Thank you for your interest in working and/or collaborating with me! I have a disability, so in order to be able to gain equal access to opportunities and contribute to the best of my ability, I need support to make sure that my environment is accessible and barrier-free.

Before embarking on our working relationship together, please take a moment to read the following access statement, and let me know how you can support each item.

If you need more specifics about anything, please get in touch, I’m happy to clarify and assist where I can. If you can’t provide something, let’s have a conversation about it. I am more interested in accessibility as something for which we work together, rather than a punitive standard I measure you against. 

0. Introduction

I am a freelance Creative Producer and Activist. I work with film, arts and media organisations on collaborative projects and events, and I am regularly invited to talks, panels and sessions as a speaker.

I have a physical disability that impacts my daily life and affects my muscle strength, mobility and energy levels. My disability is exacerbated by, for example, overexertion, stress, and dehydration, and because of this my current condition can change rapidly day to day and even hour to hour.

Often, I want to do many things that my body is unable to do, so please don’t be disheartened or offended if I can’t spend as much time with you as I’d like, or if I can’t attend events as often as I’d like. Equally, please don’t presume to know what I can or cannot do without asking me - I understand my body better than anyone, and I am capable of communicating my abilities/needs to you myself.

The Social Model of Disability

• I identify as disabled under the Social Model of Disability. I would appreciate any collaborators taking the time to learn about this, in order to avoid unexpectedly encountering ableism. If you are not familiar with this topic, take some time to read up on it, and do your part to educate yourself. (I have included some links for further reading below.)

• The above information is what I feel comfortable disclosing publicly about my disability. Please don’t ask a disabled person you are working with to disclose more than they are comfortable sharing, or to do all of the labour required to explain their experience of being disabled or the history of disability activism. The internet is your friend, make use of it - read resources by disabled people, consume media from disabled voices (again, see below for more). Alternatively, hire a disabled person to educate you and pay them very well for their time.

1. Money (Pay, Fees, Costs, etc.)

Disabled people are paid less, and are also less likely to be in employment than our non-disabled peers. The disability pay gap is real, and disabled women face the biggest pay gap of all - but this does not have to be the case. Please consider hiring disabled people and investing the appropriate funds in hiring us.

I am unable to take on unpaid work or pro bono work, and will only agree to work for which I am adequately reimbursed.

Access should not be funded solely by me, the disabled individual (i.e., taken out of my fee or my production/travel budget), but shared with the organisation, institution, and/or local/national funding bodies (access costs for myself, any collaborators, and for making the project accessible to an audience, should all be taken into account when applying for funding). The fact that access is often funded by me, in more ways than just financial, signals how inaccessible the world is. Please join me in carrying this weight.

2. Scheduling

I require all agreements (e.g. hours, payment, etc.) and timeframes to be communicated clearly and confirmed by both parties at least two weeks prior to any work commencing. Accessibility takes a really long time, and the more time there is to work out all the logistics, the better. 

While we’re working together, let’s keep checking in. Accommodating my access needs may mean different things at different times, and it’s important for us to keep communication open.

3. Access Requirements

To fully support me in our collaboration, please take the following into consideration.

a) Working Days

• My normal working days are Mondays-Wednesdays

• I require flexibility around working hours and days, with breaks throughout the day

b) Working Practices

• I prefer to schedule any in-person work and meetings within my normal working days/hours (see above); work outside of these hours (including late/long meetings, social/networking events, and other spontaneously-made plans) will not be undertaken unless agreed in advance

• Please be as punctual as you are able to any planned meetings; I also appreciate as much advance notice as possible when making and/or changing plans - unplanned calls, impromptu meetings and abrupt changes/cancellations disrupt my day and affect my energy levels

• My energy levels are limited and can fluctuate, so I benefit from having a balanced and well-planned workload, ample time to complete deadlines, and clear agendas provided in advance. It’s best to factor down-time periods into planning, and approach meetings with flexibility to reschedule

c) Communication

• My preferred method of communication is email, and where possible I take meetings via videocall

• I often take longer than most people to answer emails; please be patient with my replies, or if absolutely necessary mark emails as “urgent” to flag them for my attention

• Please consider whether a face-to-face meeting (and the physical energy it would require of me to attend) is necessary, or whether videocalls and emails could be used in addition or as an alternative

d) Working Environment Requirements

• NON-NEGOTIABLE: access to disabled parking spaces (or suitable private parking) within walking distance of any work/meetings - I cannot walk long distances, and will not be able to work in/attend places where this is not possible (please take time to find another place to meet if necessary)

• NECESSARY for in-person/location-based work: a warm comfortable space with a desk and chair, step-free access to locations (where possible), and safe storage space for any equipment/belongings I am unable to carry around with me

• NECESSARY for moving around within location: some physical assistance, particularly in event of emergency (e.g. fire alarms) - I cannot move quickly, walk long distances, or lift/carry heavy things

• DESIRABLE: access to an additional quiet area with comfortable seating (to use for managing symptoms of fatigue and migraines)

e) Travel, Accommodation, etc.

• I am very open to opportunities that may require travel, but will need detailed information to ensure my contribution and attendance will be fully supported before signing on

• Please get in touch to discuss my specific requirements regarding any travel (both local and international), accommodation, food, and transportation between locations - please do not book anything without consulting me and getting my approval first

• As a rule I cannot travel alone for extended periods, and I prefer to bring someone with me who I already have a relationship with and who will know how to support me - their travel, accommodation, food, and transportation should be covered by the host, as mine are

4. Marketing

Wherever my name is listed on your website or any marketing material (including on social media), any access information for events/venues should be listed - this is especially important if a venue/event space is not fully accessible.

Access information should include, for example: details on any stairs, toilets, the nearest accessible public transport and route from that transport to the venue, and what kind of seating/access provisions are available at the event (sign language interpreters, quiet rooms, closed captioning etc.).

This is an essential part of us working together, as it is the only way that people with access needs know whether they are welcomed in a space or not. I will not participate in events that actively choose to exclude sick and disabled people. I also reserve the right to approve all final language published that includes my name.

For guidance on this matter, please refer to Shape Arts’ Accessible Marketing Guide, and the access questionnaire in RA Walden’s Primer on Working with Disabled Group Members.

5. The Future

Disabled people are estimated to make up 1/5th of the global population, and yet we are consistently left out of and ignored within cultural discourse.

Access is collaborative. Making your environment accessible is not just good for disabled people, but also for your organisation, and for your wider community. I implore you to be an example that others can follow, and consider taking the access measures that you learn about during our time together and applying them in the future. By following these practices - not just for me, but for all your work going forward - you’d become a working part of building the kind of accessible world that needs to be built.

Disabled people can do amazing things when given the right circumstances and support - we just need the opportunity!

Further Reading

The Social Model of Disability

The Spoon Theory, a metaphor about energy levels often used by the disability community

A Primer on Working with Disabled Group Members for Feminist/Activist Organisations by RA Walden

20 Stories High and Graeae's Access Manifesto for more information about how to support disabled employees and colleagues

Shape Arts’ Accessible Marketing Guide for guidance on making communications inclusive of disabled people

Disability Pay Gap Research by the Trade Union Congress (TUC)

For examples of media that depicts the varied experiences of being disabled, and the history of disability and Deaf activism, I highly recommend the following films which are all authored by disabled/Deaf voices (and some of which are available to watch for free online):
- Crip Camp (2020) co-directed by James LeBrecht (available for free in full on YouTube)
- The Ride Ahead (2024) (and the short film My Disability Roadmap) directed by Sam and Dan Habib
- Is There Anybody Out There (2023) directed by Ella Glendining (available to stream on Netflix)
- Unrest (2017) directed by Jennifer Brea (available for free in full on YouTube)
- Deaf President Now! (2025) co-directed by Nyle DiMarco (available to stream on AppleTV)
- Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore (2025) directed by Shoshannah Stern (upcoming release)
This is just a small selection of narratives told through our own lenses - I encourage you to actively seek out and champion more representations of disability that truly reflect our lived experiences

Special thanks to Johanna Hedva, and Access Docs For Artists by Leah Clements, Lizzy Rose and Alice Hattrick, for their guidance and examples in putting this access statement together