault of their own. Understanding how we determine disability from ability tells us a lot about not only who we are and how we value other people. It is my hope that this understanding results in real action that makes the world more just and equitable.鈥