1 July 2005 What is Disability Arts? What are the issues which
have underpinned the development of Disability Arts? Allan
Sutherland offers a concise explanation. 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. Disability arts is made by disabled
people. So we're not talking about anything that portrays us
according to other people's perceptions: Rain Man or Richard III
or 'isn't it tragic' documentaries. In disability arts we are in
charge, we tell our own stories, we present our own perceptions
of disability and the issues around it. Disability arts reflects
the experience