Access Info

• We think of access as an ongoing, collaborative conversation, and we try our best to make things accessible for each other collectively as a group of people with the resources we have available to us. If there’s a specific thing that would make it easier for you to attend or if you have any questions please let us know by emailing us on hello@makingtime.online .

• We use the built in captions from Zoom, which are getting more accurate but are far from perfect.

• We have some budget to hire a BSL interpreter for the workshops, please give us as much notice for this as you can! We are not able to get a BSL interpreter for the regular Monday sessions due to cost.

• Cameras and microphones can be on or off as needed, and you are welcome to use the chat instead of speaking. We will read out messages in the chat. 

• The chat function can be difficult to use with screen readers, if you use a screen reader please let us know and we will disable the public chat option. If the chat is turned off, people who want to put something in the chat can message Jo and Grace and we will read it out.

• If you know from the start that you don’t want to be called on you can put that in the chat. You can of course change your mind at any time!

• It’s 100% fine to attend from bed/reclining/in your PJs, and to stim, tic and move around as you need to.

Structure / What to Expect

The regular Making Time sessions run from 10am to 12pm UK time every Monday except bank holidays and other holidays. If the session is cancelled for any reason we will email to let you know. 

It’s not a support group but it is supportive.

You don’t have to come when it starts or stay until the end, and you can leave and come back whenever.

When a new person joins the group, we ask everyone to introduce themselves by saying their name and pronouns, where they’re based and what kind of work they do generally. For example: I’m Jo, he/they, I’m based in Glasgow and I make performance and moving image work. 

When we are done introducing ourselves or saying what we want to do today, we nominate someone to go next. If someone nominates you and you don’t feel like speaking that’s completely fine, you can say pass, write in the chat, or just don’t respond.

The structure of the session goes like this:

• First 30 mins: chatting, introductions, saying what we hope to do
• 1 hour still on zoom together, but working/making art/resting solo
• 30 mins to reconnect at the end to chat about how we got on

We use a timer app on zoom to keep track of time, it shows how much time is left and makes a little beep when it’s time to come back.

The workshops vary more in format as it is up to the individual facilitator, but they are always no more than 2 hours long on a weekday evening and always have at least one break.

Below is a video where Grace and Jo demonstrate what Making Time is like!
[VIDEO]

[VIDEO DESCRIPTION:
Screen recording of a zoom meeting. Jo and Grace are in separate frames. There is a timer that appears in Jo’s frame, counting down from three minutes. Jo is a white nonbinary person with short reddish hair wearing a green leopard print top. Grace is a white woman with short brown hair, wearing glasses and a red shirt.]

Vibes

MT is a relaxed and informal neurodivergent space, and we want people to feel welcome to stim, tic, and generally be themselves. As neurodivergent people it can be difficult to keep track of time or stay on topic. While we try to stay roughly on time, we’re not going to designate how many minutes each person can speak or shut down interesting conversations / digressions in the interest of time.

At the same time, MT is a shared space with lots of different access needs, and we ask everyone to be respectful of others’ time and energy by trying to be mindful of the space we’re taking up and the amount of emotional energy we’re asking of the people in the space. For example, if you’re asking for input on something you think might turn into a longer or heavier discussion, it’s really helpful to ask at the end of the session so people can go if they need to. We recognise that this is especially difficult for a lot of neurodivergent people! If you find this tricky and want to chat about it please email Grace or Jo and we’re happy to talk it through with you.