Are you writing a sermon, reflection, or story on disability, or including queer and/or disabled characters, and want to make sure your material doesn’t include any offensive or outdated terms and appropriately reflects the reality of those groups? I can help with that! Sensitivity reading is a process in which a reader with lived experience as a member of a marginalised group reviews your work to ensure it portrays members of said group in an appropriate manner, and doesn’t rely on stereotypes or misinformation.

To date, I have generally conducted sensitivity reads for worship materials and personal reflections, but I am happy to work with other kinds of materials. I specifically identify as a white, disabled lesbian who has a connective tissue disorder and uses a rollator. I also have OCD and PTSD. As such, those and similar topics are the ones I am most directly equipped to handle, but I am comfortable with a general level of disability and queer sensitivity reading even if it doesn’t precisely match my identity.

For sensitivity reading, I will review your work and give you an annotated copy with my comments, in whatever format you prefer. You may receive both positive and negative feedback, but all feedback will come with a clear explanation. I am happy to review edits, as well. I promise folks generally find the process to be a positive learning experience!

If you want to develop a more welcoming and inclusive community but don’t know where to start, this workshop is for you! During our time together, we’ll explore some of the basics of disability justice, history, theology, and etiquette. The standard version is tailored toward a UU setting, but a secular version is currently available, and versions tailored toward other religious traditions are very much an option.

Disability 101

Introduction to Disability Justice

Disability Language & Etiquette

Workshop Topic

You want your congregation to be a welcoming, inclusive place for disabled people, but you’re concerned that your language and metaphors are telling a different story, in ways that may be invisible to you. A lot of our hymns, readings, and religious source material contain ableist words and metaphors, and many of us were taught to use language for disabled people that is outdated, externally opposed, and may even be considered a slur at this point. This workshop provides a deeper dive into why the words and metaphors we use are important, the way that language shapes our brains, and a framework for thinking through disability metaphors in worship and beyond. If you’d like a more secular version of this workshop, reach out!

Events Accessibility

Workshop Topic

Access is a collective project that needs to be worked into every aspect of your event planning from the start. In this workshop, we’ll go through a basic, non-exhaustive checklist of accessibility features, talk about taking a disability justice approach to access, and brainstorm potential ways to overcome barriers to access in your setting. I will also recommend technical resources to further your learning and assist material changes and help you build competency around disability etiquette and inclusion. If you’re considering events accessibility coaching, this is a great place to start!

Want me to read for you?

Pricing for sensitivity reading is roughly calculated by the word count of your piece. I charge $50 for pieces of up to 1,000 words; $75 for pieces of up to 2,500 words; and approximately $25 per additional 1,500; but if you go slightly over a given range, that likely isn't a concern.