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Disability Wiki

Disability Arts & Performance

Disability culture in theater, dance, visual arts, music, and performance. This page celebrates disabled artists and the rich tradition of disability arts.

About This Page

Section titled “About This Page”

Disability arts is a cultural movement—art made by disabled people that reflects disability experience, challenges ableism, and celebrates disability culture. This is distinct from “art therapy” or art about disability made by non-disabled people.

Labels used below (after an entry):

  • Disabled artist — disabled artist/creator
  • Disability-led org — disability-led organization
  • International — based outside the US
  • Influential — highly influential

Contents

Section titled “Contents”

What Is Disability Arts?

Section titled “What Is Disability Arts?”

Disability arts emerged from the disability rights movement, asserting that disabled people have a distinct culture worth celebrating. Key principles:

By disabled people: Created and controlled by disabled artists, not about disability from an outside perspective.

Disability as culture: Not “overcoming” narratives but exploration of disability experience, community, and identity.

Political and personal: Often challenges ableism, medical model, and societal barriers.

Aesthetic innovation: Disability drives new forms—Deaf performance, integrated dance, crip aesthetics.

“Disability arts is not inspirational. It’s transformational.” — Disability arts community

Performance Companies

Section titled “Performance Companies”

United States

Section titled “United States”

  • Sins Invalid (San Francisco) – Performance project centering disabled people of color and queer/trans disabled people. Developed the disability justice framework. Essential. Disability-led org, Influential.

  • National Disability Theatre – Deaf and disabled actors in professional theater. Disability-led org.

  • Phamaly Theatre Company (Denver) – All-disabled cast productions. Disability-led org.

  • Theater Breaking Through Barriers (New York) – Disabled actors in mainstream and original works. Disability-led org.

  • Dancing Wheels (Cleveland) – Integrated dance company with wheelchair dancers. Disability-led org.

  • AXIS Dance Company (Oakland) – World-renowned physically integrated dance. Disability-led org.

  • Full Radius Dance (Atlanta) – Physically integrated contemporary dance. Disability-led org.

United Kingdom

Section titled “United Kingdom”

  • Graeae Theatre Company (London) – Leading UK disabled-led theater. Breakthrough productions and training. Disability-led org, International.

  • Candoco Dance Company (London) – Internationally acclaimed integrated dance. Disability-led org, International.

  • Stopgap Dance Company – Integrated contemporary dance. Disability-led org, International.

  • Deaf Men Dancing – Deaf male dance company. Disability-led org, International.

  • Birds of Paradise (Scotland) – Scottish disability-led theater. Disability-led org, International.

International

Section titled “International”

  • Back to Back Theatre (Australia) – Ensemble of actors with intellectual disabilities. International touring. Disability-led org, International.

  • DanceAbility International – Integrated dance methodology and company. Disability-led org, International.

  • Remix Dance Project (Canada) – Integrated dance. Disability-led org, International.

Theater

Section titled “Theater”

Deaf Theater

Section titled “Deaf Theater”

  • National Theatre of the Deaf – Founded 1967. Pioneering Deaf theater in America. Disability-led org.

  • Deaf West Theatre (Los Angeles) – Known for ASL productions including Broadway’s Spring Awakening. Disability-led org.

  • Cleveland Signstage Theatre – Deaf and hearing integrated productions. Disability-led org.

Disability-Led Companies

Section titled “Disability-Led Companies”

  • Sins Invalid – [See Performance Companies] Disability-led org, Influential.

  • Phamaly Theatre Company – All-disabled casts. Disability-led org.

  • Theater Breaking Through Barriers – Professional disabled actors. Disability-led org.

  • Graeae – [See Performance Companies] Disability-led org, International.

  • Back to Back Theatre Disability-led org, International.

Notable Productions

Section titled “Notable Productions”

  • Spring Awakening (Deaf West, Broadway 2015) – ASL/spoken English integrated production.

  • Children of a Lesser God (Broadway revivals) – Deaf actors in Deaf roles.

  • Cost of Living (2017) – Martyna Majok play featuring disabled characters and actors.

  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – [Note: Autistic character typically played by non-autistic actors; debated representation]

Dance

Section titled “Dance”

Integrated/Inclusive Dance

Section titled “Integrated/Inclusive Dance”

  • AXIS Dance Company (Oakland) – Founded 1987. Wheelchair dancers and standing dancers. International tours, high artistic quality. Disability-led org, Influential.

  • Dancing Wheels (Cleveland) – Founded 1980. Wheelchair and standing dancers. Disability-led org.

  • Full Radius Dance (Atlanta) – Contemporary integrated company. Disability-led org.

  • Candoco Dance Company (London) – International touring, collaborations with major choreographers. Disability-led org, International.

  • Stopgap Dance Company (UK) Disability-led org, International.

  • DanceAbility International – Alito Alessi’s methodology for mixed-ability dance. Disability-led org, International.

Deaf Dance

Section titled “Deaf Dance”

  • Gallaudet Dance Company – University company. Disability-led org.

  • Deaf Men Dancing (UK) Disability-led org, International.

  • Various Deaf dance artists working in visual rhythm and spatial movement.

Wheelchair Dance

Section titled “Wheelchair Dance”

  • USA Dance Wheelchair Program – Competitive wheelchair dance. Disability-led org.

  • Chelsie Hill’s Rollettes – Wheelchair dance team (founded by paralyzed dancer). Disabled artist.

Notable Choreographers

Section titled “Notable Choreographers”

  • Judith Smith – AXIS Dance Company co-founder. Disabled artist.

  • Alice Sheppard – Kinetic Light founder, wheelchair dancer/choreographer. Disabled artist.

  • Alito Alessi – DanceAbility founder. Disabled artist.

  • Marc Brew – Scottish disabled choreographer. Disabled artist, International.

Visual Arts

Section titled “Visual Arts”

Prominent Disabled Visual Artists

Section titled “Prominent Disabled Visual Artists”

  • Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) – Mexican painter, disability icon. Chronic pain, spinal damage from accident. Surrealist self-portraits centering body and pain. Disabled artist, Influential.

  • Riva Lehrer – Painter, writer. Portraits of disabled people. “Circle Stories” series. Disabled artist.

  • Sunaura Taylor – Painter, writer, disability studies scholar. Animal and disability rights intersection. Disabled artist.

  • Yinka Shonibare – British-Nigerian artist with physical disability. Disabled artist, International.

  • Christine Sun Kim – Deaf artist working in sound, drawing, performance. Disabled artist.

  • Joseph Grigely – Deaf conceptual artist. Disabled artist.

  • Katherine Sherwood – Painter, post-stroke. Disabled artist.

  • Sandie Yi – Korean American disabled sculptor and installation artist. Disabled artist.

Organizations & Galleries

Section titled “Organizations & Galleries”

  • VSA (Very Special Arts) – Kennedy Center affiliate. [Note: Name and approach debated]

  • Shape Arts (UK) – Disability-led arts development organization. International.

  • Disability Arts Online gallery – Virtual gallery showcasing disability art. International.

Crip Aesthetics

Section titled “Crip Aesthetics”

“Crip aesthetics” describes visual and artistic approaches emerging from disability culture:

  • Celebrating non-normative bodies
  • Making access visible (wheelchairs, captions, etc. as aesthetic elements)
  • Reclaiming medical imagery
  • Highlighting interdependence

Music

Section titled “Music”

Deaf Musicians

Section titled “Deaf Musicians”

  • Sean Forbes – Deaf rapper and hip-hop artist. D-PAN founder. Disabled artist.

  • Mandy Harvey – Singer who lost hearing as adult. America’s Got Talent. Disabled artist.

  • Evelyn Glennie – Deaf percussionist, classical/experimental. Disabled artist.

  • Signmark – Finnish Deaf rapper. Disabled artist, International.

Musicians with Disabilities

Section titled “Musicians with Disabilities”

  • Stevie Wonder – Blind soul/R&B legend. Disabled artist.

  • Ray Charles – Blind R&B pioneer. Disabled artist.

  • Teddy Pendergrass – Soul singer, paralyzed in 1982, continued performing. Disabled artist.

  • Itzhak Perlman – Violinist, polio survivor, wheelchair user. Disabled artist.

  • Django Reinhardt – Jazz guitarist with partially paralyzed hand. Disabled artist.

  • Joni Mitchell – Chronic illness, polio as child. Disabled artist.

  • Lamar Hill – Rapper, stroke survivor. Disabled artist.

  • Viktoria Modesta – Amputee singer and performance artist. Disabled artist.

Bands/Groups

Section titled “Bands/Groups”

  • The Kids of Widney High – Band of musicians with developmental disabilities. Disabled artist.

  • Yo Tremendo – Portland band featuring musicians with developmental disabilities. Disabled artist.

Organizations

Section titled “Organizations”

  • D-PAN (Deaf Professional Arts Network) – ASL music videos, Deaf music access. Disability-led org.

  • OpenAir Circus – Disabled aerial performers. Disability-led org.

Comedy

Section titled “Comedy”

Stand-Up Comedians

Section titled “Stand-Up Comedians”

  • Maysoon Zayid – Palestinian American comedian with cerebral palsy. TED talk viral. “I’m Not Your Inspiration.” Disabled artist.

  • Josh Blue – Comedian with cerebral palsy. Last Comic Standing winner. Disabled artist.

  • Zach Anner – Comedian with cerebral palsy. YouTube, TV shows. Disabled artist.

  • Drew Lynch – Comedian with stutter. America’s Got Talent. Disabled artist.

  • Lost Voice Guy (Lee Ridley) – UK comedian using AAC. Britain’s Got Talent winner. Disabled artist, International.

  • Adam Hills – Australian comedian, amputee. The Last Leg host. Disabled artist, International.

  • Francesca Martinez – UK comedian with cerebral palsy. Disabled artist, International.

  • Nina G – Comedian with stutter and dyslexia. Disabled artist.

Comedy Groups & Shows

Section titled “Comedy Groups & Shows”

  • The Last Leg – UK Channel 4 show with disabled hosts. International.

  • Comedians with Disabilities Act – Touring comedy showcase.

Film & Media

Section titled “Film & Media”

See Documentaries & Films for comprehensive list.

Disability Arts Films

Section titled “Disability Arts Films”

  • Code of the Freaks (2020) – Disabled filmmakers analyze Hollywood representation.

  • CinemAbility (2018) – Jenni Gold’s documentary on disability in film.

  • Fixed (2013) – Enhancement technologies and disability.

Disabled Filmmakers

Section titled “Disabled Filmmakers”

  • Jim LeBrecht – Crip Camp co-director, disabled. Disabled artist.

  • Jennifer Brea – Unrest director, ME/CFS. Disabled artist.

  • Jenni Gold – CinemAbility director, wheelchair user. Disabled artist.

Individual Artists

Section titled “Individual Artists”

Multi-Disciplinary

Section titled “Multi-Disciplinary”

  • Alice Wong – Writer, activist, media creator. Disability Visibility Project. Disabled artist, Influential.

  • Eli Clare – Writer, performer, disability/trans theorist. Disabled artist.

  • Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha – Writer, performer, disability justice leader. Disabled artist.

  • Mat Fraser – UK actor, performer, disability arts leader. Disabled artist, International.

Writers (as Artists)

Section titled “Writers (as Artists)”

  • Kenny Fries – Poet, memoirist. Disabled artist.

  • Jim Ferris – Crip poetry founder. Disabled artist.

  • Petra Kuppers – Performance artist, disability culture scholar. Disabled artist.

  • Neil Marcus – Performance artist, writer. Disabled artist.

Festivals & Events

Section titled “Festivals & Events”

United States

Section titled “United States”

  • ReelAbilities Film Festival – Disability film festival in multiple cities.

  • Superfest – San Francisco disability film festival.

  • Disability Pride parades – Multiple cities (NYC, Chicago, LA, etc.)

United Kingdom

Section titled “United Kingdom”

  • Unlimited Festival – UK’s largest disability arts commissioning program (Southbank Centre). International.

  • DaDaFest (Liverpool) – Major disability arts festival. International.

  • Disability Film Festival UK International.

International

Section titled “International”

  • Crip Fest (Australia) International.

  • Various international disability film festivals.

Education & Training

Section titled “Education & Training”

Training Programs

Section titled “Training Programs”

  • Graeae Theatre Company – Professional training for disabled actors. Disability-led org, International.

  • National Theatre of the Deaf – Training programs. Disability-led org.

  • Phamaly – Training and mentorship. Disability-led org.

Academic Programs

Section titled “Academic Programs”

  • Disability Studies programs at various universities include arts and culture focus.

  • Paul K. Longmore Institute – Disability history and culture.

History of Disability Arts

Section titled “History of Disability Arts”

Key Moments

Section titled “Key Moments”

1960s-70s: Disability rights movement creates culture of protest and community.

1977: 504 sit-in includes art, music, community culture.

1980s: Disability arts movement names itself; UK and US developments.

1987: AXIS Dance Company founded.

1990s: ADA passage; disability culture grows; academic recognition.

2000s: Disability arts gains mainstream visibility; Deaf West Broadway.

2010s: Social media enables disabled artists to build audiences.

2020: Crip Camp brings disability history to mainstream; pandemic highlights access.

Influential Figures

Section titled “Influential Figures”

  • Ed Roberts – Independent Living founder, cultural leader.

  • Judy Heumann – Activist whose story inspired artistic works.

  • Victoria Ann Lewis – Disability theater pioneer.

  • Cheryl Marie Wade – Disability arts performer and poet.

  • Sins Invalid collective – Disability justice and arts fusion.

Contributing

Section titled “Contributing”

To suggest additions:

  1. Artist or organization must be disability-led
  2. Note the disability connection
  3. Include website/social media if available
  4. Note art form (theater, dance, visual, etc.)

See How to Contribute

Section titled “Related Pages”

This page celebrates disabled artists and disability arts culture.

Contribute to This Page

Section titled “Contribute to This Page”

Have lived experience or expertise that could strengthen this page? We especially welcome perspectives on models not well represented here, including those from the Global South and Indigenous communities.

Suggest an edit or addition →

This page centers disabled people’s expertise and is informed by disabled-led organizing globally. For questions or to suggest additions, see How to Contribute.