Disability Arts History Australia

Items

• Michelle Ryan
• "Interview with Michelle Ryan"
  Michelle Ryan is the artistic director of Restless Dance Theatre and has extensive experience as a dancer and performer. Interview Summary Michelle Ryan, the artistic director of Restless Dance Theatre, shares her journey from being a successful dancer diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 30 to becoming an advocate for artists with disabilities. Despite her initial hesitations to perform with her disability, a positive experience dancing with a European company reignited her passion and led her to Restless Dance Theatre, where she aims to change perceptions of who can create art. Michelle emphasizes the importance of providing professional opportunities and proper compensation for disabled artists, challenging the notion that disability work is charity or hobbyist. She advocates for representation that is genuine and not tokenistic, ensuring the inclusion of people with disabilities is meaningful and respectful.
• "Jodee Mundy Collaborations - Imagined Touch - IMBD"
  Reads, in part, "When two Deafblind women asked a theatre director to help them make a show about being deaf and blind, never in their wildest dreams did they imagine it would become an award-winning show."
• "IMDB Sparkles"
  Reads, in part "A 30-something-year-old Down syndrome woman leaves her past behind, and runs away from a small country town. Along her journey, she makes an unlikely friendship, teaching us all not to be afraid to celebrate who we are."
• "Interview with Kath Duncan"
  Kath Duncan is a writer, a director, a provocateur, a visual artist, a comedian, a producer, a journalist, a radio broadcaster and disability advocate. Interview Summary Kath Duncan is an experienced and prominent figure in the disability arts community with a passion for experimental performance arts, having witnessed the beginnings of the disability arts movement in Australia and participated in its evolution. Her art is inherently political, shaped by her unique perspective as a congenital amputee. Kath firmly believes in the inherent creative revolutions and endless inspiration within all impairments. Kath highlights the ongoing struggles within the disability arts sector, including high unemployment rates for disabled individuals, systemic barriers, and the need for disabled leadership in arts organizations. While cherishing the milestones and transformative experiences she's had, Kath calls for significant systemic changes, emphasizing the importance of team playing and collective work to support and grow the disabled artist community.
• “The South Australian Film Corporation announces their disability screen strategy”
  The South Australian Film Corporation launched their disability screen strategy. First, their Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2032, which they say “breaks new ground nationally,” defines quantifiable 10-year targets. In addition, the SAFC has developed a Disability Equality Plan, Targeted Diversity Attachments, the FULL TILT Short Documentary Initiative, and Film Lab: New Voices, a feature film development program presented by SAFC with Adelaide Film Festival and Mercury CX.
• Arts Access SA
• “Arts Access Victoria – Leading Change (2005-2009)"
  Arts Access Victoria - Leading Change (2005-2009) - During the mid to late 2000s, Arts Access Victoria (AAV) was recognised by Australia Council for the Arts as a key producer, supported the Deaf Arts Network (DAN), ran The Other Film Festival (TOFF),
• Jodee Mundy Collaborations
• "Back to Back Theatre - Annual Report 2004"
  Back to Back Theatre Annual Report 2004 - Chair, General Manager, Artistic, and Ensemble reports, information about participating artists, Management Committee, and Financials, information about work, work in development, and Highlights, including touring ‘Cow’ to the Sydney Opera House, and developing Small Metal Objects, and POD residencies at the Awakenings Festival and other locations
• Eva Sifis
• Emma Butler
• David Doyle
• “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.
• High Beam Festival
• "Focus on Ability, Short Film Festival winners list 2018"
  Focus on Ability Short Film Festival, captured 2025 - webpage listing 2018 award winners - Includes Open Entrant Winners (Sebastian Chan - Bus Trip; Kasimir Burgess – Paul; Nicole Molloy & Matt Watt - He Will Walk; George Holahan-Cantwell - Inclusion Makes the World More Vibrant; Lifeforce Centre For Learning - Whycroft Legacy; Carl Emmerson & Dan Sanguineti – Airlock; Sally Newman - Walk With Kindness; REDinc - Everyone Is Different, School Entrant Winners (Airds High School - Am I Special or "Special?"; Al-Taqwa College - Hear in My Shoes; Kooringal High School - We Can Do It!)
• "Focus on Ability, Short Film Festival winners list 2022"
  Focus on Ability Short Film Festival, captured 2025 - webpage listing 2022 award winners - includes AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL SECTION (Bonnet Bay Public School (NSW) - The Marrakesh Treaty; East Hills Boys High School (NSW) – Resilience; St John Vianney's Primary School (QLD) - About Me; The Fabulous Players of the Mount Ommaney Special School Drama Elective (QLD)), AUSTRALIAN OPEN ENTRANTS (Nikhia Trask (QLD) - Rylan's Story - Autism is not a choice; Peter Renzullo (WA) - Note To Self; Lenny Seberry (QLD) - A Day in the Life of; Satara Uthayakumaran (NSW) - A Heavenly Piece of Art; Jessica Trueman in A Bold Choice; Ashleigh Smart - Not Your Average Joe; The Rogues Den Studios – Filmception; Emma Barry - Wait, What?)
• "Focus on Ability, Short Film Festival winners list 2021"
  Focus on Ability Short Film Festival, captured 2025 - webpage listing 2021 award winners - Includes AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL SECTION (St Matthews Catholic School (NSW) - The Monsters of the Mind; Al-Taqwa College (VIC) - Optism: A Tale of Unbreakable Friendship) AUSTRALIAN OPEN ENTRANTS (The Sunshine Troupe (QLD) – Luminosity; Alex Sideratos (NSW) - More to Me; Clay Antonio (VIC) - Life Without Mum; Tina A.Wake (NSW) - I'm Super; Ian Heydon in What's in a Name; Michael Wilkop - The Robot; Nathan Mewett & Chris Taylor - Yulubidyu - Until the End)
• "Focus on Ability, Short Film Festival winners list 2020"
  Focus on Ability Short Film Festival, captured 2025 - webpage listing 2020 award winners - includes IAUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL SECTION (Yarraville Special Developmental School (VIC) - ' I Am (Also) Robot'; Al-Taqwa College (VIC) - Ammar's Wonderful World of Dyslexia; Anxiety Holds Me Captive - Taylah Bell), AUSTRALIAN OPEN ENTRANTS (Zoe Fraser - A Gift; The Brilliant Production Team – Brilliant; Isaac Doman - I'm Still Me; Sebastian Youssef - My Brother Sam; Vanessa Star - One Size Fits All; Zoe Fraser - A Gift; Jared Hargreaves - The Girl; Sally Newman - Heart Strings)
• "Focus on Ability, Short Film Festival winners list 2019"
  Focus on Ability Short Film Festival, captured 2025 - webpage listing 2019 award winners - Includes Open Entrant Winners (Winner - Victoria Thompson – Cinderella; Dane Jaeger - Game Day; Bridie McKim – Cinderella; Jack & Louise W - Jack Outside the Box; Blaise Borrer - The Adventures of Aspie Boy; Stanley Joseph – Limbitless; Jake Taylor - Pub Talk) School Entrant Winners (BLENNZ - Have you seen my lunch?; The Woden School - Labels Don't Define Us; Kogarah High School - Peter Pan - The Kogarah Re-enactment; Bailey Richards - Teen Builds A Real Lightsaber)
• Jayden Byrne
• Bernzerk Productions
• Yum Productions
• Art Day South
• Guiness Entertainment