Disability and Doulas

One in six adults worldwide (World Health Organization) is currently disabled. Many more disabled people do not have a diagnosis, and many currently-abled people will become disabled at some point in their lives. The reality of disability affects doula work both in how disabled clients and disabled doulas navigate care and support. Yet despite how common disability is, there are few resources for doulas regarding disability.

In this presentation, two disabled doulas (Kristen Schell and Dr. Abby Jorgensen) will address this gap. We will first work with learners through four tips for supporting disabled clients in an inaccessible world. Then, we will discuss three lessons we have learned about navigating as disabled doulas in an ableist world. This presentation is meant to serve as a launching point for further conversation, equipping learners with language and space to begin processing their experiences and the experiences of others.