The Adelaide Festival of Arts strives to make its events available for all to enjoy, this includes support in the access of Deaf and disabled audiences, and on Wednesday 3 December 2014, Adelaide Festival CEO Karen Bryant launched the Access Program for the 2015 festival.

The Access Program provides information on the range of performances supported by Audio Description or Auslan services, as well as giving information on the physical access of various venues. The Access Program also outlines booking arrangements and special access ticketing prices available.

There are a number of alternative versions of the 2015 Adelaide Festival program available on their website including:

• An audio program
• A large print text-only program
• Rich Text Format (RTF)
• Auslan program description videos
• Braille on request

By outlining performances and events within the 2015 festival program that meet the access requirements of Deaf and disabled audiences the Adelaide Festival aims to be as accessible as possible to the largest audience.

Check out accessible performances on the Access2ASrts EVENTS page.

Download the Rich Text Format version of the Access Program (DOCX 2.2MB)

Download the a PDF version of the Access Program (PDF 1.12MB)

It was with great sadness that Access2Arts learnt of the death of writer, comedian and disability activist Stella Young. 

Since the announcement on Monday 8 December 2014 of Stella’s passing early on Saturday evening (6 December 2014) much as been said about her life and her contribution to the dialogue on the representation and rights of disabled people within our society.

Among her multitude of achievements, Young was the former editor of the ABC’s disability news and opinion website, Ramp Up.

ABC managing director Mark Scott described her as “an unforgettable communicator and a passionate advocate”.

“As a writer and broadcaster Stella was sharp and incisive, challenging and provocative,” he said in a statement.

“She was very warm and generous, the first to laugh and to make us all laugh.

“Stella helped us understand disability issues by sharing with a raw honesty about her own life and forcing us to reconsider how we think about disability and create an environment where those with disability can best get on with their own lives.

“She took great delight in challenging conventional wisdom and lazy thinking.”

Young was born in Stawell, country Victoria, and at the age of 14 she began a life of advocacy in which she campaigned for the disabled community. She proudly described herself as a “crip”, despite objections by others.

“People get all up in arms when I describe myself as a crip because what they hear is the word ‘cripple’ and they hear a word you’re not allowed to say anymore,” she told 720 ABC Perth in 2012.

“Crip is a word that I find empowering the same way that some members of the gay community, but not all members of the gay community, find the word ‘queer’ empowering.”

Young was performer, writer, advocate and at times criticised for speaking out against what she described as ‘inspiration porn’, objecting to the idea that disabled people should be seen as inspiring just for living a normal life. Young said, “Disability doesn’t make you exceptional, but questioning what you think you know about it does.”

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-08/stella-young-dies-aged-32-writer-comedian-disability-activist/5950640

To celebrate International Day of People with Disabilities, Access2Arts in partnership with the Adelaide City Council together worked on a series of creative responses responding to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

Deaf and disabled people were filmed reciting key articles from the UN convention, specifically those that related to Access2Arts and Adelaide City Council’s relations with disabled people.

http://vimeo.com/113249997

http://vimeo.com/113251421?autoplay=0

http://vimeo.com/113252730?autoplay=0

http://vimeo.com/113255585?autoplay=0

For more information about the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability follow this LINK.

Accecc2Arts and the Adelaide City Council wish to tank the many artists and performers who took part in the filming of these videos.

Access2Arts, in partnership with the Adelaide City Council, set up a Pop-up Portraiture Studio in Adelaide’s Rundle Mall on Thursday 16 October 2014.

We invited both people with disability and friends to be part of a photographic series of images to celebrate the 2014 International Day of People with Disability.

Participants of all ages and many cultures took part, having their photograph taken while holding placards bearing text that related to the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Rundle Mall Pop-up Studio gave opportunity for members of the Adelaide community to share statements from the UN convention that is important to them.

CLICK HERE for more information on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Access2Arts would like to thank Sarah Cleggett, David Jobling, Sam Oster, Meghann Wilson, Lawrence Leon Woods and all the community members who took part in the Pop-up studio. Audio description by Lara Torr.