“Bottom Dollars Movie Chapter 09” produced by Rooted in Rights [NARRATOR]: Bottom Dollars [quiet electronic music] [NARRATOR]: Chapter nine - "The chance to rise." AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Stephanie Woodward waits for the next question from the interviewer. (INTERVIEWER): So, what am I missing? What haven't I asked you about that's important? STEPHANIE: How do we change it? AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Justin Young speaks to a camera at a protest of Goodwill. JUSTIN: Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act says that people with disabilities can be paid sub-minimum wage. We don't feel that's right. We feel our rights should be honored, just like every other population in this nation. JENSEN: I'm Jensen Caraballo. I'm an activist for disability rights. Protesting isn't something that we do first. We always take other advocacy avenues. Once we know that we're not getting anywhere, we organize actions. You get in people's faces and you let them know this isn't right, we're not gonna stand for this. No pun intended. [Jensen laughs] AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Protesters hold up signs with slogans like, "Subminimum equals subhuman." JENSEN: 14(c) certificate under the Fair Labor Standards Act says that people with disabilities are less than everyone else, and we don't deserve to get paid like everyone else, and that's wrong. We have the power to make that change. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Painting on the side of a building in Tiffin, Ohio. Barbara Corner from Disability Rights Ohio. BARBARA: If somebody in a sheltered workshop or their parent or guardian wishes to challenge their wages, they can file a request with the Department of Labor. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Pamela shops for supplies. BARBARA: We decided that we wanted to follow that process. PAMELA: Judges ruled on our behalf, and he feels the same way we do, that we're being mistreated. I make minimum wage now, and I'm happy about that. I wanna be able to move up to where I'm gettin' paid really good. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Pamela threads a needle. PAMELA: I'd like to go back to California. Not sure how much a plane ticket costs nowadays to go there. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Jim Larson from Morningside. JIM: I really had a celebration of closing the sheltered workshop, it was the second-best day of my career. The first one would be sending a letter back to the Federal Department of Labor and saying, "I choose not to renew this certificate." In 2014 we stopped paying sub-minimum wages. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Brendan cleans dishes at work. AMY: New Hampshire was the first in the nation to eliminate sub-minimum wage for people with disabilities. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Charles Biebl walks with his white cane. CHARLES: By the year 2020, Maryland is supposed to phase out paying sub-minimum wages to people with disabilities, you know, blind people and such. And that's a good thing. STEPHANIE: A minimum wage is just that, the minimum any worker should receive. [atmospheric music] [NARRATOR]: 48 states still allow sub-minimum wage. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Gloria Marrero uses sign language. GLORIA (VIA ASL): Oh, yeah, I want to earn more money. Well sure, I'd like to have a little bit more money. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Gloria smiles. Joe plays a bell during church. LE'RON: After I got the check of $2.50 for working in a hot workshop with hot, big fans, I said, "I quit. I can go find me somethin' else to do." AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Theresa watches Dexter work. CHERYL: If individuals are given the proper services and supports, and proper assistive technology, the sky is the limit for many, many individuals. (HUGH): I make $9.59 an hour. Now I get four weeks' vacation. I get paid for my vacation. SARA: I wanna move up more at Children's, in the receiving department. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Le'Ron drives his wheelchair through his office. LE'RON: I went to school. I got my degree. I work with Disability Rights Mississippi. I'm a advocate for people with disabilities. TRUST: I've been working for two years, had multiple-- had great internships and jobs. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Trust holds up his paycheck proudly. TRUST: And it's not just for me, it's not just for me, Trust Jones, who lives in Mississippi. It's to every state. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Joe bags popcorn. Sara at the subway. (TRUST): To the northeast. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Dexter pushes carts. (TRUST): The southwest, the midwest. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Pamela sews. TRUST: I may have a disability, but I can still work. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Photo of President Roosevelt in a wheelchair. (ROOSEVELT): I am still convinced that the American people continue to insist on sincere respect for the need of all people at the bottom who need to get work. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Sara guiding a horse. (ROOSEVELT): And through work, to get a really fair share of the good things of life. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: Andy smiling at the bowling alley. Joe skis towards the camera. (ROOSEVELT): And a chance to save and a chance to rise. [uplifting music] [NARRATOR]: Share the full film in your community. Host a screening. BottomDollarsMovie.com AUDIO DESCRIPTION: End credits roll. [NARRATOR]: Produced and directed by Jordan Melograna Executive Producers David Carlson Mark Stroh Cinematography and editing by Jordan Melograna Associate Producer Tina Pinedo Original music by Catrina Melograna Thank you to those who appeared in the film Malanie Oyer Gloria Marrero Mark Riccobono Cheryl Bates-Harris Pamela Steward Barbara Corner Le'Ron Jackson Charles Biebel Roy Rocha James Meadours Betty Williams Stephanie Woodward Tilman Mitchell Dorothy Mitchell Joan Farish Sara Frost Robin Frost Scott Frost Tanya Hart-Newkirk Susan Kas Jim Larson Hugh Bertolin Dexter Smith Yolanda Sandoval-Nez Theresa Jim Andy Owens Cynthia Owens Adam Henry Joe Steffy E.R. Steffy Ray Steffy Janet Steffy Trust Jones Tiffany Boyte Amy Messer Brendan Welch Liz Duncan Justin Young Jensen Caraballo Sound Editor and Mixer Justin Newton Audio Description Narrator Tina Marie Murray Opening titles designed by Moriah Burton Jordan Melograna Production Assistants Courtney Cole Vanessa Link Rebekah Price Cuquis Robledo Paul Schaver Outreach and promotion by Kearsten Holmdale Tina Pinedo Stacie Siebrecht ASL Interpreter Stuart Tennis SignOn Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center Archival footage provided by Rick Ray/Shutterstock Pond5 Additional footage courtesy of Disability Rights Mississippi The National Federation of the Blind Special thanks The National Disability Rights Network Kansas Disability Rights Center of Kansas Ricky Nichols Mike Burgess Louisburg Cider Mill Snow Creek Ski Resort Jennifer Stratton Sonflower Ringers Beverly Williamson Maryland Chris Danielson The National Federation of the Blind Mississippi Bob Boyte Honda Disability Rights Mississippi Gathering Grounds Coffee Shop La Quinta Inn and Suites Vicksburg Ann Maclaine Shirley Walker New Hampshire Boston Children’s Hospital Brian Becquart Andrea Duggan Disability Rights Center – New Hampshire Giddy Up Farm Julia Freeman-Woolpert One Sky Community Services VPNE New Mexico Native American Disability Law Center Coyote Ridge Jessica Jones Walmart Gallup New York The Center for Disability Rights Elizabeth Forbes Ohio Stacy Brannan-Smith Disability Rights Ohio Michael Kirkman Oregon Michelle Afroso Tara Asai Disability Rights Oregon Powell’s Books Sunset Lanes Washington Heather McKimmie Laurie Schindler Morningside Services Stacie Siebrecht Produced with generous support from Disability Rights Washington Rooted in Rights is the author of this motion picture for the purpose of copyright and other laws. This motion picture is protected pursuant to the provisions of the laws of the United States of America and other countries. Any unauthorized duplication and/or exhibition of this motion picture may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution. Produced by Rooted in Rights End of transcript.