Disability and Deaf Arts 1

2 Culture is Our Weapon! AfroReggae Vigário Geral, Rio de Janeiro

Working since 1984 – arts projects – disability activism – UK had no Disability Discrimination Act or bill of rights to include ‘Nothing About Us, Without Us!’ ‘ Rights Not Charity’ Pioneered arts training – achieving qualifications HE, FE etc Low impact outside organisation, lack of employment, frustration for qualified/experienced/gifted artists 3

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The generally agreed definition of disability arts, the one that we in the disability arts movement have found most accurately reflects what we are doing, is that it is 'art made by disabled people which reflects the experience of disability.' Disability arts is Art. It is seriously intentioned creative work - poems or painting or music or comedy or theatre or whatever - made with some sort of aesthetic purpose. It is not a hobby to keep the cripples' hands busy. And it is not therapy. Allan Sutherland 6

A framework to help identify and remove barriers to engagement Impairment or impairments is/are the loss or limitation of function to a person’s mind, body or senses and are unlikely to be changed Disability is the loss or limitation of opportunities to participate in society on an equal level to others due to factors such as environmental, attitudinal, policy or communication barriers which can be changed. 7

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9 Most people assume that this person is disabled through their inability to walk up these steps. The social model states that it is not the wheelchair user’s medical condition that disables them; it is the fact that there are steps preventing access.

11 Inclusive, Culturally Diverse and Equal

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17 “DaDaFest has brought us together culturally and promoted the social model of disability, we are getting stuck into a medical model of thinking. All issues present medical model of thinking. All issues present different cultural aspects, but linked together we are a force to be reckoned with.” force to be reckoned with.” Tate Liverpool: DaDaLive May 2011

“An alternative culture – which plays an important part in cementing the sense of a ‘movement’”. Gooding.

Reflect Disabled people, Deaf People with disability & deaf arts and arts created by disabled and deaf people Produce high quality work in mainstream venues Prepare with budgets, training and top down approaches – policies, practice and training Creative challenge to make all work accessible – viewing ramps, portable loops, qualified SLI’s, PA’s etc Consult 19

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