Photography and Disability

In December 1985, the Arts Council launched the Code of Practice on Arts and Disability, which it is encouraging all of its revenue clients to adopt. A comprehensive Resources Pack was prepared as well as a Directory of Arts and Disability Organisations and Projects (1989). From these it rapidly became clear that there was little information available on work being done either by or on behalf of people with disabilities in the area of photography.

Ad Lib, a group specialising in research and training in disability awareness and the arts, was commissioned in February 1987 to prepare this report. A copy of the research brief is included in section 8.

The Manchester ‘Disabled People’s Arts Conference and Workshops’ took place during the period of research in March 1988. The need to establish criteria and direction for the further development of disabled peoples’ arts, including photography, dominated its agenda. This consideration gave the initial research brief a wider interpretation.

To read the full text, please download the PDF below.