I set these core beliefs in my coaching and consulting work not just for myself but for those looking to make change into action. I hold myself accountable in making these beliefs evident in my practice, knowing they are organic and evolving as I educate myself further.

I believe…

• We all have a right to a just, equitable, accessible, inclusive, and identity-affirming community, neighborhood, work, and education

• That I’m not perfect and hold myself accountable for any harm I can impose or cause

• All people deserve care, access, and support and we must do our part to ensure these exists in our communities

• Moving from ally to accomplice

• In honoring the humanity, well-being, dignity, and self-determination of every person

• Disability and disabled are NOT bad words. Disability is not a punishment. In the words of Ly Xīnzhèn Zhǎngsūn, “Disability is normal/natural and a cause/consequence of oppression”

• We all have something to learn and we must be willing to continue learning

• Intersectional inclusivity is disability accessibility

• Disabled people are more than their access needs/accommodations

• We all have the capacity to harm. We have a responsibility to try to reduce our capacity for harm and hold ourselves accountable for any harm, whether physical, emotional, mental, social, or otherwise that we cause regardless of intent

• Feelings of shame, guilt, and discomfort are opportunities for curiosity, self-reflection, and growth. It’s a strength to recognize and admit you or something is wrong and that you want to learn more to fix it.

• In creative noncompliance. We have the power to reimagine things in creative and divergent ways plus redesign to abolish barriers and inaccessibility.

• If you met one disabled person, you’ve met one disabled person

• There is nothing about us without us and no justice is “just us”

• In making accountability spaces rather than safe or brave spaces. As Elise Ahenkorah writes, “Accountability means being responsible for yourself, your intentions, words, and actions. It means entering a space with good intentions, but understanding that aligning your intent with action is the true test of commitment.”

• In restorative and transformative justice, healing, and accountability that isn’t rooted in punishment, police, or prisons

• It is not possible to address the problem of ableism without addressing the problems of white supremacy, anti-Blackness, Zionism, capitalism, gender and sexual-based oppression, settler-colonialism, and other forms of systemic and structural violence, oppression, and domination

In my work I will ask my clients to develop their own core beliefs to guide their goals and their growth.