Category: Fair Shares

Accessing Permaculture for people with chronic illness and/or disability - top tips

4/4/2019

Top tips for permaculture events/courses facilitators and permaculture demonstration sites

Kt Shepherd Illustrations

In February of this year I published an article on my blog - Accessing Permaculture for people with chronic illness and/or disability - positives, challenges and suggestions for a more inclusive permaculture. In this post I share the "top tips" for permaculture events/courses facilitators and permaculture demonstration sites, arising from the article.

(These top tips are also available as a PDF here)

Include as much information as possible (in the course/event marketing and in the event joining information) about physical access issues, the availability of quiet resting spaces and the ability to support additional learning needs.
Ask about specific needs as part of the event joining information. Be honest and realistic about whether these needs can be met.
Consider having lower cost or free places for Carers of people with CI/D. (Chronic Illness and/or Disability)
Invite a person with CI/D to speak or lead a session/workshop at events and on courses about accessing permaculture for people with CI/D.
Include people with CI/D as part of the design team when creating permaculture information sharing, event, courses or new designs for demonstration sites.
Consider whether learning materials/event/course/volunteering options could be broken down into smaller sections. Is it be possible to charge for each section separately? (This would avoid a person with a CI/D needing to pay a full price for only attending a fraction of the event.)
Design Permaculture Design Courses (PDC) as modular courses (either online or face to face) so that people can attend and pay for one module at a time.
Choose venues and activities for your events that are accessible for people who have reduced mobility and who need for spaces to rest.
Ensure provision of quiet spaces to rest at events/courses/demonstration sites, including space to lie down.
Design new demonstration sites (and redesign existing sites) so that they include accessibility for people with CI/D as a core function.
Create a “buddy” system in your local permaculture network and/or events – with the aim of providing extra support for people with CI/D, thereby improving inclusivity.
Create a culture of care and empowerment at your event/course/demonstration site. Ensure awareness of permission and encouragement for people to take time out for self-care whenever they need to.
Provide “hidden illness/disability” badges/lanyards at events, together with information about what these mean and how others could help.
Use diverse teaching/learning materials – including take-away/digital handouts detailing the main points covered and explaining any terminology and acronyms.
Design short, diverse teaching/information-sharing/workshop sessions with regular breaks.
Provide information and engage in awareness-raising relating to health risks that may result from attending permaculture events and demonstration sites. Some examples of these are tick-borne illnesses (Lyme disease and others); leptospirosis (Weil’s disease) from urine of infected animals, most commonly from rats; injuries and their associated sepsis risk; sunburn/heatstroke.

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Winter Solstice Prints Available

5/12/2018

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My Winter Solstice Doodle Prints , are available to buy now, with 100% of the profit going to support Manorlands Hospice, in Oxenhope, West Yorkshire. (England).You can find out about the amazing services Manorlands provides via the link tagged in this post . Its an organisation very close to my heart, as I've nursed in various roles at Manorlands over the last 15 years, and it's been a wonderful place to work.

The Winter Solstice Doodles are A4 in size on recycled card and Footprint Workers Co operative in Leeds have done a fab job in transforming my creativity into beautiful prints. They've been a great organisation to work with and I can very much recommend them.

PRICES
Prints are £12.50 each which includes £2.50 for printing, packaging and postage in the UK, and £10 donated directly to Manorlands.

If you are on a low income, prints are available at a reduced price of £7.50 which includes £2.50 for printing, packaging and postage in the UK, and £5 donated directly to Manorlands.

If you would like a print, but are unable to afford the reduced price, or you would like to buy several prints, then please contact me and we can chat about this.

Payment is via PayPal. Please send me a direct message on Facebook or Instagram or via email, with your order, including a postal address, and I will let you know PayPal details.

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Accessing Permaculture for people with chronic illness and/or disability - top tips

Winter Solstice Prints Available

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