The Road To The NDIS

Buying A Backstage Pass 

The common misconception is the National Disability Insurance Scheme, also known as the NDIS, is solely about better support provisions, being delivered to people living with disabilities. Yes this is one of the goals however, the ultimate goal is to address the rights of people living with disabilities.

Eligibility for the ArtISability Foundation program uses the social model of disability.  Disability is simply the impairment of normal human function. So under the social model of disability, illiteracy is considered a disability, we also want to support people with mental illness. While these people will not be eligible for support under the National Disability Agency, ArtISablity recognizes that these artists can become socially isolated and need support to build their art practices.

Artisability remains committed to addressing the access barriers the people with disabilities and mental illness encounter. The NDIS actually seeks to address more than physical, emotional, social and behavioural needs to the estimated  90 000 Queenslanders living with permanent disability. Rather it hopes by addressing these support needs people living with disabilities and their families will be able to fully engaged in the life of the community in which they live. 

Until the implementation of the NDIS in Ipswich and surrounding areas in which ArtISability offers its professional development programs, we acknowledge we have a dual role. The goal of community participation can not be achieved solely by supporting people living with disabilities and their families. We also have a role in preparing our community for the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, through challenging the attitudinal barriers that prevent full community participation. Legislation can not change internal beliefs. 

We believe the best way to challenge these is through the demonstration of ability and education.  I believe the commencement of the NDIS will see a change in our role at ArtISability. We will cease to have to provide support for artist and focus on their professional development needs. However our artists living with disabilities will always need advocacy.

 We seek to encourage our artists to take control of their own direction, Above our artists are being supported to fund raise to enable them to continue to achieve their individual goals in 2015.

1. James is still very much in the establishment stage of his art development, but is keen to share his experiences with future participants in the program.
2. Nick has a diverse creative talents, and has achieved a number of art sales during 2014 and we are exploring other avenues for the sales of Nick's artwork in 2015.
3. Both James and Nick were awarded first prize in the Ipswich Show Societies Annual competition this year. 
4. Russell is a more established artists and attends CPL's Art Studio at Springfield. Russell will soon begin planning for his solo exhibition. 

Russel Preparing For Exhibition

It is vital we share a role in promoting Community Disability Awareness in the region. Essential to this role is the Ipswich Disability Interagencey Group and our partners Disability Community Awareness. Peter and Linda Tully are national trained leaders to work with organizations; community groups, careers and people with disabilities to make necessary preparation for the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. 

My direct role is assisting the Ipswich Arts Community to begin dialogue in addressing the access issues my artists face in establishing their carers. 

These access issues involve: 

• Access to Transport
• Access to Information
• Access to Communication
• Access to skills development
• Access to arts funding
• Access to buildings

For the artists I support just a simple task of booking a taxi to attend ArtISability creates a barrier and can lead to their isolation and yet their artwork shines by its self. 

Sunflower by Russel Algeo

We are not seeking charity rather practical support to address access issues.  An example of this is Community Transport Services in Ipswich are ready to assist, we need to subsidise costs and assist with bookings on our artists behalf. Or arrange for information to be presented in accessible ways to enable them to make informed decisions. (If you would like to help fund this activity you can purchase a calender featuring the work of our artists.)

We do not provide art activities or art classes for RAW beginners, although we are happy to make referral.  We require our artists to be connected with the community either through entering work in art competitions, exhibitions, sales of art work or attend mainstream training at professional level.  Artist not working towards these goals are asked to exit the program. 

Form time to time we run community workshops, however these are designed to help artist to understand ArtISability. In traveling the road to the NDIS we all need to begin preparations.  If you are an artist or arts organisation looking for this type of assistance give us a call. 

A Special Thanks to