LET’S supports, plans and/or facilitates community engagement sessions and creates a space where people with disabilities and neurodivergent folks can share their experiences and perspectives for the betterment of services and/or organizations/businesses. LET’S facilitates space for people to share their truths, frustrations, and hopes. We ensure that the engagement is not a box to check but rather a valuable use of time for all involved.

Disabled and neurodivergent folks are often asked to share their personal stories. Knowing improvements won’t be made without their voices and experiences, they open their lives to strangers. They share traumas, discrimination, and emotional stores. Unfortunately, all too often, their truth and vulnerability is not valued, utilized, or responded to.

LET’S does not ask for participation from community members unless the community engagement is part of a process of change. We know what it’s like to share difficult parts of our lives only to learn there were pre-determined results or that our words were documented then put on a shelf or in a drawer, never to be used.

It is vital that people with lived expertise be monetarily recognize. However, valuing people’s time, energy, and stories must also include recognizing the costs of this sharing and how it effects the people most impacted. It is important that this offering is met with appreciation, communication, self and organizational reflection, and, most importantly, follow-through.

LET’S has facilitated a variety of events including, but not limited to, our peer support group Chronically Queer, community engagement sessions, community events, conferences, speaking panels, Q&As, and workshops

LET’S’s skills have been developed in and by community. As an active part of the disability, neurodivergent, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, we understand the importance of creating a safer space where truth and vulnerability are supported and valued. We facilitate respectful conversation that foster self and organizational reflection. We are able to build community in an intentionally equitable way.

Accessibility is key to safety and recognition. Disabled and neurodivergent people can walk into a space and know whether they were considered and/or involved in the planning process. Ensuring a good first impression is vital to making them feel recognized and respected.

LET’S uses conflict resolution methods to address varying opinions. We guide conversations in a way that enables people to feel comfortable asking their questions and sharing their thoughts, even if they don’t know the current terminology or how to ask the question. LET’S’ has curiosity to learn more from, and about, the participants and ask insightful questions that promotes constructive conversations. LET’S is skilled in allowing for silence, letting participants think out their responses in their own time. LET’S is able to adapt to circumstances and understands the importance of not setting up a rigid framework.

Following a facilitated session, LET’S is able to summarize the discussion, including challenges and successes, of the session recommend future actions and next steps, provide follow-up material and resources for participants, and follow up with any attendees who need further information or support.

LET’S creates low or reduced sensory spaces for formal and informal events, including conferences, festivals, workshops, performances, charitable, corporate, and private gatherings.

LET’S’ spaces are created and facilitated by neurodivergent folks with lived expertise.

LET’S uses a Disability Justice lens and prioritizes accessibility.

Low/reduced sensory spaces provide customized environments for people to decompress and have much needed breaks from overwhelming sensory input (noise, crowds, smells, lighting), strong emotions, and socializing.

People who are not neurodivergent also benefit from access to low/reduced sensory spaces.

LET’S has an excellent reputation for delivering in-depth, insightful, informative, and intersectional workshops on a variety of topics. Our workshops are well prepared and planned. We thought we would let our participants share what they liked about our workshops:

“I appreciate the practical and real-life translation of knowledge about a very important topic. I’m walking away with having absorbed a lot of important information.”

“Much more in-depth information than I expected which was a wonderful surprise. Good mix of facts, examples and personal anecdotes. Slides were well-formatted. Stim toys were provided and used by most of the workshop participants throughout. This was a workshop that a couple months ago I wished existed and to my surprise here it is!”

“Even though it was 4 hours, I was interested the whole time. I liked the chance to discuss with those at the table and learn from someone with lived experience. I have ADHD and the presentation taught me a lot about myself.”

“I learned a lot of easy tools and examples to actively work against ableism in my workplace through my own action. I also learned about myself and how I can advocate for my own access needs.”

Thank you SO much for your presentation today! It was empowering, eye-opening, and it offered us all a really unique perspective on accessibility that I can personally say will inform a lot of my work and my interactions going forward. There were a lot of really positive comments from staff today after you signed off, and I heard a lot of “I hadn’t ever considered…” and “I never would have thought about ________.” And of course, since a lot of us who work in libraries are neurodivergent, I think your discussion of imposter syndrome and professionalism really hit home for many, myself included.