Disability Inclusive Language (DIL)

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Illustration of diverse people with visible and invisible disabilities engaging in daily activities around a large sign that reads Disability Inclusive Language in bold text. The background features colorful abstract designs.

Date, Time, Venue

Date: 22 November 2025, Saturday
Time: 10 AM to 1 PM
Venue: Enabling Village

We will release more details on the specific venue closer to the course date.

Programme Description

How we talk about disability shapes how we think about it — and how disabled people are treated. This programme invites you to take a critical, thoughtful look at the language we use around disability: the worldviews it carries, the assumptions it reflects, and the real impact it has on communities. 

Rather than offering a rigid list of “right” and “wrong” words, we will equip you with the skills to analyse language, understand its deeper implications, and make informed, respectful choices. This isn’t about political correctness — it’s about recognising that language actively builds or breaks inclusion.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own communication materials to the workshop. Through guided exercises, reflection, and hands-on practice, you’ll walk away not just with greater awareness, but with sharper, more inclusive communication ready to use. Expect a highly practical, thoughtful space where you apply what you learn immediately, rather than simply being told what to say.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Consider how language shapes our thinking  
  2. Analyse the use of disability language in mainstream contexts and by disabled communities and consider their implications 
  3. Apply analytical skills learnt to own communication collateral that you will bring to the workshop

Target Audience

Those new to discussions about disability language and would like to develop a foundational understanding of how to approach appropriate disability language critically and sensitively.

  • This can include:
    • People in the creative field: e.g. Content creators, Writers, Editors, Publishers, Filmmakers, Journalists, Communications
    • People working in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 
    • People who work closely with disabled people (e.g. social workers, therapists, doctors, nurses, teachers, Disability Office / Special Educational Needs departments) 
    • People working in social justice / advocacy, Youth leaders (e.g. student councils, Youth NGOs, volunteer coordinators, grassroots workers)

Class Size

Limited to 18 pax

Note: There needs to be a minimum pax of 8 participants to conduct the programme. If the minimum number is not reached, you will be informed before the start of the programme to be refunded. There’s no refund of programme fees once paid, unless the programme is cancelled.

Accessibility

We are committed to creating a programme experience that is inclusive, accessible and affirming of diverse accessibility needs. Read on to find out more about the access arrangements available for this programme!

  1. Speech-to-Text Interpreting (STTI) to be viewed on your own devices like phone or laptop
  2. Breaks 
  3. Multiple modes of expression for processing information and responding, particularly verbal and written modes 
  4. Session notes reflecting slides’ content, which is sent ahead of programme
  5. Programme outline sent ahead of time 
  6. Materials provided in screen-reader friendly formats 
  7. Glossary of all technical terms taught in the course
  8. Captions for all audio content  
  9. Presenters will actively speak at a moderate pace and encourage one speaker at a time to facilitate smoother information processing
  1. Visual Interpretation (for example, sighted guidance, describing any contextually meaningful visual elements on slides and videos)
  2. Speech-to-Text Interpreting (STTI) to be projected on a big screen beside speakers
  3. Singapore Sign Language interpretation 
  4. Specific seating arrangements (e.g. request to sit near the speaker, near the slides, or near power points)
  5. No scent policy i.e., disallow use of scented products by participants  

We understand that access needs are diverse and nuanced. Thus, please note that the list above is not exhaustive. If you would like to make additional access requests, do share with us when registering, or email us at training@equaldreams.sg as early as possible, preferably by 8 November 2025 (Saturday) — this is so that we have sufficient time to coordinate these access arrangements and ensure that they are implemented effectively. 

We understand that the above deadlines can be difficult to meet due to a variety of circumstances. If you would like to make requests past the deadlines, please still feel free to let us know. While we may not be able to guarantee that we can meet your request, we will definitely do our best to ensure you can fully participate in the programme. Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to co-creating an inclusive and accessible programme with you!

Trainers

Clara Chee, Team Lead

Clara is a Team Lead at Equal Dreams, where she oversees curriculum development and training on topics ranging from accessible event planning and disability awareness to upskilling accessibility professionals. She also partners with organisations to consult on inclusive design for spaces, policies, and programmes.

As an accessibility practitioner offering services such as Singapore Sign Language and speech-to-text interpreting, Clara brings both technical proficiency and lived experience to her work. Her portfolio spans the arts and theatre, international sporting events, conferences, and higher education.

Identifying as neurodivergent, Clara is driven by a commitment to co-creating inclusive spaces with disabled communities. She centres the expertise of lived experience and advocates for accessibility as collective practice, rather than an act of ticking off a checkbox. Her approach is grounded in empathy, informed insight, and a firm belief that accessibility is a shared responsibility, not an afterthought.

Minjie Tim, Accessibility Specialist and Training Developer

Minjie began her journey into disability work through doing disability rights research, which opened her eyes to the wide range of access considerations relevant to all areas of life. 

She is a firm believer in Disability Justice community organiser Mia Mingus’s perspective that access work should be driven by justice, community and love, not solely logistical concerns.  

Curious to know what Mia Mingus’s perspective would look like in practice, she took on the role of Accessibility Coordinator for the “Activism in Crisis” digital festival, which drew over 500 participants and 43 speakers. This experience gave her deep insights into what events’ access coordination entails, both the technical and “soft skills” aspects.

At Equal Dreams today, she focuses on developing and training core programmes such as Organising Accessible Events, programmes about Neurodiversity and Disability Inclusive Language. She also provides access services like Speech-to-Text Interpretation. Identifying as neurodivergent too, she is excited to create more spaces where more people could see how invigorating, creative and healing access work can be!

Pricing

Introduction to the sliding scale pricing model

  1. Our goal: do our best to ensure finances are not a barrier to anyone interested to sign up.
  2. There are 3 tiers: Reduced, General and Supporter.
  3. We invite those with more financial privilege to pay a higher rate (e.g. General or Supporter Rate), and contribute to addressing inequalities; to give more from a place of solidarity, not charity.
  4. We trust your judgement to select the tier that best fits your financial situation, no questions asked. The descriptors of each tier may not fully reflect your situation — please choose one that feels most relatable.
  5. Our rates also honour the time, intention and care that went into designing this programme. By signing up for this programme, you are also contributing to sustaining our small staff team in our ongoing work to deepen disability inclusion and accessibility.
  6. Existing discount codes or vouchers do not apply to this programme.

Supporter Rate – $200

1. You have sufficient income to pay for a programme like this, and you can afford to subsidise the cost for those who have financial difficulties.

2. An organisation is paying for you. You have a large amount of funding from your company to use for training programmes. That fund is more than enough to cover the supporter rate.

3. You have a large amount of savings or access to generational wealth (e.g. inheritance, assets). This is more than enough for you, with extra to spare.

General Rate – $160

1. You have enough income to pay for a programme like this, at the general rate.

2. You have a financial safety net. For example, you have some savings, inheritance, or wealthy friends and family you can depend on if you’re in financial trouble.

Reduced Rate – $120

1. This rate allows you to participate in the programme.

2. You have limited income to take part in learning opportunities like this.

3. Your income supports yourself, and others.

We would like to thank and acknowledge IDHA, AORTA and Singapore Improv Festival for inspiring this programme’s approach to pricing.

Registration

Registration is now closed

Can’t make it this round, but still interested?

Register your interest for future runs!

Shortened URL link to interest form: tinyurl.com/EqualDreams-DIL-Interest

Once you registered your interest, we will reach out to you if and when we have the next run of this programme!

About our Venue Partner

This event is organised by Equal Dreams, in partnership with the Enabling Village.

Enabling Village is the first inclusive community space in Singapore dedicated to integrating persons with disabilities in society. Located in Redhill and managed by SG Enable, it brings together community amenities, lifestyle retail services and inclusive programming for all with a special focus on disability-inclusive training and employment for persons with disabilities.

Contact

For further enquiries, email us at training@equaldreams.sg
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