Culture creates opportunities for expression, participation, and shared experiences. Whether in music, film, the arts, theater, or audio-based formats, inclusive cultural offerings can open up new perspectives and ways to engage.
This page provides a curated selection of organizations and information resources related to culture and disability. The links are intended as orientation and lead to further information across different cultural fields.
Music
Rudely Interrupted
One of Australia’s most unique rock bands, Rudely Interrupted have toured the world, played some of the biggest and most prestigious stages. All of the band members have some kind of a disability – the singer Rory Burnside suffers from epilepsy, Asperger syndrome and has a lip-jaw-palate cleft.
She is a performer, a vocalist and a songwriter with Dysplasia and Osteoarthritis. She infuses her music with energy, enthusiasm and eclecticism. She has been performing live on the Cleveland, Ohio, music scene for over a decade, including organising the Breast Fest at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a benefit concert of female performers to help raise funds for breast cancer prevention.
Flame, a group from upstate New York made up of 10 people with developmental/physical disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome, and blindness is capturing the world’s attention but their message remains the same. The band wants to change the world through music. They are a phenomenon that inspires people and changes the way the general public view people with disabilities.
Heart 'n Soul is a dynamic arts organisation in the UK offering creative opportunities to people with learning disabilities. The organisation has an original and innovative way of working by using contemporary music, theatre and club culture. Touring performances, clubs, training, residencies and an extensive programme of workshops, provide a ladder of opportunity for people with learning disabilities to realise their talents and personal potential.
Highly acclaimed and gifted percussionist, profoundly deaf since the age of twelve. She secured her place in music history, as she was the first solo classical percussionist, received a Grammy and played with most of the world's top orchestras and conductors. She has so far published 16 solo recordings and has already received a designation as an Officer of the British Empire.
Where can I watch the newest film in cinema - with subtitles or audio described. This website provides information on subtitled and audio described movies in British cinemas. Via e-mail, you can get notified of new films, dates and times in your area every week.
Thearts 2In Clusion is an art school for low-income and disabled people. The school specializes in working with people with disabilities and provides a supportive, accessible learning environment tailored to individual needs. Adapted facilities, specialized materials and trained staff help ensure inclusive education and personal development.
The BBC's website, which is mainly directed at young people with a disability, lists regular TV programmes on disability and links to further information on disability related TV series and features.
Jacksons Lane arts centre is housed in an imaginatively converted listed Edwardian church in Highgate. It contains a 167 seat theatre host to many dynamic and innovative fringe performances. They offer over 60 activities a week ranging from acting workshops to African drumming, flamenco to circus skills plus a wide range of children's theatre and workshops.
The AXIS Dance Company is an innovative ensemble of performers with and without disabilities. Founded in 1987, the company is a non profit organisation. AXIS propagate a collaboration of dancers with and without disabilities. The mission is to teach dance and educate about collaboration and disability, to promote and support physically integrated dance locally, nationally and internationally.
The California Arts and Disability Resource Center (CADRC) works to advance the inclusion of artists and audiences with disabilities across all areas of the arts. As part of the UCLA Tarjan Center, it offers information, consultation and referral services to support inclusive practices within the arts community. The centre also promotes the professional development of artists with disabilities through access to education, networks and career opportunities.
The International Visual Theatre is based in Paris, France and has received much positive attention in the media with its plays since at IVT deaf and hearing people stage and work together. IVT also organises international workshops for deaf people. They presented their plays during tours inEurope and the US. But the group does not only focus on acting, they are also working to advance and improve french and internal sign language.
National Library Service for the Blind and Print disabled library of congress (NLS)
Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail. The catalogue can be searched online.
