The Mabely Q Story
Getting laid off was the best thing that ever happened to me.
If I was never laid off from my 20-year corporate career in graphic design, I never would have become a freelance virtual assistant.
If I was never a virtual assistant, I never would have realized how much I could grow a creative entrepreneur’s business with administrative and design help, honed after a lifetime of watching my parents run a successful business.
I never would have founded Mabely Q in March 2018, and I never would have joined business mastermind groups like Tide Risers.
If I had never joined Tide Risers, I never would have truly owned my identity as a deaf entrepreneur, and I never would have started advocating for online business accessibility.
And if I hadn’t begun advocating for accessibility, I never would have been awarded Rising Tide Society’s 20 On The Rise, or presented at the Uplevel Your Biz Summit, or honored with so many other recognitions.
Without those opportunities, I never would have realized what a need there is for accessibility education, and I never would have expanded my business into speaking and workshops.
If I was never laid off, I never would have had the opportunity to work with you. And that’s why it’s the best thing that ever happened to me.
Cheers,
Erin Perkins
CEO, Mabely Q
Erin Perkins was a teacher for a two-hour training on accessibility and wow, did she exceed all expectations! As the facilitator for the training, I was incredibly impressed by Erin's professionalism, communication, and depth of knowledge — not to mention good humor and generosity of spirit. I highly recommend her work and can't wait to partner with her and Mabely Q again.
— Elisabeth Kramer, Altared
My Approach
I approach every teaching opportunity with empathy and a holistic perspective.
As a disabled person, I’ve been made to feel small, excluded, and under-valued. It’s a horrible feeling, and I promise that cycle of shame ends with me. I teach my students with empathy and pledge to be a safe person to entrust with your questions and curiosity.
As a disabled person, I’ve also been shocked at the performative activism and tokenism out there. Many accessibility “educators” just teach you how to tick a legal checkbox — a bandaid fix. I promise that cycle of mis-education ends with me. I teach my students a holistic approach to accessibility: not just the how, but also the who and the why.
What Drives Me
Mabely Q is a values-based business; that means I do things following these principles, even when it costs me time or money.
What Mabely Q stands for
Inclusivity
I don’t believe in normal.
Normal implies that one thing is how all things should be. But shoulds suck. I should be able to hear, but I can’t. So what? I have an awesome life that’s full and rich.
Normal is the opposite of diversity. But diversity is what makes the world amazing! It’s what makes creativity possible.
Mabely Q is all about throwing normal and should out the window in favor of inclusivity. Let’s work with what you have and where you are now.
Collaboration
News flash: I don’t always have the answer. Does anyone? I’m not perfect, and I’m not all-knowing. Perspective is what transforms something from good to great, and that’s what collaboration provides. I want my clients to know — to expect — that collaboration is a part of our work together.
Empathy
Empathy is like karma — it comes back around. When you approach a person with generosity and curiosity, you’re able to understand each other better. The more you understand each other, the more likely that both parties leave a situation happy. That’s why I approach my business with empathy. How do you operate your business and why? What business tasks or situations make you anxious and why? Asking questions like these helps me be empathetic toward my clients and serve them better.
Growth
Mabely Q is all about growth: in your bottom line, your audience size, your empathy for others, and your skillset. I never want to stop growing, because it means I’ll have stopped learning.