Patreon Update & Rewards

Please Share

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_style=”3d” style=”square”]This is about Patreon and the update to my whole entire Patreon system, with new rewards.

This post is also available via MP3 – scroll to the end to listen (or subscribe to my Podcast on iTunes or subscribe on Spotify)[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Patreon is a system in which people can help support a creator by way of being a patron.

They give money consistently to help the creator keep creating, and the creator usually gives them some type of patron-only content.

I’ve had a patreon account for a long time, with some patrons backing me that have literally kept me going – there is just no way I would have been able to keep this blog going through the thick and thin (- I mean thin, very, very, very thin) without them.

And when all of our stuff got stolen in Mexico, it was patrons who got me the equipment to get started again.

Change 

So then life came knocking on my door and I opened it and followed it back to Hawaii.

I knew that I loved the connection with patreon – I love that sense of community and the possibility that exists in that patreon framework. I love the dynamic.

But I was really stuck for a long time on the rewards thing, and how exactly to build community.

Figuring out what I have to offer was also pretty tough.

I tried one thing after another, but it just never seemed to hit the spot – like, downloading a photo? But my patrons were essentially supporting me because they like the way I think.

Anyway, so.

I watched one of those webinar things about making your business blossom and it was all kind of hokey and ridiculous, but one thing did strike me as being kind of profound: it said to charge the most for what is easiest for you.

When I thought about it that way, I thought, oh. Yes. Okay.

What is easy for me are systems related to disability.

What is easy for me is figuring out which ‘t’s to cross and which ‘I”s to dot in the bureaucracy that disability can be.

What is easy for me is understanding – and creating – a net whereby someone can receive what they need to survive and still maintain dignity and hope.

What is easy for me is understanding aspects of disability, and how they connect, relate, and what that means to a person

What is easy for me is understanding the culture of disability, and how and why it is necessary to embrace this integral part of what it means to be human.

This stuff is easy for me.

This is easy for me because I have been walking this for so long, thinking (and over thinking) every. single. aspect of this. I’ve been there, done that. I’ve bought the cake and I ate it too. I know the recipe. I even know the high-altitude version of the recipe.

This is the stuff that ultimately seems to make the most sense to share.

It’s the reason people come on over to my blog to read, right?

I stepped back and took at look at Patreon and my rewards and what I was offering, and what I was spending time with regularly with my blog.

I found that I was spending time with things related to access – like creating the pdf’s and the mp3’s – that I didn’t want to stop doing because they make my content accessible for some people. But it does actually cost time and money to do this.

I thought it would make sense to continue to offer this for free, but give people an opportunity to contribute financially to make it easier for me to keep producing this, and to produce more.

The other thing is that I haven’t touched my expertise in disability systems and bureaucracy AT ALL on this blog. It’s only people who know me in real life who read this who know that I KNOW.

I’m setting up some private groups and private Zoom chats through Patreon rewards for this purpose. This is to provide a secure and private way to talk about Voc. Rehab, about IPE’s and IEP’s, about benefits and planning and all of those pieces that most people need help with but don’t want to talk about in public spaces.

About My Previous Rewards

Last year, right around this time, I went to Lana’i and visited their super awesome cat sanctuary.

Something about that cat sanctuary really released joy in me – I had been SO STRESSED OUT for SO LONG, and it just made me smile inside and I felt complete relief just thinking about it.

I changed my Patreon rewards to things cat-oriented and was going to create a cat sanctuary here in Hilo, and have it connected with Dana’s Place – the original Disability employment/support/training center.

I think it was really great that I did that, just because the relief and joy that thinking about the cat sanctuary made it possible for me to relax. And relaxing made it possible for me to buy a house. And buying a house made it possible for me to start Dana’s Place.

Now

Now, I have Dana’s Place and I have started regular meetings there.

I have started a parent support and disability support network here.

I have been accepted into the Counseling and Mental Health program here (to be a licensed mental health counselor).

I’m also in Farm School right now, learning how to run a farm-to-table.

I’m honestly not sure how all of this is going to connect! But one thing I’ve learned by now is that these things always do, in some way.

I’m not worried about any of that, I’m just trying to stay in my lane and follow what unfolds as best as I can.

I also want to share what I DO know with you all, and to create sensible avenues for you to connect with disability, culture, community, helpful content, and to allow me the wherewithal to do more.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

I’ve Changed All The Rewards and Tiers

Everything in my patron system has been changed.

Because it has all changed, please check out the new levels and rewards, which are below.

If it still feels like something you want to be a part of, YAY! And if not, perhaps consider gifting a patron-ship to someone that you think would benefit from it. You just need to add their name, address and email address to the level that you want, and boom, it’s good to go!

Thanks a million. I love you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Check Out My Patreon” shape=”round” color=”juicy-pink” size=”lg” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2FMy%20Patron%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2Fmeriahnichols||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”64975″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”http://www.patreon.com/meriahnichols”][vc_column_text]

• A wave of gratitude!
• Access to all of my Patreon content: PDF’s and MP3’s
• Access to the Lit League Book & Movie Club

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”64976″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”http://www.patreon.com/meriahnichols”][vc_column_text]

• Access to all Patreon content (PDF, MP3’s)
• Early access to all my vlogs and posts on Patreon
• Access to the Lit League Book & Movie Club
• All content will be emailed directly to you
• Can ask any disability/blogging/resource-related question on Patreon

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”64977″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”http://www.patreon.com/meriahnichols”][vc_column_text]

• The distraction-free PDF’s and MP3’s
• Early access to all essays and content
• Content directly emailed to you
• Access to the Lit League Disability Book & Movie Club
• Private Facebook Group
• Other snippets – t-shirt discounts, sometimes something sent through the mail to you, and fun stuff!

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”64978″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”http://www.patreon.com/meriahnichols”][vc_column_text]

• The distraction-free PDF’s and MP3’s
• Early access to all essays and content
• Content directly emailed to you
• Access to the Lit League Disability Book & Movie Club
• Private Facebook Group
• Other snippets – t-shirt discounts, sometimes something sent through the mail to you, and fun stuff!
• PDF Bundle of my essays each month, emailed to you

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”64980″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”http://www.patreon.com/meriahnichols”][vc_column_text]

• The distraction-free PDF’s and MP3’s
• Early access to all essays and content
• Content directly emailed to you
• Access to the Lit League Disability Book & Movie Club
• Private Facebook Group
• Other snippets – t-shirt discounts, sometimes something sent through the mail to you, and fun stuff!
• PDF bundle of content emailed to you each month
• One question answered in a monthly Zoom chat, available only for Patrons who are contributing $25 and more/month

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”64981″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”http://www.patreon.com/meriahnichols”][vc_column_text]

• The distraction-free PDF’s and MP3’s
• Early access to all essays and content
• Content directly emailed to you
• Access to the Lit League Disability Book & Movie Club
• Private Facebook Group
• Other snippets – t-shirt discounts, sometimes something sent through the mail to you, and fun stuff!
• PDF bundle of content emailed to you each month
• One question answered in a monthly livestream chat, available only for Patrons who are contributing $25 and more/month
• Exclusive access to a special Zoom chat WITH YOU, in which I will answer any disability/resource/benefits/IEP/IPE related question you have, and maybe some blogging/technical related questions as well – we will see what you ask! But I’m open to it all

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”64982″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”http://www.patreon.com/meriahnichols”][vc_column_text]

• The distraction-free PDF’s and MP3’s
• Early access to all essays and content
• Content directly emailed to you
• Access to the Lit League Disability Book & Movie Club
• Private Facebook Group
• Other snippets – t-shirt discounts, sometimes something sent through the mail to you, and fun stuff!
• PDF bundle of content emailed to you each month
• One question answered in a monthly livestream chat, available only for Patrons who are contributing $25 and more/month
• Exclusive access to a special Zoom chat WITH YOU, in which I will answer any disability/resource/benefits/IEP/IPE related question you have, and maybe some blogging/technical related questions as well – we will see what you ask! But I’m open to it all
• PDF bundle of the year’s content mailed to you (minimum 2 month’s subscription)

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”64983″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”http://www.patreon.com/meriahnichols”][vc_column_text]

• The distraction-free PDF’s and MP3’s
• Early access to all essays and content
• Content directly emailed to you
• Access to the Lit League Disability Book & Movie Club
• Private Facebook Group
• Other snippets – t-shirt discounts, sometimes something sent through the mail to you, and fun stuff!
• PDF bundle of content emailed to you each month
• One question answered in a monthly livestream chat, available only for Patrons who are contributing $25 and more/month
• Exclusive access to a special Zoom chat WITH YOU, in which I will answer any disability/resource/benefits/IEP/IPE related question you have, and maybe some blogging/technical related questions as well – we will see what you ask! But I’m open to it all
• PDF bundle of the year’s content mailed to you (minimum 2 month’s subscription)
• Your name in the acknowledgements in my book, and early release of book to you!

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”64984″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”http://www.patreon.com/meriahnichols”][vc_column_text] 

• The distraction-free PDF’s and MP3’s
• Early access to all essays and content
• Content directly emailed to you
• Access to the Lit League Disability Book & Movie Club
• Private Facebook Group
• Other snippets – t-shirt discounts, sometimes something sent through the mail to you, and fun stuff!
• PDF bundle of content emailed to you each month
• One question answered in a monthly livestream chat, available only for Patrons who are contributing $25 and more/month
• Exclusive access to a special Zoom chat WITH YOU, in which I will answer any disability/resource/benefits/IEP/IPE related question you have, and maybe some blogging/technical related questions as well – we will see what you ask! But I’m open to it all
• PDF bundle of the year’s content mailed to you (minimum 2 month’s subscription)
• Your name in the acknowledgements in my book, and early release of book to you!

 

• PRIVATE monthly Zoom chat with you in which I can help you, one-on-one, through an IPE, IEP or Voc. Rehab plans or issues, or related benefits planning, blog planning or anything else you want to talk about or need help with.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

This is A LOT, Isn’t It?!!

I have to say, I’m kind of proud of all this, because it feels like it makes sense, and it’s about access, learning, growth and community: all of the stuff that I really want this blog and site to be about.

Now, if you do want to contribute to this but don’t want to do it regularly, you can always sign up to be a patron for a month, or you can just give directly to my ABLE account – the link to give directly to it is below:

1. Go to UgiftABLE.com.
2. Enter the Ugift code: C6Q-H6G
3. Enter the gift-giver’s name and gift amount
4. Make the gift via electronic funds transfer or check

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

♥

I am going through all my posts right now for this year for existing patrons.

All patrons will be getting their pdf-books of essays very soon, and I’m also almost done recording and uploading all the MP3’s of me reading the essays.

Thank you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Check Out My Patreon” shape=”round” color=”juicy-pink” size=”lg” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2FMy%20Patron%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.patreon.com%2Fmeriahnichols||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Please Share