Building Capacity and the NDIS

One of the things I am invested in is building capacity of communities, presently my focus is on the Ipswich arts community and ensuring artists with disabilities are includes in the visual arts at grassroots level.  I love to say being an arts worker combines my two passions - art and advocating for all those living with disabilities, including families.  So naturally this will be incorporated into my personal ndis goals.

This week I sat down with part of team Deb to refresh the team on my goals and how they might look for my next plan.  I already know they will look very different, as I am a different person to 'who I was when I transitioned to the ndis.  For one thing I am fitter, stronger and healthier! 

My major goal for the last two years has been to have a solo art exhibition outside the boundaries of Ipswich.  On the 24th February I achieved that goal.  This is a huge undertaking for any emerging artist and a financial risk,  needing to use my wheelchair for fatigue takes the courage needed to the next level.  An artist lives with the critics, when it comes to art everybody is a critic.  What has happened that should not be happening is workers in the disability sector questioning my goals and implying I am bound to fail.

So what?  Failure is part of the human condition and nothing creates a more fertile ground for learning. I do push myself and between you and me - that is the secret to success! 

How I see success is very different to the rest of the world.  Success is not money, but the legacy I leave after I am gone.  The National Disability Insurance Scheme is primarily about assistance to participate in society.  Belonging is a basic human right that the ndis seeks to correct.  But what do we belong to!

Surprisingly not all my support workers knew my ndis goals, despite them being clearly written in my Team Induction Guide.  Some support workers see every participant's goal is to improve social skills and interaction.  Some of my workers in the past have thought taking me for coffee assisted me in this area.  Can I share something . . . this is not one of my needs.  I could have coffee with a different friend for the next 50 days plus . . . if I choose too.

Turning 50 with friends

Under the ndis that is not the point!  The point is CHOICE! What I do and with who is for me to decide not someone I employ to assist me.  People with disabilities and their families now have a choice on -

• How they want to be supported
• Who they want to support them (service providers or employing their own workers)
• Who they want to work directly with
• When they want that support

How participants engage in their communities will be different. Not many participants will choose to be a artist seeking to have artwork purchase by the Australian Art Bank and many do not know this is where galleries hire some of their exhibitions from.  This is my long term goal - the ultimate.  So short term I like the Ipswich Gallery to purchase my work or to host an exhibition by me.

So having a Chi latte with a worker I am irritated with is not how I want to socialise.  In my opinion these workers are wasting my time and I am paying them to do that!

The word 'participant' implies a person is actively engaged in a activity or program.  Going to the local shopping centre is not a social activity for most people -  I might enjoy that with my sister or a friend.  Other than that I send people to do that for me - and that is how I exercise my choice.  If you are a participant that might be the thing you most love to do. I think that's the coolest thing about the ndis - we as individuals get to do what we love doing, rather than 'following the leader!'

This will only continue if participants exercise their right to choose and speak up when they're not happy with a decision made by the ndis, a service or a support worker.  In the business world we say 'the customer is always right'.  When it comes to the ndis you are a customer. 

However community living is more than service providers, families and participants.  It is the neighborhood in which we live, work and play. Sadly for many of those living with disabilities neighborhoods are often not accessible.  Here is where the ndis should be assisting but too often adds a barrier for us to overcome.  For the scheme to work community organizations and government workers need to work with communities to highlight barriers for people living with disabilities and explore ways the community can become accessible. 

This ramp has sat mostly unused for the last 5 years.  Today I dropped it off at Limestone Emporium.  The owners face just lit up that her shop became accessible to young mums part of her target market. (and me with a sore foot at present - these days I waltz in!) If we're honest access effects everyone in the community.  Just ask Ipswich artist who are trying to enter the art awards today and the council website crashed - you can't be connected, try again later. 

For someone with a disability connecting is a daily occurrence.  Just as I helped my friend connect with her customers today, we need to walk alongside those struggling to connect to the community.  It isn't our problem and it isn't the community's problem, it is a human problem! 

When we limit ourselves, we limit others

and that takes away the choices of others.

March 25 is world CP day

I may have Cerebral Palsy

But CP does not have me!

Before I go I'd like to acknowledge BEMAC for investing in me and my art practise. This investment will support Mieke Den Otter and myself to demonstrate to local Kindergarten children that creating artwork is work. 

Thank you

The Role the NDIS Plays

One of the roles of the NDIS is to assist individuals and families living with disabilities to access and participate in community life. I am an author, visual artist and disability advocate.  My current NDIS goals are to extend my visual art practise and build in roads for inclusion in the local art community.

In addition to navigating the NDIS 'red tape, traps and pot holes', I face many physical and attitudinal barriers in presenting my artwork to my intended audience.  

A specific goal for 2018/19 was to host a solo art exhibition in Brisbane this is a huge undertaking.  Art galleries tend to be older buildings with poor access, but I never let a few steps get in the way and my recent exhibition at Greaser Gallery was no exception. However I am not confined to my wheelchair and can manage with assistance to climb a few stairs. 

Greaser Gallery website assures interested parties it is accessible - this was not my experience.  Although the space has some access plus' if you experience a sensory disability or behavioural disability. 

Low lighting and the freedom to use the sound system to play music would make it a 'safe' environment for someone on the autism spectrum.  However even using the back entrance meant I needed to negotiate one step.  This is easily overcome by the use of a small portable ramp.  When we discuss access we are usually referring to 'physical features' of venues.  i.e. Do they have a toilet I can access. In Greaser's case 'no'.

As I work with other artists the major access issues they encounter are:-

1. Affordable accessible transport
2. Affordable venue space
3. Attitudinal barriers

Greaser hits the mark on all three of these issues, assuming the artist is able to access the train.  The location of venues can often prove more of an access issue then the physical appearance of a building. Many people with disabilities are reliant on taxis which often make accessing the community unaffordable or totally exhausting. Added to this is their work is often undervalued by those who represent them or their audience meaning their profit margins are lower than their peers. 

The space at Greaser Gallery current fees and their commissions are very low making their Gallery affordable to emerging artists.  Pricing on Brisbane Galleries revealed they are on average four times the cost of Ipswich and almost always, their commissions were higher.  

I found the Greaser staff lovely to work with, respectable and very encouraging.  As a visual artist I have the advantage of letting my work speak for itself.  My disability is only discovered after my artwork is accepted.  . . . Unless I need to make contact by phone.

This is where my ndis plan comes into play by addressing my individual access needs.  My key support worker acts as my PA and makes most of my work calls on my behalf and does a lot of my leg work so I can focus on producing artwork. 

Difficulties accessing the arts can occur way before the artist submits a proposal.  Even in the production process and accessing resources artists with disabilities are at significant disadvantage. Few have the ability or technology to research the art gallery market and many who are dependent on others - such as support staff are limited.  Few workers are serious about empowering participants to be part of the art community and they often play a significant role in artwork being under valued.  Some artists who are part of a studio run by support studios are not paid and do not own their own work. 

The creative work in producing an art piece has no value attached if it is produced as part of a day respite program.  I suggest these artists seek out supported art studios, which are staffed by quality art support workers who assist in promoting both the artists and their work.  Artists living with disabilities should seek the advice of their state peak body.  In Queensland that is Access Arts. 

Was honoured to have Pat Swell support my 

recent exhibition.  Pat is the CEO of Access Arts

here in Queensland and a fellow champion

for inclusion in the arts.

So many businesses and organisations only scratch the surface in addressing access issues for people with disability.  If the business community were to get serious about disability access then they would develop a Disability Action Plan.  This identifies the access issues their services present for those living with disability and outlines a plan to address each barrier over a period of time. The plan must also include a commitment to disability awareness training for all members of staff.  Due to costs that could be a 10 year plan or even a living document, this at least demonstrates a willingness to participate in building an inclusive community.

In the absence of disability action plans, there is no commitment to partnering with the NDIS to increase the social and economic participation of people living with disabilities. Many working in the disability sector itself have much to learn about empowering people to make their own choices and not letting their own prejudices and fears limit those they work with. 

My NDIS plan has played a major role to achieve my ambitions, art goals and contributing to social inclusion in roads in the Ipswich Art community. 

Arts Connect Ipswich

recipient of 

2019 Event of the Year

Australia Day Award 

Having YOUR Voice

art exhibition by artists with disabilities.