“You only ever see people on TV using sign language when there’s an emergency” writer and art critic Fiona Murphy told a crowd of about 200 at an Accessible Arts discussion forum hosted by playwright and actor Ryan Enniss at the Sydney Theatre Company today. ‘I think I saw an episode of Australian Story once where people were simply signing as part of a regular conversation, she added.
Joining Murphy on the panel were writer and performer Dan Daw and Michelle Cheng, Head of Creative Services at SBS. The discussion, titled ‘The Future of Disability Storytelling,’ featured personal accounts of disability from both Dan and Fiona.” As someone who has spent my entire working life in radio, and therefore storytelling, and now as someone livng with disabiity, I was keen to hear what everyone had to say.
Disability in the Spotlight
Dan highlighted the significance of theatre/plays portraying disabled characters as flawed individuals, arguing that this approach can lead to more authentic and relatable representations. Fiona explored the power of memoir in sharing personal experiences, suggesting that it can be a more effective tool for fostering empathy and understanding than traditional essays.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Dan shared his positive experiences with pre-access options in theatre, allowing people with disability to know about trigger warnigs, seating preferences etc, emphasizing the need for greater choice and control for disabled audience members. Fiona emphasized the importance of describing bodies in a way that challenges stereotypes and promotes inclusivity.
The Impact of AI and Funding
The rapid advancement of AI was another key topic. While acknowledging the potential benefits of AI in creating more accessible content, both Fiona and Dan expressed concerns about its impact on representation and the perpetuation of unrealistic beauty standards.
Disability funding in the arts was identified as a major hurdle. Fiona highlighted that even though it seems like there is lots of funding for disability arts, the competitive nature of the funding landscape, where organizations often vie for limited resources was a reality. Dan echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the challenges faced by artists with disabilities in securing funding for creative projects. He spoke about his experiences of where arts projects are funded separately from accessibility. So you compete for funding in an ongoing way (without deadlines) where the artistic merit of the project is the first criteria, and where “disability funding” is added on to the project.
The Power of Community and Mentorship
Despite the challenges, both Fiona and Dan expressed optimism about the future. They highlighted the importance of capacity building and the ongoing impact of initiatives aimed at empowering people with disabilities.
The conversation also touched on the complexities of mentorship, with Fiona raising concerns about paternalistic approaches that can hinder the growth and independence of mentees with disability.
Ultimately, the conversation underscored the need for continued dialogue and collaboration to create a more inclusive and equitable society for people with disabilities.
It was a great conversation to attend, and I enjoyed it very much.
