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Disabled Narratives: From Our Perspective

Dive into the realities of several disabled students, staff and alumni through an immersive array of poetry/prose, tactile artefacts and audio-visual media. The trailer has been created by Marcel Hirshman, a highly experienced and qualified BSL (British Sign Language) translator in collaboration with the University of Sussex.

It describes Matilda Barrowman’s event as part of the annual Festival of Ideas to commence Brighton Festival 2025.

To book, email g.merry@sussex.ac.uk or tellmah@sussex.ac.uk.

Disabled Narratives: From Our Perspective

  • Video transcript

    The first screen shows the University of Sussex logo in white with a dark blue background. The second screen shows white text with a dark blue background that says ‘Disabled Narratives: From our Perspective’ by Matilda Barrowman. The third screen shows white text of dates and times of the event with a dark blue background. It then shows Marcel who is dressed in all black and is standing in front of a dark blue background transcribing the event via BSL.

    This exhibition event is part of the annual Festival of Ideas to commence Brighton Festival 2025 and is titled Disabled Narratives: From our Perspective.

    At the heart of the exhibition is the centering of lived experiences and perspectives from University of Sussex students and staff who identify as disabled. Matilda Barrowman, who has created the event, is a cerebral palsic, and autistic wheelchair user and an undergraduate student at the University of Sussex studying Creative Writing.

    The exhibition will take place at the Jane Attenborough studio at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts on Thursday 10 April, from 1pm to 5pm. The works will be a variety of printed texts, like poetry and prose, tactile artefacts, and audiovisual media hung primarily on walls. Texts will be accessible through Braille and screen reader compatible versions.

    An audio described tour and Touch Tour will run from 1pm to 2pm and allow you and one companion to navigate the exhibition in a quiet, relaxed environment with an audio describer. A BSL tour will take place from 2.15pm to 3.15pm. To book, e-mail g.merry@sussex.ac.uk or tellmah@sussex.ac.uk.

    The next screen shows the University of Sussex logo in white with a dark blue background. The final screen shows the ACCA (Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts) logo in white text with a dark blue background.

  • Additional accessibility resources

    Deaf/Hard of Hearing

    • Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID): A national charity supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss, or tinnitus, offering a range of services and information.
    • British Deaf Association (BDA): The UK's leading membership organization and registered charity run by Deaf people, for Deaf people, advocating for Deaf equality, access, and freedom of choice.
    • National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS): A leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people.
    • Deafblind UK: A national charity that supports people who are deafblind.
    • SignHealth: A healthcare charity for Deaf people, focused on improving the health and wellbeing of native BSL users.
    • DeafPLUS: A charity committed to breaking down barriers and integrating deaf and hard-of-hearing people into wider society.
    • Royal Association for Deaf people: A charity empowering deaf people to live independently and participate in activities and hobbies.
    • Action Deafness (AD): The leading Deaf-led charity in the UK.
    • Sense: A leading national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind.
    • Hearing Link Services: This is a list of UK organisations we think may be of interest to adults with hearing loss, their friends and families.

    Local Support

    Blind/Visually Impaired

    • RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People): The UK's leading charity for people with vision loss, offering a wide range of services, including a helpline, reading services, and an online shop.
    • The Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC): Focuses on supporting blind and partially sighted children, young people, and their families, aiming to help them live life without limits.
    • Sightsavers: Works to prevent avoidable blindness, fight disease, and ensure equality for everyone.
    • Look UK: Supports visually impaired young people to thrive, offering structured peer support, mentoring, and events.
    • Thomas Pocklington Trust: Works to improve the lives of blind and partially sighted people through research, grant giving, and partnership working, with a particular focus on education, employment, and engagement.
    • Fight for Sight: Funds research breakthroughs and social change to save sight.
    • Be My Eyes: Connects blind and low-vision users with sighted assistance through live video and AI.
    • National Federation of the Blind of the UK: A registered charity founded by blind and partially sighted people in 1947, run by blind and partially sighted people.
    • Guide Dogs: One of the UK’s leading sight loss charities, with expert staff, volunteers, and life-changing guide dogs to help people with sight loss live the life they choose.
    • East Sussex Association of Blind & Partially Sighted People: This local charity focuses on increasing independence, confidence, and wellbeing, promoting understanding of sight loss, and providing vital services.
    • Blatchington Court Trust: Supports young people with sight loss under 30 and their families throughout Sussex.
    • VICTA: A national charity empowering children and young adults who are blind or partially sighted and their families across the UK.

    Neurodivergency

    National organisations

    • National Autistic Society: A well-established charity providing extensive resources, guidance, and advocacy for autistic individuals and their families, covering education, employment, and independent living.
    • ADHD Foundation: The UK's leading neurodiversity charity offering a strength-based, lifespan service for individuals with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and other conditions.
    • The Brain Charity: Focuses on supporting people with neurological conditions, including neurodiversity, and provides training for workplaces to become more neuroinclusive.
    • Society For Neurodiversity: Supports people who identify as neurodivergent, including their families, friends, and allies, viewing neurodiversity as a civil rights movement.
    • Neurodiversity UK: A social enterprise dedicated to uniting the neurodiverse community across the UK, aiming to create a supportive and inclusive environment.
    • Neurodiversity in Business: A business forum and industry group for organizations to share industry good practice on ND recruitment, retention, and empowerment.
    • The Neurodivergent Collective: A team of neurodivergent individuals providing support in various aspects of life, including employment, wellbeing, and burnout recovery.
    • Action For Neurodiversity: Provides autism-specialist counselling to those who live with or alongside Asperger's syndrome/autism.
    • Neurodiverse Connection: A neurodivergent-led social enterprise empowering neurodivergent professionals to help neurodivergent people.
    • The Donaldson Trust: Offers resources and support for neurodiversity, including an animation about living with neurodiversity.

    Local support

    • Amaze Sussex: A charity providing information, advice, and support to families of young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Brighton & Hove and Sussex.
    • ADHD Aware: A Brighton-based charity supporting adults living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
    • Grace Eyre: A charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and/or mental health issues, helping with independent living, employment support, and learning and socialising.
    • Possability People: A charity offering support to adults with any kind of disability aged 18+ in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex.
    • Team Domenica: A charity focused on creating futures for people with learning disabilities, supporting candidates to gain work skills, confidence, and independence.

    Cerebral Palsy support