Fundraiser for Beth - Accessibility Needs

Hi Everyone! My name is Christine Ball and it's my delight and honour to call Beth Murch my friend.

As many of you know, Beth is an amazing spoken word poet (longlisted for the 2020 Button Poetry Chapbook Contest!), incredible birth worker, Founder and Director of Revolutionary Doula Training, and supports our community in so many other ways. Her loving, committed heart and community justice/LGTBQ/accessibility work has seen her volunteer with Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region, GSA/OK2BME, and La Leche League, to name a few.

What you might not know is that over that past 2 years, Beth has been struggling with 3 types of arthritis and fibromyalgia that has been getting worse, and has radically reduced her mobility. Unfortunately the pain and inability to walk most days has completely reduced her ability to make her living attending births. Being on ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) is a challenge in itself, and Beth decided to go back to school to create a career that will put all of her experience, wisdom and passion together in a new way to sustain herself, and support her community.

The good news is that Beth has been accepted to the Master of Arts Program at Laurier University that will give her a degree in Theology, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy, and her program starts this September!

I've created this campaign in the hopes of raising $3000 so Beth is able to purchase a ReMarkable tablet and accessories to make her school experience as comfortable and accessible as possible, and have some funds available in case she needs to purchase any other accessibility assists for school that may come up (accessible transportation, canes, rollator etc. - ODSP doesn't cover any/all costs of many devices).

This tablet is electronic, is like writing on paper (Beth finds that less painful than typing) and converts written notes into text. It's easy to read, and it will allow Beth to read and review school documents, and make notes right on PDF school documents as well.

Beth also hasn't had new glasses in nearly a decade and is in need of an eye exam and new glasses so she can comfortably (and actually!) see her computer, books, and presentations once classes resume in person.

We would use the funds as soon as possible to order the tablet as it comes from Norway, and it would be wonderful to have it here for the start of September and have Beth ready to rock with new glasses as well!

If you're able to help me with this fundraiser, I appreciate it SO much. As anyone with a chronic illness knows, it's hard enough to see your level of ability (and really, your whole life) change, and even harder sometimes to ask for help. Beth deserves everything good in life, and I am excited to help her take this next journey...as a therapist or spiritual caregiver I can only imagine the positive effect Beth will continue to have in our community!

Thank you thank you thank you! (Sharing is also a huge help for us!)

Chris :)