Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Access
Lou has been involved in the design, development and delivery of inclusive and accessible ways of working since 2009. Understanding intersectionality Lou explores EDIA through the layers of lived experiences which interact and compound how we live, construct and move through the world in relation to others. With her starting point towards ableism and disablism, Lou works with others to develop and clarify their attitudes and actions with care and boldness; where experiences of everyday difference can belong & shape new ways thinking and being.
Working in the mainstream and disability dance and theatre sectors, counselling and the international Feldenkrais community, Lou work with originality, playfulness and sensitivity. She inspires and challenges in equal measure, bringing the best out of people. She work collaboratively and can offer consultancy, teaching, troubleshooting, depending on need.
Facilitation
Focused sessions that work with your practice to create optimal inclusive and accessible environments – from ½ day to full day workshops and longer residencies. The sessions are responsive and designed around your specific questions and ideas.
Speaking and facilitation around soft skills, attitudes and nuances of what inclusion and access is, what it means, and for who. Lou works with understanding the importance of language in everyday practices.
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Holding space for exploring intersectionality within lived experiences
Working collaboratively to develop understanding of ableism within lived experiences and social constructs.
Making space with people who get stuck, or need support to move through environmental barriers and barriers within themselves so they can thrive.
Workshops and residences inviting people to embed best practices and access into their thinking and work places.
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Individual conversations to demystify what access and inclusion is within their particular situation.
Holding space for exploring how to anticipate needs of others (employees, students, team members)
Supporting individuals to navigate difficult conversations they encounter around ableism, access and inclusion
Developing actions to making their work more inclusive.
Developing approachable attitudes around inclusion and access.
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Lou is active on EDI boards and working groups in the therapy training field. In these roles she has co-developed more ways of thinking and responsive practices in relation to disability which have been successfully implemented.
She worked closely with Feldenkrais Guild UK and international groups of practitioners to write EDI statements and protocols were the focus was acknowledging continual learning through lived cultural and historical sensitivities.
Lou has worked with:
British Council France & UK, counselling organisations and individual therapists, Feldenkrais Guild UK and International Feldenkrais Federation, Fast Familiar, Epic Arts (Cambodia) and We Are Epic (UK), Dan Daw Creative Projects, many companies and individual facilitators. Previous Lou has:
Shaped best practice around inclusion and access within the structure organisations
Co-developed meaningful inclusive working practice to suit needs
Inputed into policies and procedures in conjunction with organisation Boards
Co-mentored trainees, and worked with them to develop further ways to support people identifying within LGBTQI+, D/disabled communities.
Facilitated organisational development events and trainings in a open, accessible professional manner
Held conversations around individual disability practices shaping the collective voice.
Questioned where does disability and chronic illness sit within individual and an organisational practice
Developed inclusive intersectional access documents, how much to reveal and when?
Led provocations on: What is inclusion? What does inclusion feel and look like for new initiatives
Mentored the development of Access Docs for Artists website