Disabled people have developed ways of being together that recognize people’s inherent worth and values what each individual has to offer. Join us for a discussion about how crip kindness and community care can be transferred to everyday life.

Discussion includes:

• Definitions of disability.
• Definition of crip and reason for using the word and concept of crip (crip is a term that disabled people are reclaiming, much as the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has done with the term queer).
• Exploring the idea of a Crip Doula (a Disability Justice term for someone who helps disabled people navigate our complex systems, provides resources, support, and builds community).
• Exploring why crip work is necessary. Disabled people have to fight for our existence. We have to advocate for our space, protect one another from being institutionalization, create support systems, care networks, and communication webs.
• Self-care versus community care.
• Definition of kindness and how it applies to disability, disabled people, and crip work.
• Utilizing crip philosophies to challenge “norms”, such as what we consider good behaviour and professionalism – and how these “norms” harm people with disabilities.
• Ways to move forward in a shared path to better meet the needs of the collective, respect and value what each person has to offer, and recognize the inherent worth of every person.

Facilitator:

Heather McCain (they/them) is Executive Director of Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods, a non-profit they founded in 2005. Heather is also a Crip Doula. This is a Disability Justice term for someone who helps disabled people navigate our complex systems, providing resources, support, and building community.

Heather is disabled, neurodivergent, trans, asexual, aromantic, and queer. They are an experienced public speaker and educator who engages people of all levels of learning.

“Heather is passionate about the topic of disability awareness and their enthusiasm helps to encourage participants in believing that by working together we can create a more accessible, equitable, and just world.

I feel equipped and motivated to move forward and put into practice that which I learned from Heather.

I highly suggest Heather as an educator and workshop facilitator. I contemplated that which was covered in the session long after the workshop. I look forward to participating in future workshops by Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods.”

Adrienne Neil, disabled person and workshop participant