Access + care
Accessibility matters here, and so does being honest about what one person can actually provide.
Gathered Well is about making connection and care more available to Black mental health professionals, and I want these spaces to be as open as I can make them. I also live with disability myself, so I know what it is to need something that simply is not there, and how much it means when someone at least tries.
This page is me being real with you about what is possible, what is still unknown, and what I can and cannot promise.
Right now, Gathered Well is organized and funded out of pocket by one Black clinician, alongside clinical work and everything else. Finding accessible spaces, funding, and sponsorship is part of the work too, and it takes time I am still carving out.
Knowing what is available
Access is specific. It depends on the person, the space, and the gathering. What works for one person may not meet another’s needs, and sharing access information is not the same as promising every feature is there.
For each event, we will try to share the access details I have been able to confirm, including what is limited. Depending on the gathering, that may cover:
Entrances, stairs, interior routes, and restrooms
Seating, room to move, and indoor or outdoor settings
Sound, lighting, crowds, and any quieter areas
Food ingredients and dietary options
Parking and public transportation
Captioning, interpretation, or written materials
Participation options, illness precautions, and fragrance information
Reduced-cost or sponsor-supported admission
These are things I may be able to describe, not guaranteed accommodations. If a detail is not listed, it may not be known or confirmed yet. Please do not assume a feature is there because it appears on this page.
Working within real limits
What I can offer depends on the spaces made available to me, what venues cost and allow, partner resources, and whether a gathering is funded or paid for out of my own pocket. Some things are simply outside my control. If a space is offered to me for free or at a community rate, I may not be able to ask for changes or extras on top of that.
I am still learning. My understanding of disability comes from my own life, and I will not anticipate every need. What I can promise is that I care, and that I would rather know than not know.
Share an access need or suggestion
You are welcome to ask about a gathering, name a barrier, or share something that would make taking part easier. You never have to disclose a diagnosis or your medical history.
If you reach out, it helps to include the gathering you are asking about, what would help, and how you would like to be contacted. Share only what feels comfortable.
Messages come to one person doing this alongside everything else. I may miss one, or not be able to reply before a gathering, and I cannot promise a response time or that a change will be possible. Sending a request does not mean the support is arranged, so please go by the confirmed event information and any direct follow-up.
Still, your perspective is welcome, even when I cannot change something right away. It helps me learn, and it helps me widen the door as Gathered Well grows.