DAWN Canada will be hosting their third annual National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) starting on May 31st through to June 4th. This year’s theme is about Art as protest and the way we think about protest which is fundamentally inaccessible to people with disabilities. How can justice be attained unless our movements include disabled voices? For this year’s National AccessAbility Week, DAWN Canada will be exploring how art can be a more accessible form of protest beyond the parameters of a march.
What is NAAW?
It is a week for Canadians to promote inclusion and accessibility in our communities and workplaces, to celebrate our progress and to be inspired to further break down accessibility barriers.
We need to change the way we think, talk and act about barriers to participation and accessibility and we need to do it right from the start, not as an afterthought. An inclusive Canada is one where all Canadians can participate and have an equal opportunity to succeed in their workplaces and communities.
National AccessAbility Week aims to bring this perspective to the forefront for Canadians, and highlight some of the important initiatives the government and its partners are undertaking to bring about this change.
Why Art as a means of protest?
Speaking up can go beyond a voice, marching can go beyond walking, protesting is not limited to traditional means. Through art, protest can become accessible to those living with disabilities to use it in their daily lives to bring to light their struggles, their barriers and their successes. Art is powerful and full of emotion; connecting us to one another on deeper levels that go beyond words or actions. DAWN Canada has chosen art as a means of protest not only because it’s accessible, but because of it’s impact on the community and the world.
EVENTS
May 31st 3pm Panel “Rethinking Protest Beyond a March: Art as a means of accessible protest"
With | Avec
Arseli Dokumaci Director of the Access-in-Making Lab of Concordia University
Kamissa Ma Koïta Drag and performance art activist
Michele Decottignies Founding Chair of the Deaf, Disability, and Mad Arts Alliance of Canada
Ravyn Wngz Performance artist, activist, and founder of Ill Nana DiverseCity Dance Company
Moderated by | Modéré par Tracy Tidgwell, Research Project Manager of the ReVision Centre
http://bit.ly/panelsna
June 1st 12h EST The Poetic Voice: poetry as self-advocacy and expressive power with Powetik
June 3rd 12h EST Asking for What You Need: poetry for connecting to personal needs and desires with Powetik
http://bit.ly/powetiksna
June 3 3pm EST Movie screening and discussion with Laurence Parent
http://bit.ly/projectionsna
June 4 12h EST Artistic showcase
With | Avec
El Jones Spoken word artist | Créatrice orale
Eli Tareq Lynch Poet | Poète
Maxime Pomerleau Dancer | Danseuse
Renée Yoxon Musician | Musicien.ne
http://bit.ly/vitrinesna
Languages EN, FR, ASL, LSQ & CART captioning EN + FR
The event will be taking place on the Swapcard application