Empowering Negotiation: A Guide for Disabled Women
Negotiation is more than a legal or professional tactic—it's a means for disabled women to assert our rights, advocate for accommodations, be fairly compensated for our work, and break down barriers. From education to employment to healthcare and more, negotiating serves as a powerful tool that can have a transformative impact in all areas of our lives.
Here are a few tips to get you started in negotiating in different situations for your own life.
Know Your Worth and Needs:
Before entering any negotiation, you must have a clear understanding of your worth, your wants, and your needs to set the foundation for effective negotiation. Confidence in articulating your wants and needs is key to achieving meaningful outcomes.
For example, if you want your partner to contribute more around the house, you first need to recognize the value of everything you’re already doing as well as the value of your time. Do not undervalue your contributions. Then make a list of things that you want your partner to do and the things you need them to do (remember that wants and needs are different). Having all of this prepared in advance will help you to have a productive conversation with your partner and hopefully a positive outcome!
Educate Yourself on Rights and Accommodations:
A well-informed negotiator is a powerful one. Familiarize yourself with disability rights laws and how they apply to your particular situation. Understanding your rights and different reasonable accommodations available in various settings will equip you to advocate effectively, whether in the workplace, educational institutions, or healthcare settings.
As an example, my fertility clinic is in an old mansion. Some of the exam rooms are much smaller than others and some have beds that are harder for me to transfer onto. After checking out each exam room and bed, I told the staff which rooms would work best for me and requested that my visits always be in those rooms. I was kind when I explained why this was important to me, and they immediately agreed.
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Build a Support System:
Negotiating can be challenging, but having a strong support system can make a significant difference. Connect with other disabled women who can provide guidance, emotional support, and valuable advice based on their experiences. I’ve benefited immensely from having a circle of women with disabilities that shared their experiences with me in negotiating speaking fees for events, negotiating with airlines after they break our chairs, and negotiating salaries and benefits in the workplace. I am eternally grateful for all of the advice I’ve gotten from my network.
Embrace Collaborative Approaches:
Negotiation doesn't always have to be adversarial; in fact, I find that adopting a collaborative mindset can lead to more positive outcomes. Seek common ground, emphasize shared goals, and work towards solutions that benefit both parties. Building bridges rather than barriers can pave the way for lasting results.
Recently I noticed that the price of renting wheelchair accessible vans for the programs my organization runs had gone up significantly. I started shopping around to see if there were other vendors who could offer us a better price. I connected with a local company but the prices listed on their website were still a bit high, so I reached out and asked if they could give us a lower rate. They offered to lower the rate by $30 a day as long as we committed to renting from them for at least six weeks throughout the year. This was a huge savings for us and a big win for the company because they know they can count on us to rent with them regularly. Now we view each other as partners!
For more on advocacy, check out our Advocacy & Disability Rights resource.