Writeability Goes Local (Whitehorse Manningham Libraries) – Own Voices Forum

Details

Who is it for?

Come and be part of the launch of Writeability Goes Local in Whitehorse and/or Manningham.

Explore how language, writing and telling our own stories helps transform ways of thinking about the self, disability and community. Developed by people with disability, the forum provides professional development on the Social Model of Disability and best practice language for organisations.

The forum is for writers and aspiring writers with disability in Whitehorse and/or Manningham, as well as arts and community development workers, disability and health service providers, teachers, local councils and libraries.

When we say that Writeability is a program for people with disability, we mean that it's for anyone who experiences barriers such as lack of physical access, communication barriers, or discrimination.

This includes (but isn't limited to) people with sensory or physical issues, hidden issues, ongoing medical conditions, learning difficulties or mental health issues.

Where and when?

The forum will be held in the Doncaster Library, MC Square, 687 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster, from 10am to 2pm. Light refreshments provided. Scroll down to register.

Program

By bridging the gap between mainstream arts and disability communities, the Writeability program will use writing to break down barriers to social inclusion and give people with disability the skills and opportunity to tell their stories their way.

The Writeability team will teach you about the Social Model of Disability, best-practice language, advocacy and power, and share some tips on how to write about disability. You are welcome to ask questions as we go, and there will be time for a dedicated Q&A at the end.

About Jenny Hedley

Jenny Hedley is a neurodiverse writer and PhD research student whose work appears in Archer Magazine, Cordite Poetry Review, Diagram, Overland Literary Journal, TEXT Journal, Westerly Magazine, and the anthologies Admissions: Voices in Mental Health and Verge. She lives on unceded Boon Wurrung land with her son. Her website is jennyhedley.github.io/.

About Jax Brown

Jax Brown (they/them) is a LGBTIQA+ disability rights activist, writer and educator. Jax has been published widely online and in the following anthologies: Queer Disability Anthology (2015), QueerStories (2018), Kindred (2019), Growing up Queer in Australia (2019) and We've Got This: Stories by Disabled Parents (2022). Jax is interested in how we can build resilience, pride and community for LGBTIQA+ disabled people.

About Jessica Walton

Jessica Walton is a queer, disabled writer and speaker. They co-wrote an episode of Get Krack!n, focused on disability, which aired on ABC in 2019. They are the author of graphic novel Stars in Their Eyes, with artwork by Aśka (Fremantle Press 2021) and Introducing Teddy, illustrated by Dougal MacPherson (Bloomsbury 2016). Jess also has two short stories for teens and kids published in Australian anthologies Funny Bones (Allen and Unwin 2019) and Meet Me at the Intersection (Fremantle Press 2018), as well as poetry in a few anthologies, magazines and journals.

More about Writeability Goes Local: Whitehorse Manningham Libraries

This eight-month creative writing program is offered by Whitehorse Manningham Libraries and Manningham Council with funding support from VicHealth Jumpstart! It aims to reduce the disadvantages that disabled writers can face due to social isolation, the expense of professional development and the assumption that people with disability need other people to tell their stories. 

Following the forum, Writeability Goes Local: Whitehorse Manningham Libraries will include workshops and author talks for people with disability interested in writing and building their writing skills for creativity and enjoyment. Registrations for the Whitehorse Manningham Libraries Writeability Writers Group are now open.

Cancellation Policy