Episode 69: Paying Disabled People

Emily Ladau 0:00 SeamlessDocs logo
The transcript for this episode is sponsored by SeamlessDocs.

Kyle Khachadurian 0:03
SeamlessDocs is an E-signature and form automation platform that enables governments to go paperless and deliver better online services to citizens and staff.

Emily Ladau 0:12
Hi, I’m Emily Ladau.

Kyle Khachadurian 0:14
And I’m Kyle Khachadurian.

Emily Ladau 0:16
And you’re listening to another episode of The Accessible Stall.

Kyle Khachadurian 0:19
What are we going to talk about today, Emily?

Emily Ladau 0:21
Oh my God! Can we just pay disabled people please?

Kyle Khachadurian 0:24
Speaking of paying disabled people: If you want to pay disabled people, you can support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/TheAccessibleStall. Just $1 a month ensures that all current and future episodes of The Accessible Stall remain accessible. And with that, we really should be paying disabled people, Emily.

Emily Ladau 0:37
Yeah. So we have a lot to talk about. We got this email from people who shall remain nameless. And they were like, “hey, we’d love to partner with you because we love what you’re doing. And so let’s explore ways to partner” and Kyle

and I are always like, “yeah, sure, let’s go for it”, especially because this particular email had to do with something disability related that we both support. And we both believe in. And we both been part of before, in one way or another. So when we responded to the email, we got our hopes up thinking like, “hey, this is really cool. It could be a really cool disability related collaboration”. So they wrote us back and they were like, “yeah, let’s talk about it. Let’s explore it.” So we talked to them, we laid out what it would look like to do a sponsored episode. And then all of a sudden, they get back to us, and they’re like, “oh, we don’t actually want to collaborate with you anymore.”

Kyle Khachadurian 1:42
But you can come to the thing if you want.

Emily Ladau 1:45
So

Then they also were like, “well, we’re putting together this thing”, and I know we’re being really, really vague here, but we just don’t want to call these people out by name, but they’re like “we’re putting together this thing and we’d love if you would come.

And do some work for us to be part of this thing.” And so it’s like so you didn’t want to pay us for our work for sponsored episode and now you want us to do work for free, aside from the fact that you wanted free exposure on the podcast. Now, I realize that we probably sound like, bitter, but I feel like this is a conversation that needs to be had.

Kyle Khachadurian 2:23
I am bitter! you What are you doing? You are a disabled focused organization and you are actively devaluing the work of your supposed clientele. If that doesn’t make you bitter, what does? Besides salted pretzels.

Emily Ladau 2:37
You’re right. Oh my god. I hate salted pretzels, number one,

number two, okay, fair. I’m thinking that we’re allowed to be bitter about this. But here’s the thing. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask to be paid for work. But somehow, and I know this happens to a lot of people, not just disabled populations, but it seems like disabled

People especially are often given, quote unquote opportunities to do things for exposure, or to volunteer because we don’t have a budget to pay people. And it’s like, could you BE more hypocritical?

Kyle Khachadurian 3:20
I think it’s Chandler. I don’t know. I don’t like Friends.

No, like the “Could you be more…” ? I guess you haven’t gotten there yet

Emily Ladau 3:27
Oh my God, yeah! I know. I know what you’re talking about. Sorry. Oh, man. You can see that I only watch Friends occasionally. I’m not a Friends fan girl.

Kyle Khachadurian 3:36
It’s so annoying. Because it’s like, I understand that no one likes to spend money because that means you have less of it. I get that. But you know, when I don’t want to spend money I certainly don’t reach out to people asking them to work for me for free. There’s a word for that, and it’s not a good one.

Emily Ladau 3:46
Basically, what it comes down to is that disabled people, and this is a constant

theme in the work that I do, are utterly and completely devalued. Like, perfect example, I was invited to give a presentation at an event. And again, I know we’re doing a lot of like, vague booking over here. But this is just so that we don’t get ourselves into any hot water. Even though I suppose a name and shame is one way to do it. But this organization reached out to me, and they’re like, “can you do the keynote presentation for our event? And I was like,

“yeah, how much can you pay me?” I mean, obviously, I was way more professional than that. But they were like, actually, we can’t pay you. And I was like,

“so you want me to give a keynote to like 700 plus people, and you want me to do it for free?” And they’re like, “yep!” And I was like, “nope!” Long story short, is they did pay me because I send an email that I toiled over forever to try to get it perfect down to the word to explain to them their hypocrisy. And I

indeed, I guess shamed them into paying me. But why should I have to do that?

Kyle Khachadurian 5:06
Exactly. It’s also a common theme among creative types too like, if you’re an artist, or you make or you make stuff like this, like this is a podcast this counts like everyone loves to pay you an exposure. It’s like, Can exposure pay my credit card bills? Because if it can, you know, like…

Emily Ladau 5:21
Then please give me more of that exposure!

Kyle Khachadurian 5:23
Oh, it’s the most annoying thing in the world. It’s you can’t go to the store, take stuff on your shelf. Go get, you know, wait in line for the checkout person, get your items scanned and then just, just hand them like your phone and be like “tag yourself in a tweet. It’s the same as paying for things!”

If that sounds ridiculous to you. It’s because it is and that’s exactly what these organizations are doing to us and Emily also by extension.

Emily Ladau 5:55
And it becomes worse because a lot of these organizations in

some way or another advocate for full inclusion, participation, employment, opportunity for disabled people. But then they turn around and they’re “like yeah but we, we just want everyone else to do that.” We want you to help us…

Kyle Khachadurian 6:15
Yeah, not… not us!

Emily Ladau 6:16
Yeah we want you to help us make everyone else do that for free.

Oh no you thought we were. No no no, see, we’re not the ones DOING it we’re the ones delivering the message so we’re like, actually, like a different thing

Kyle Khachadurian 6:28
No but like so many disability organizations are like that to the point where like if we named them all we would, I don’t know, it’d be like a solid five minute chunk of time and it’s just like it makes you wonder if like disability orgs it’s like it’s all they’re all emperors without clothes, like this is all a show, this is all a game and it’s just so annoying, because like I get it, you gotta be foofy to get your own money for your own organization everyone does that but like

Emily Ladau 6:53
Excuse me, please define foofy by using it and another sentence.

Kyle Khachadurian 6:57
You know, foofy, you got to use foofy language like “we’re

the best and we do magic and…”

Emily Ladau 7:02
Oh, okay, is that the technical term?

Kyle Khachadurian 7:04
Oh, yeah sure. “Padded language” is the technical term.

Emily Ladau 7:07
Okay.

Kyle Khachadurian 7:08
No, but you know what I mean like if you’re, if you’re if you’re like writing a grant for something you got to make yourself sound like God’s gift to the world. And that’s fine! But like when… Oh God it’s just so annoying because when you when it comes time to practice what you preach you just don’t do it. It’s like well what are you really who you serving then?

Emily Ladau 7:24
And I feel like I really need to clarify that Kyle and I have definitely done things for free.

Kyle Khachadurian 7:32
Oh yeah.

Emily Ladau 7:33
When we’re passionate about something both together and separately. We’ve done things on a volunteer basis. It’s not like all we want is money. And a perfect example I think we can highlight is the episode we did quite some time ago about New York City Kids Project.

Kyle Khachadurian 7:50
Love those guys.

Emily Ladau 7:51
Yeah, that was not a sponsored episode but then again, nor did they come to us and say do you work for us for free? They were like

“Hey, we’re having an event and we thought you might be interested in coming and checking us out. And then, it turned out that we forged a really good relationship with them, and we loved what they do. So we were like, “we’d really love to have you as guests on the podcast to highlight what you’re doing.”

Kyle Khachadurian 8:18
Yeah, it was like a mutually beneficial relationship.

Emily Ladau 8:21
And the thing is there, it was organic, it was not like, they sent us an email, and they were like, “can you please feature us on the podcast?” And look, we literally have emails in our inbox right now like that.

Kyle Khachadurian 8:33
And that’s the thing, you know, we would be singing a much different tune if we reached out to this organization. And they replied with, “I’m sorry, we can’t pay you. But hey, if you want to shout on Twitter, like we’ll have, we’re happy to do that.” But that’s not what happened. They came to us, which, which it’s an entirely different dynamic. And it’s, frankly, a little insulting, you know, I mean, not to sound dramatic, but really.

Emily Ladau 8:56
No, it kind of is. Because it’s like, “oh, how cute look at these two disabled people who have this little podcast, and maybe we can get some exposure.” But the thing is that if you think that we’re important enough to partner with us in some way, then I feel like you should respect that you need to have a little bit of a budget to do so. And, the reality is, we are a smaller podcast, because we’re so niche, but our listeners are, in many cases, that exact very specific niche that certain people are seeking to target.

Kyle Khachadurian 9:27
Right, which any smart organization would realize means that our little podcast here is valuable. But unfortunately…

Emily Ladau 9:36
And on the one hand, I feel bad, because it’s like all shop talk. And I really don’t want people to think that we’re in this for the money because if that was the case, we would have stopped this before we started.

Kyle Khachadurian 9:46
Oh, yeah, I mean, we, our first sponsored episode was like, just last year, and we’ve been doing it for a year and a half at that point.

Emily Ladau 9:52
Again, that’s probably a perfect example. So are AbleNOW sponsored episode, they approached us and they were like, “hello, would you like to do a sponsored episode?” And we were like, “why yes, we would.” And then we worked out a fee. And it was great.

Kyle Khachadurian 10:05
Yeah, that’s what happens when you respect the time and labor of your creators that you’re asking to do this thing.

Emily Ladau 10:13
And that was particularly more laborious than some of the other things that we’ve done, because we had three different interviews to piece together, all of which we had to prep for.

Kyle Khachadurian 10:23
Yeah, it wasn’t easy, but I mean, it was work and we did it and they recognized that and they are, they were a company that was, you know, focused on, on disability, but not in the same way that a disability rights organization is, or a disability advocacy organization is.

Emily Ladau 10:37
There is

a bit of a catch-22, though, because disability rights organizations in many cases, are completely bootstrapping and have like, zero budget. I do recognize that, which is why I try to take it on a case by case basis. But suffice it to say, that there are certain circumstances where it’s on you to figure out how paying people for work fits into your budget.

Kyle Khachadurian 11:02
I would say that’s on you, period.

Emily Ladau 11:03
Yeah, but

there are there really are times where if you approach me, I’ll probably still do something voluntarily.

Kyle Khachadurian 11:09
Oh, no, of course, of course. I didn’t mean to say that. I’m just saying like, if you’re going to reach out to someone, and have a game plan for yourself. I don’t know. That’s what we do. Like when we pitch ourselves. Like, we try to make ourselves sound great.

Emily Ladau 11:20
And this seems to be a rampant issue. I know that we are far from the only people who talked about this. In fact, there was a really good blog post. And I suppose that I am biased because I’m the editor of Rooted in Rights. But Sara Luterman, who is a really fantastic autistic activist, wrote a piece on paying disabled people. Basically breaking down the reasons why it’s incredibly inappropriate, especially for companies that you know have funding, to reach out and ask for voluntary work, or to pick your brain or to have some kind contribution without compensation.

Kyle Khachadurian 12:02
“We’ll buy you lunch!”

You ever have you ever get that? It’s like, “we can’t pay you but will pay for your lunch.” Oh, will you? Thanks.

Emily Ladau 12:08
I’ve done that on a few occasions. But then again, the last time I did that, I got a burrito.

Kyle Khachadurian 12:14
Oh, there you go. That’s not that’s not your ordinary soup and salad type deal.

Emily Ladau 12:19
So I did it with a customized burrito like they took my order. And then they went to Dos Toros and they

Kyle Khachadurian 12:26
Check you out

Rockefeller.

Emily Ladau 12:29
So I mean, maybe Actually, I should just say I’ll work for burritos, that’s better than exposure!

Kyle Khachadurian 12:38
It actually is though, because burritos will feed you for a while.

Emily Ladau 12:41
This is true. So how do we reconcile this big messy tangled web of like wanting to support disability issues recognizing that certain disability organizations are not super well funded, but also needing to be paid for valid work.

Kyle Khachadurian 13:02
If you’re not well funded. You have no business reaching out and asking people to work for you. Just like just like, if you’re a business, they can afford to pay your employees a wage, you don’t deserve to be in business. Everyone starts somewhere. And like we said, volunteer work is valid, it is fulfilling it is crucial. It is important but there comes a time, and there is a line, and perhaps it’s a little blurry in certain cases where it’s flat out insulting and disgusting. And not only that, but it also devalues the entire worth of the entire workforce of everyone else with a disability. If we say we’re going to work for free, that’s gonna, that’s not, you know, all they’re going to do is feel empowered to do that again to someone else.

Emily Ladau 13:48
Okay, that’s a very valid point too if one person devalues themselves enough that they’re willing to work for free, you’re just perpetuating the cycle. So it’s not good for me buddy

Kyle Khachadurian 14:00
and it’s not your fault. I mean, you need to get paid too like you know, like we all need to negotiate.

Emily Ladau 14:04
right and sometimes different opportunities seem to have different value to different people.

Kyle Khachadurian 14:12
Oh sure

Emily Ladau 14:13
Somebody might get contacted by this same organization and contacted us and be like “oh my God yes let’s do it” and not have any particular qualms about not being paid. So I mean it’s different for every situation for every person but ultimately like try not to be that guy that sets a precedent.

Kyle Khachadurian 14:34
I yeah

and it’s but yeah, you know it’s funny it like this almost reminds me a little bit of like the fight for 15 and in places like New York Even though $15 an hour in New York still is nowhere near enough but that’s a different story for a different day. But it’s like you know, your average person whether or not you believe the minimum wage should be raised which you know I personally do but you could probably look at that and go you know “I may or may not agree with what they’re doing but I appreciate a fight” you know and they they have to stand up for what they believe in and they have to stand up for what they want and they’re trying to do it. They’re striking they’re doing X, Y, and Z. If you can do that, and if you have done that, and you don’t think the same applies for a disabled creator or creator of any kind, you might want to ask yourself why that is because it’s the same thing. And frankly, I don’t feel like anyone should have to negotiate a living once like I mean, except for like, when you’re being interviewed for a job or something like that. But like, I don’t know, I just think it’s, it’s not unreasonable. If someone does something for me, I want to pay them like it’s the first thing I think of like, how can I make this up to you? I will give you some money.

Emily Ladau 15:40
Yeah, you know, I’m sort of thinking this is not like disabled labor over here. But we recently had this lovely woman move into a shop near our house, a tailor and a cleaners. And she’s this elderly woman, runs the shop by herself. Nicest person ever. And we’re constantly going to her because my body’s like, shorter than the average person’s body. So we always need pants shortened or a dress shortened or whatever. She fixed are curtains for us. Like, we go to her all the time. So we went to her because I got a new cushion for my new wheelchair. And we asked her if she would make a cover for it. And we were like, “how much?” And she was like, “no, it’s my gift to you.” And we were like, “no, we, like really want to pay you for this.” But she was like, “no, really, like, it’s my gift to you.” And the long and short of it is that she said, because we’re constantly giving her business, she wanted to do this one thing for me, because she knew that it was something that was going to make my life better by having a comfortable cushion. And I just can’t help but think like, that makes me want to give her more business.

Kyle Khachadurian 16:55
Yeah!

Emily Ladau 16:56
I’m trying to put this into the perspective of the “pay me” conversation. If you have been paying me and paying disabled people honestly and fully all along, and then at one point, you need a solid and you’re not going to pay me for it. I’m probably more willing to do that for you.

Kyle Khachadurian 17:15
Absolutely 100%. You know,

Emily Ladau 17:18
Although, I just like really wanted to tell my wheelchair cushion story because she’s such a nice lady.

Kyle Khachadurian 17:22
That’s a fantastic story. We’re 20 or 20% of the population, what percentage of the workforce do we make up? Nowhere near that, right?

Emily Ladau 17:29
Yeah, our unemployment rate is pretty ridiculous,

Kyle Khachadurian 17:33
Like 75%, right?

Emily Ladau 17:34
No. So I’m not going to quote it right now. Because I have not done my due diligence on the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the moment. But, suffice it to say that we are vastly unemployed.

Kyle Khachadurian 17:44
Yeah, and, but the unemployment rate is, is also, it counts for those that are IN the workforce, like who can and want to work but can’t find work. It’s like, if you’re one of those people who only sees it as, as a numbers game, then what I would say to you is, you you’re excluding an entire segment of a market and a population that has money, not a lot of it, compared to the rest of it. But money is money and is willing to try to earn and try to spend it. I just don’t understand like, why are we the ones that are marked like the world feel so bad for us? Like we’ve been offered money on the street for existing and yet, it’s like, I don’t know, it’s just I can’t deal with it. My brain’s all fried.

Emily Ladau 18:28
By the way because you know, that we always research things mid podcasting. So according to..

Kyle Khachadurian 18:34
Oh did you just do that?

Emily Ladau 18:35
Yes, I did, because according to the latest, it’s called the end tied to jobs report from the Kessler Foundation in the University of New Hampshire, the labor force participation rate for working age people with disabilities was 33% in January 2018, and remained the same in January 2019, 33%.

So that’s been a year of no two and labor force participation rate for people with disability.

Kyle Khachadurian 18:56
Wonderful news. Emily is giving a thumbs up sarcastically, you can’t see her, but I can.

Emily Ladau 18:56
Thank you for audio describing that moment.

We’re here for, in 2019 our word is access, baby!

It really is. We like consciously decided that. So what can we do? How do we fix this problem? Because honestly, I have no idea. That’s a serious question.

Kyle Khachadurian 19:23
It’s not our problem to fix were the victims of this problem? I don’t I don’t I really I hate to play a victim. I really do. I don’t usually do that. But like, I don’t really see any other…

Emily Ladau 19:33
You’re not wrong.

Kyle Khachadurian 19:34
I know. I know.

Emily Ladau 19:35
Not that I like the victim mentality but you’re not wrong.

Kyle Khachadurian 19:37
No, no, I but I agree with you like I want to help them. Like if, because I can also totally imagine a scenario where like Joe Schmo business owner doesn’t understand that, like, like, like work accomidations, like what’s the cost of an average reasonable accomidation for somebody at work? Like, what $100? They don’t know that.

Emily Ladau 19:55
Usually very inexpensive, or free.

Kyle Khachadurian 19:57
Yeah, and then they just hear the word accomodation, they think they’re going to spend thousands of dollars and just decide not to hire you. It’s like, I wonder how much, I know that’s a slightly different conversation. But I, it wouldn’t surprise me if part of the reason that this… stereotype? Is it a stereotype? That this idea exists is that the vast majority of the public just doesn’t know how to handle us. But I would expect disability focused organizations, and places and things of that nature to absolutely know those things. And that’s a sort of a an extra bit of salt in this wound here.

Emily Ladau 20:30
This is probably a stretch but what you’re saying made me think that there must be this perception that disabled people already received enough money from like social services.

Kyle Khachadurian 20:43
Oh, my God!

Emily Ladau 20:44
why do we need to pay them more?

Kyle Khachadurian 20:46
You know, you know, people say, like, everyone should work as a waiter or waitress at least once. You know what everyone should do: try to live on social services for a week. I won’t even say a month, just a week.

Emily Ladau 20:57
I also can’t ever be a waitress.

Kyle Khachadurian 21:00
Yeah, me neither. Like I can’t be a waiter. Seriously, I can’t do it. I don’t have the balance. But really, you anyone who thinks that people on any kind of social services are just over here, like making bank sitting at home watching Jerry Springer is just like, wouldn’t we all do that? And also, just as a slight tangent, because we all wouldn’t do that. Emily and I sure wouldn’t. But there is no such thing as an infallible safety net, such that there will be zero abuse. And to use that as an excuse not to have one is ridiculous and wrong. And if you believe that you are morally bankrupt. How do you like that.

Emily Ladau 21:36
That’s a good tangent.

Kyle Khachadurian 21:37
Sorry. So a lot of topic, but it’s related,

Emily Ladau 21:40
well, it’s all related. We need to make money, we need to make a living, we need to support ourselves. And we’re constantly stuck in this net of having our work devalued, our worth devalued. Basically being told we can’t make too much money or will lose our services. But if we make too little money, and we’re not useful and productive members of society, and it’s just it’s like, I’m not going to say that it’s only a disabled people problem. But it’s definitely a disabled people problem.

Kyle Khachadurian 22:06
Oh but it is, I would, I would argue, it hits us harder. Or at least as hard as the next group. I mean, because frankly, like whatever group that it’s in your head as a listener, thinking that this happens to you. I’m not gonna say you don’t think of disabled people because you listen to the show, but I would, I would bet that the average person just doesn’t. I mean, we get forgotten in everything all the time. So this would probably be no exception.

Emily Ladau 22:28
I always like to say we’re on the margins of marginalization.

Kyle Khachadurian 22:31
That’s a good one.

Emily Ladau 22:32
Trademark copyright. Don’t take it. Pay me!

Kyle Khachadurian 22:36
just like imagine you, you order a pizza. And like the

Emily Ladau 22:40
Are we back to examples of how not translate to consumer goods?

Kyle Khachadurian 22:44
Yes, because you have this like, 16 year old kid in this like, crappy car, and he comes to your door, and he hands you the pizza, and he opened his hands waiting for your cash money. And instead, you pull out your phone and being like, “what’s your Twitter handle, bro? I’m gonna hit you up with some sweet-ass exposure that I mean, I mean, I wouldn’t blame that kid if he pulled out his pants and s*** on your stoop. I really wouldn’t.

That’s ridiculous! I didn’t mean to go back to examples. But I mean, I just don’t know how else to explain it to you. If you’re someone that doesn’t get it like work costs money. That’s what it is.

Emily Ladau 23:21
I always find myself worrying that the people who are evolved enough to be listening to this podcast, and yes, that’s you, all of you out there, already know all this. And it’s like, how do we talk to the people who don’t get it? I have a mind to send this podcast episode to the delinquent organization and be like, excuse me, pay attention.

Kyle Khachadurian 23:45
We should.

Emily Ladau 23:45
Yeah, I know. But then all of a sudden, I like chicken out. And I’m like, I don’t want to ruin my reputation. I don’t want to ruin any relations in the community.

Kyle Khachadurian 23:53
They don’t. They clearly don’t care about relations with you or us.

Emily Ladau 23:56
Oh, my God, I forgot the best part.

Kyle Khachadurian 23:59
Oh, that’s right!

Emily Ladau 24:00
This is why it’s always a good thing to listen to, like at least almost a half an hour into the show, because this is when we remember things. So then, after this person proceeds to shut down any possible sponsored episode or other partnership opportunity, mind you, we offered them multiple opportunities. And all of them were pretty reasonably priced. And they said no. And we were like, all right, fine, whatever. A few days later, I got an email in MY inbox, my personal inbox because they reached out to Kyle the first time, and Kyle was like, “yeah, let me talk to my co host. Let’s make this happen.” Then they reached out to me personally, And were like, “can we interest you in some partnership opportunities?” And I have not emailed them back yet. But I literally want to be like, “did you do your homework?!”, And believe me, I do outreach and public relations and communications. This is my day job. I know that you need to do your homework when it comes to reaching out to people, you cannot pull one over on me. And the fact that the same person reached out…

Kyle Khachadurian 25:07
It WAS the same person wasn’t it?! It was not even the same organization, it was the same human being?!

Emily Ladau 25:11
Yes.

Yep, same email. And they were like, “can we interest you in partnership?” And I was like, “that is rich. Are you kidding me?” You just shut us down on another email thread. So let’s just go find her somewhere else. And granted I have a lot of email addresses…

Kyle Khachadurian 25:27
Yeah, but I said your name

Emily Ladau 25:29
Oh yeah. Oh, we have like a full on conversation with this person’s associate.

Kyle Khachadurian 25:33
Yeah, they spoke to

us! I mean, like yeah!

Emily Ladau 25:35
Not the person

who sent the email.

Kyle Khachadurian 25:37
Oh yeah, right. Because they were too good to talk to us, they were sick that day or whatever, but…

Emily Ladau 25:40
But not too good to send a form email, twice.

Kyle Khachadurian 25:44
Yeah.

Emily Ladau 25:44
Once to you and once to me.

Kyle Khachadurian 25:46
Can you tell we’re a little bitter?

Emily Ladau 25:47
Yeah I’ve now come around…

Kyle Khachadurian 25:48
It’s not about the money it’s not about the money at this point. It really isn’t. It’s just: what does it say to the world if the people who claim to represent our best interests can’t pay us or won’t pay us. It’s like what are you good for then?

Emily Ladau 26:02
What indeed.

Kyle Khachadurian 26:03
No, like I’m waiting. Someone, like, tweet at us in this little break because I’m curious. Anyway. Final takeaway. Mine is if you’re disabled organization or any organization but especially a disability focused one that does not pay disabled people you’re an ass****.

Emily Ladau 26:19
Mine is a little bit more eloquent. Pay me please, thank you.

Kyle Khachadurian 26:24
No, I’m not saying please, I’m not saying please.

Emily Ladau 26:27
There’s actually this line that I really like from a guy who’s all about like paying entrepreneurs I have to look it up because I want to get it right Oh, so this guy Mike Monteiro is known for his “f*** you, pay me” motto.

Kyle Khachadurian 26:47
Oh, yeah. That’s great motto.

Emily Ladau 26:48
And he literally goes around spreading the gospel about why you need to get paid for your work.

Kyle Khachadurian 26:52
That’s, that’s, that’s a good that’s like, straight up religion right there. That’s a great philosophy.

Emily Ladau 26:58
Yeah.

Kyle Khachadurian 26:59
You know, if you’re going to talk Taco Bell an order some tacos.

Emily Ladau 27:01
Oh my God!

Kyle Khachadurian 27:04
The cashier doesn’t say “pay me, please.” They say that’ll be $6.74 for your 50 tacos.

Emily Ladau 27:14
Still not wrong. Appreciate the usage of tacos. Okay, my final takeaway is just stop it. And don’t expect people to work for free. I actually don’t care if you’re disabled or not. Like you should not be working for free.

Kyle Khachadurian 27:30
Yeah, love yourself. You’re worth more than that. You’re worth more than nothing. Seriously, you should know that, whoever you are, whatever you do.

Emily Ladau 27:36
See, sometimes Kyle says really beautiful things if you listen long enough. But if you go to a store and you get a bottle of mouthwash.

Kyle Khachadurian 27:45
Oh, is that, is that your impression of me?

Emily Ladau 27:47
That was my impression of you.

Kyle Khachadurian 27:49
You would’ve never guessed what I did today! I was in the CVS and 50 people asked me if I had a license to drive this thing. And I said, “I just want my mouthwash. But I don’t want to pay for it. Because I’m disabled!”

Is it ableist if we’re making fun of each other?

Emily Ladau 28:04
No… probably.

Kyle Khachadurian 28:08
Anyway, this has been another episode of The Accessible Stall. We’re losing it. I’m Kyle

Emily Ladau 28:14
Thanks so much for listening!

Kyle Khachadurian 28:16
She’s Emily. Thanks so much for listening and might be saying You look great today. Oh, and you deserve to be compensated for your work. What a concept is like the whole country was founded on that idea, right? Oh, wow. Look, it was! good night, everybody!

Emily Ladau 28:27
I’M Emily!

Kyle Khachadurian 28:29
I said that.

Emily Ladau 28:30
I wanted to say it!

Kyle Khachadurian 28:31
Oh, I didn’t mean to mansplain your name, which is a great name for a band, by the way, mansplain your name. Good night, everybody.

Emily Ladau 28:42
Bye!