I am a qualified coach with over 20 years’ experience working alongside Disabled people, employers and organisations across disability employment, local government, the civil service and the voluntary sector.
My experience includes supporting Disabled people and employers, accessible recruitment and workplaces, Access to Work, and facilitating training, including Social Model of Disability workshops. I have also worked with parents and carers of Disabled children and led programmes supporting Disabled people to develop their skills, confidence and leadership.
I was born deaf and grew up orally in mainstream education, using hearing aids and without a strong deaf identity. Learning BSL in my twenties played a big part in developing my own deaf identity, and I went on to achieve BSL Level 6. I now offer coaching in both English and BSL. Supporting d/Deaf people is an important part of my work, but I also work with Disabled people more broadly and bring a strong understanding of the barriers, expectations and assumptions that can come with being Disabled.
I’m a parent, and have a particular interest in the experiences of Disabled parents. I run a co-designed programme for Deaf signing mothers, creating an accessible space to explore topics such as identity, motherhood, self-care, mum guilt, boundaries and the many competing demands of family life. I enjoy bringing together my professional experience and my own lived experience to create spaces where people can be open, curious and honest about what is really going on.
My coaching is person-centred, creative and informed by the Social Model of Disability. I believe people are experts in their own lives, and my role is to listen, ask thoughtful questions, offer a different perspective when useful, and help people work out what feels right for them.