Becoming a Disabled Doula and Childbirth Educator: My Journey

The Start of a New Journey

I’ll never forget the day I opened my first scholarship email and at the top in big letters it said CONGRATULATIONS! I had won a full scholarship to cover the cost of my child birth education course with BADT. And then the second CONGRATULATIONS email followed when I applied for my dream full-spectrum doula training.

I was over the moon! I could finally take my first steps towards becoming what I’ve dreamed about for years, and BADT was going to help me with that. Plus, I could do it all from the comfort of MY BED?! What?! How is that even possible?!

But then I got knocked down off that high when I realized that I still needed books. So many people were sharing ideas and saying how much cheaper it would be to just get the kindle versions of the books. But I knew that wouldn’t work for me. I remembered from my college and high school days that I need to have the books in hand. 

So with the amazing help of my friends, I set up a fundraiser to raffle off gift baskets filled with items from some of my favorite and trusted indie shops; the money I raised would be used to purchase my books for the courses. It was a smashing success! I ordered my books. It almost matched the high of winning my scholarships. 

I was completely ready before classes even started. I knew that I could do this!

The Layers of My Story

Then classes started. Quickly, I got hit in the face with memories and experiences from my past educational journey. You see, my last day at college was in late February of 2016. I was only supposed to be out of class for two weeks for my recovery period from the placement of a VP shunt that would aid in helping with hydrocephalus, a condition I’ve had since birth.

But the Universe had other plans for me. 

I went into the surgery and came out with permanent brain damage and a whole host of ailments that doctors told me I’d never recover from. I became completely and totally disabled at 21 years old. That meant no more school-- the experience I I loved most--because my brain just couldn’t handle it. 

Fast forward to 2020. I found BADT, and it had everything I was looking for. I always knew I wanted to be a midwife, but I knew there were steps I needed to take to get there. BADT was the perfect start, and I felt my dream becoming a reality. 

But of course it wasn’t that easy. As I started the classes, I realized that learning felt different now. I have brain damage from 5 brain surgeries, as well as cognitive and comprehension issues. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I knew there was a way for me to follow my dream; I just had to find the way for me. 

I’m not going to lie and say that I never considered giving up. Some moments, I thought I’d forever be stuck in my bed in my parents house. I was worried about losing my independence and, furthermore, becoming unable to help the birthing people I know I am meant to help.

BADT Community Support

I knew one thing for sure, I had to stop the pity party. So I started researching and asking for help. The amazing community that BADT has cultivated answered my call. I knew I could always depend on my fellow doulas and childbirth educators in training to come through with ideas about how I could succeed just like they were doing. 

Despite my challenges, I knew I would become a certified doula and childbirth educator under BADT. Now that the fire was lit under my behind, I started trying to figure out how I could make things work. One of our wonderful leaders suggested the perfect way to help me get through my books-- audiobooks! A fellow doula in training rewarded me with $100 under the Rachel Nue Memorial Scholarship to get the audiobooks that were so far out of my price range. I will forever be grateful for her love of reading and community; it allowed me to be able to keep going.

Now to tackle the next issue, online classes. I didn’t know what to do, and I honestly still don’t in some moments. But I am trying. Having learning disabilities has put me in a vulnerable position when it comes to learning. It’s very hard for me to not only concentrate, but to retain new information. That’s been my biggest battle next to reading.

Through all of my joys and challenges, the BADT team has worked with me to support my access needs, and I have really enjoyed the flexibility of taking an online course that I can re-watch later and work through at my own pace.

In the next piece, I’ll be sharing about the ways I have navigated online and remote learning with my particular learning needs. Stay turned next month!

Breyana Floyd is a 26 year old bisexual black woman who is training to be a doula and childbirth educator through BADT. She is also disabled. She has had 5 brain surgeries that have resulted in permanent brain damage and a seizure disorder. Despite it all, she is following her dream to one day be a travelling midwife. Her service is Tiny Noir Toes Doula and Educational Services.