WHY

Before I give a talk I do hours of research and preparation. Since I am disabled and have limited time and energy, focusing on preparing a talk usually takes all my focus for a couple of weeks. Speaking and writing is how I support myself and my family. I wouldn’t ask you to give up two weeks of your time and provide your services for free to me. Please don’t ask me to do the same.

VIRTUAL

SPEAKER

I am primarily a Virtual Speaker. That means that I will come to you through Zoom or FaceTime. Both these platforms allow me to see and hear you, use a PowerPoint presentation and have a Q&A.
Virtual Speaker Advantages:
* No travel costs to you
* No access barriers for me
* No staff costs for setting up accessible transportation and housing

COMPARE

VIRTUAL SPEAKING
* easy to set up with any computer and a screen
* You only pay the speaker fee

IN-PERSON SPEAKING
* I travel with a personal care assistant so that means extensive costs:
* 2 airfares, 2 hotel rooms, 2 per diems, extra hotel nights (I need to arrive early and leave later)
* Staff costs to arrange wheelchair accessible transportation, housing and speaking space

BENEFITS OF
DISABLED SPEAKERS

Speakers with disabilities bring invaluable insights to our talks. We provide lived experiences that often challenge old-fashioned thinking about disabled people. We also have in-depth knowledge of our topics because we have to be the best to get work.

WHY SO FEW?

There are plenty of talented, capable speakers with disabilities. But you will rarely see them. Some reasons:
* Organizations are used to in-person speakers who are nondisabled. This means when they create a budget they only plan for nondisabled bodies (i.e. ones that can travel easily).
* Many organizations do not budget for Virtual Speakers. In fact, some places refuse to pay for a speaker unless they are physically on-site.
* Disabled people by definition will have access needs. But speaker budgets do not plan for that. So when a disabled person is asked to do an on-site talk, the organization is stunned by the access-related expenses. This is why Virtual Speakers are a benefit to both the organization and the budget.
* These kinds of barriers means that disabled people are rarely on-site speakers.

2019 SPEAKING FEES

30 minute Discussion

I hour Discussion

30 minute Formal Talk

1 hour Formal Talk

$100.00

$200.00

$300.00

$400.00