The Disabled Designer Network (DDNxLA) is a new initiative in landscape architecture, open to folks identifying with any kind of disability and/or chronic illnesses, whether you are a practitioner, specialist / consultant, student, scholar, or faculty in landscape architecture. While our current focus is within the field of landscape architecture, we hope to expand to other design fields, and we are currently open to affiliates (e.g., architects, planners, other designers), and also to allies who would like to join in on the conversation.

Through this survey, we would like to begin a much-needed network for disabled folks in landscape architecture to form working relationships, friendships, and mentorships in a field where our representation is still growing. Inspiration has come from other ASLA networks like Black LAN, Pride@ASLA, WxLA, and El Merequetengue Network. Your responses to this questionnaire will be used to plan future networking opportunities, education, and social events (online, hybrid, and in-person). We also hope to gather basic statistical information on the number of people in landscape architecture who identify with one or more disabilities (this information will remain anonymous). 

This survey was created by Alexa Vaughn, a late-Deafened landscape designer, accessibility specialist, and PhD student (UCLA / Design with Disabled People Now & DeafScape / Sasaki); and Deanna Lynn, a disabled landscape designer (Wild Land Workshop).

We would like to maintain a roster of members, their contact and basic information, but this will not be a public-facing inventory and information will remain confidential within the network.

To access the Google Survey, click on the black box with white text above. Or, you may click or copy and paste this link into your browser: https://forms.gle/JGFKXpw8Mf8MvD8RA.

For any access needs to complete the survey, please contact Alexa using the Contact Tab or by email at alexa@designwithdisabledpeoplenow.com.

For more news, please follow @DesignWithDisabledPeopleNow on Instagram.

Image description: A DDNxLA logo, with white capital letters on black background. The disability pride rainbow is at the left corner and ends at the top the first D. Colors are muted red, yellow, white, blue, and green.

FAQ: Why call it the ‘Disabled’ Designer Network instead of something like ‘differently-abled’ or ‘accessible’ Design Network?

Check out my toolkit on How to Talk To and About Disabled People in the Design Process to learn more about our choice of language.