When we mentor people, typically we perceive one person as a benefactor. An older, wiser person giving a less experienced person something to accelerate learning or acclimation. When you get down to it though, mentorships are relationships and everyone has their own needs.

How does the dynamic of disability shape mentorship? How can we be inclusive of access needs? How do we have conversations to acknowledge needs and navigate them in relationships? We invite you to join Ellis Sardorian, Dinah Cohen DREAM Fellow, as we navigate these questions in conversation with one another.

About the presenter: Ellis Sardorian (they/them) is an advocate, story teller, community member, and space holder.

Ellis has worked in youth engagement for the past two years, where they have advocated for policy changes to support access needs regardless of diagnosis. They are interested in how we create spaces for connection that support and respect us as whole people rather than just parts.

Ellis is a 2021 Dinah Cohen DREAM Fellow with the National Disability Mentoring Coalition, developing a webinar on best practices for inter-abled mentoring relationships. In 2017, Ellis edited This is My Spectrum, a zine about autistic people by autistic people.

In their free time, Ellis makes their own clothes. If you would like to learn more about Ellis’s work, you can visit writ.works or email them at ellis@writ.works.