Disability Arts History Australia

Items

• Artability
• Sancha Donald
• “The Australian Assistance Plan (1973) encourages grassroots activism”
  Grassroots activism is said to have been encouraged by the Commonwealth with the new Australian Assistance Plan (AAP) in 1973, which allowed local communities to "prioritise their own welfare planning" and "triggered an explosion in local advocacy in a range of areas, including self-advocacy for people with disability," according to the 2021 Royal Commission.
• “100 disabled people protest outside Parliament House against moves to tax their government allowances”
  On 29 September 1978, 100 people with disability protested outside Parliament House against moves to tax their government allowances. Following the protest, Treasurer John Howard was forced to rescind the decision.
• “7-part series ‘Fair Go’ produced by Film Australia”
  In 1981, Film Australia produced a 7-part series, called Fair Go, on Australians with mental and physical disabilities and how it impacted their lives and the lives of their families. “Each program is presented from the viewpoint of the person with the disability and demonstrates the practical implications of coping with a disability in daily life at home, in the community, in the workplace or at school.” Film Australia was consolidated into Screen Australia in 2008.
• Queensland Performing Arts Trust
• Queensland Cultural Centre
• Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC)
• Rachel Edward
• Philip Channells
• PJ Rose
• Gabrielle Mordy
• Gabriell Mordy
• "Tutti Arts - The History of Autism - Promotional Card"
  Tutti Arts 'History of Autism' 2014 Promotional Card - reads, in part "In the Adelaide Fringe this year, Company@ Autistic Theatre, Australia's only theatre company for people on the autism spectrum, is presenting an exciting original work, History of Autism. Developed with actors on the autism spectrum, History of Autism was first performed at the 2013 Asia Pacific Autism Conference to standing ovations, drawing audience comments like "truly dynamic and highly entertaining" and "Chockablock full of endearing characters". Company@ is dedicated to presenting high quality authentic theatre which entertains and informs audiences and raises awareness about autism. Company@ works in partnership with renowned multi arts organisation Tutti Ensemble Inc. and is also proudly supported by Autism SA."
• “The arts sector is forced to adapt in the face of COVID-19 lockdowns”
  Government-enforced lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic saw arts events cancelled and disability arts organisations temporarily close physical premises as social distancing rules came into play. While Coronavirus 19 restricted social contact, there were some benefits that arose such as increased digital access for social connection, online ordering accessible via screen readers and home delivery, virtual tours of art galleries, online choirs, and telehealth appointments.
• "Kevin Byrne AM leads protest outside Parliament House"
  The activist Kevin Byrne AM led a protest outside Parliament House. This coupled with the release of the Richmond Report led to the Hawke Government’s Handicapped Programs Review, which in turn led ‘New Directions: Report of the Handicapped Programs Review’.
• “Advocates fight for accessible public transport”
  In 1994, Maurice Corcoran (a wheelchair user) lodged a complaint about the South Australian government ordering 50 new buses that were not accessible. The Australian Human Rights Commission successfully negotiated for all new buses to be fitted with ramps. Then, in 1999, a protest about the lack of public transport options for people with disability saw Citizens for Accessible Public Transport block traffic in Sydney’s city centre.
• “Alan Marshall writes ‘I Can Jump Puddles’ in 1955”
  Alan Marshall wrote 'I Can Jump Puddles' in 1955., the first in a series of works about growing up with a disability. The subsquent books were 'This Is the Grass' (1962), 'In Mine Own Heart' (1963), and 'Hammers Over the Anvil' (1975). Marshall contracted polio at age six and became physically disabled.
• "Artability - Access Arts' Programs, Practice and Perspectives"
  Explains history, members rights, policies, arts pathways, training, classes, and planning to support these activities, plus information on programs – including Caberet Erratica, Cartoon Advocacy, Melrose Park Project, New Farm Park Mosaics, Visual Arts Exhibition, Explaining Discrimination Video Project – and examples of writing by Access Arts members
• "Accessible Arts - Annual Report 1995"
  Accessible Arts - Annual Report 1995 - Mission, Aims, Brief History, Chairperson’s Report, Treasurer’s Report, Executive Officer’s Report,1995 Program Outline, Partnerships, Resources, Financials
• “House Gang debuts on SBS”
  In 1996, a comedy television series debuted on SBS called ‘House Gang’ featuring three actors with intellectual disabilities.
• Theatre performance ‘Take Up Thy Bed & Walk’ integrates ‘aesthetic access’”
  The 2012 performance ‘Take Up Thy Bed & Walk’ designed by Gaelle Mellis and produced by Vitalstatistix proved that accessibility measures could be aesthetic. As Creative Australia describes it “is credited as Australia’s first performance work incorporating ‘aesthetic access’. It embedded the performer’s physicality and communication styles – and those of potential audiences – at the centre of the creative process. The work integrated audio description, captioning, sign language and interactivity uniquely into the core of the work.” Gaelle Mellis has said of the performance that “aesthetic access can be used in ways that add layer, texture, meaning and richness to a work. Art, at its simplest, is primarily about communication. Aesthetic access, at its simplest, is a form of communication that communicates to everyone.”
• "1963 and 1967 sees the introduction of the Disabled Persons Accommodation Act and Sheltered Employment (Assistance) Act, respectively."
  With increasing pressure to provide more services to people with disabilities, the 1960s was a decade of Commonwealth Government initiatives to support organisations providing work and accommodation to people with a disability, including the Disabled Persons Accommodation Act and Sheltered Employment (Assistance) Act.
• "The report Shut Out: The Experience of People with Disabilities and their Families in Australia is published in 2009"
  In 2009, Shut Out: The Experience of People with Disabilities and their Families in Australia was published. This report was commissioned by the Australian Government as part of the National Disability Strategy. It was prepared by the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council.
• "Tutti Arts - Website - Strategic Plan 2023-2026 captured 2023"
  Tutti Arts Annual Reports 2023-2026, captured 2023 - reads, in part "Established in 1997, Tutti Arts is South Australia’s only multi-arts organisation where learning disabled, and neurodiverse artists create visual art, theatre, music, screen, dance and experiment with art and technology. Tutti Arts has grown, changed, rearranged, and developed over time. Tutti now works with more than 200 learning disabled and neurodiverse artists, with over 340 artist engagements every week across 3 Creative Hubs (Brighton, Port Adelaide, and the Barossa), and online. Tutti is the home for renowned disability-led collectives The Sisters of Invention, Company AT and Sit Down Shutup and Watch Film & Media Festival and has supported the career paths of many disabled artists. The Tutti Arts Centre was opened in Brighton 2020. In 2022 Tutti opened a new Regional Hub in Nuriootpa."