Care Webs

You do not have to fight for access to care on your own!

If you are facing increasing challenges in accessing care for yourself, someone you love, or your community, a Care Web is an excellent way to start building a foundation of support and power.

Download a PDF of a blank Care Web

New Disabled South is a policy advocate, resource generator, connector, convener, platform provider, and trainer in the development of Care Webs in disabled and marginalized communities across the South. Here’s why.

What Is A Care Web?

A Care Web is a group of people who work together to make sure they have the support they need day to day.
Everyone in a Care Web agrees to do what they can for the others in the group.
People in a Care Web choose tasks based on what each person is good at and what each person needs.
Sometimes, people can give care and do not need care themselves. Other times, people may need support and not be able to care for others.
No two Care Webs are the same.

New Disabled South Care Web Principles

Solidarity

We honor the insights and participation of all of our community members, knowing that isolation undermines collective liberation. Solidarity is not always easy, and oftentimes requires sacrifice in order to be in community with comrades.

Sustainable Infrastructure (Beyond the State)

Care Webs build robust community care systems that can withstand volatile political conditions and evolve with the needs of systematically silenced groups. Together, we build our own, community-controlled systems of care independent of state institutions that can change based on the whims of politicians.

Collective Support

Members of your Care Web aren’t simply “friends” or “community members.” They are people who can provide mutual support. Mutual aid is not just financial charity, it is a collection of actions where each member of a care network gives what they can, when they can in order to meet the needs of other members. You don’t have to be “friends” to be in someone’s Care Web.

Shared Responsibility

It is ok to need care, and it is ok to not have the capacity (or “spoons”) to give care. Historically, caregiving has had gendered dynamics. Many of us are expected to give care but not receive care. People of all genders and identities can be excellent caregivers, and women and oppressed genders do not automatically know how to do it. Similarly, anyone could need care at any time. In a Care Web, people give care when they can and receive care when they need it, regardless of gender, ability to reciprocate, or financial means.

Holding Tensions

People have conflicting needs. Sometimes conflicting needs can create access friction or even develop into conflicts. Care Webs are not free of conflict. It is important to set clear boundaries and manage collective and individual expectations from the outset. Be clear about what can and cannot be achieved within each person’s caregiving role. When conflict arises, address it with compassion and curiosity, rather than accusations.

Be Open to Change

Care Webs can, and likely will, change over time due to the changing needs of the group, internal and external conflicts, the changing capacity of pod members, and new relationships. It is important for Care Webs to be resilient and also flexible enough to navigate change without dissolving.

Creating Your Care Web

Podmapping

The first step in building a Care Web is thinking through who around you is part of your “pod. ”

A “pod” is made up of the people you know who you could call for support or who might call you for support.

Figuring out who is in your pod is called “podmapping.”

Start Filling In Your Pod

First, write your name in the middle grey circle.

The surrounding bold-outlined circles are your pod. Write the names of the people who are in your pod.

Write the names of actual people, instead of “my church group” or “my neighbors.”

The dotted lines surrounding your pod are people who could be moved into your pod after a little more work to build trust with them. The larger circles at the edge of the page are for communities or groups that could support you.

Some examples of this would be local direct service organizations, your classmates in school, or your youth group.

As you are filling out your pod, talk to your people and ask what they feel able to give.

Then ask them what they need from you to be in their pod, or let them know what you can give.

Bring Your Pod Together To Talk Through A Plan

Next, come together as a group to talk about:

Time off and what happens when someone is sick.
Check ins and the best ways to talk through problems.
Are there ways for everyone to offer care?
What physical tools, money, or other resources (ex: cars, ramps, masks, COVID tests, first aid kits) do you need to make this work?
How can you make sure all people are respected and have a voice in the group?

Respect: Being aware of and responding to the feelings, rights, wishes, needs, and traditions of others.

Put Your Care Web Into Action

Last, it’s time to start giving care to one another!

Here are some things to think about as you start organizing and implementing your pod.

How often can different people physically show up?
What needs do people have to physically show up for each other?
What care can be provided digitally (over the phone or on a computer, etc.)?

Why Care Webs Are Important

The government is ending programs that keep disabled people safe.

Changes to Medicaid
Closing offices of the Department of Education
Changes to accessibility in government buildings

This makes it harder for disabled people to get what they need and to be active parts of their communities.

Disabled people will have to find other ways to meet their needs as these programs go away.

No one can do everything on their own, and pods are one way to help fill gaps in getting what we need.

Spending time on podmapping and Care Webs creates plans that last over time and do not burn people out.

Create Your Care Web Using This Simple Template

Start centering your care! Add your name and the names of those in your pod in the below Care Web template to get started.

Use the optional features to print and save your Care Web, or send it in an email to the included folks and groups with a simple description of what this Care Web is and how much it means to your well being.

How NDS Supports Care Webs

NDS wants to help people work together to make Care Webs and share care so that we have the care networks we need to keep care work going over time. NDS is working to build Care Web networks all over the South

Strategic Focus

Resource community anchors and local leaders

Strengthen pathways from mutual aid to leadership

Connect care infrastructure to flagship platforms and cohorts

Build tools and partnerships that help care webs grow across communities

Intended Outcomes

Stronger community connection and support

A repeatable model for enabling care webs

Clearer pathways from care into leadership and civic participation

New Disabled South is not simply responding to the moment.

We are building the conditions for disabled people across the South to lead what comes next.

Join us in building disability justice power across the South! Contact us at info@newdisabledsouth.org to tell us how we can help you.