We All Need a Home

Invitation to a performance and FAQs

Inclusive housing promotes self-advocates’ rights to housing that provide a sense of home and belonging within their community where they have the supports they need to live a good life in community.

The recognition of the housing crisis and a vision for inclusive housing inspired this theatre company of self-advocates to identify housing as their choice for their third disability theatre production.

Since 2018, the Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship (CIIC), the Community Living Society (CLS) and the Massey Theatre have collaborated on devising, producing and researching two critical participatory theatre projects. The first production was Romance, Relationships and Rights (RRR), and the second production was We Deserve to Work! Spurred by the learning, growth and impact of these two successful disability theatre for social change productions, and upon the urging of the theatre company comprised of a diverse group of actors and co-creators with intellectual disabilities (self-advocates), we are embarking on a third disability theatre project focused on self-advocates’ right to inclusive housing.

The housing crisis in British Columbia and Canada impacts many Canadians and impacts members from equity-deserving groups including self-advocates disproportionately. Canada’s National Housing Strategy recognizes housing as a “cornerstone of inclusive communities.” In BC, the Inclusive Housing Task Force (2018) points out that “lack of affordable housing has resulted in a large number of individuals [with intellectual disabilities] remaining within their families’ homes long past their same-aged peers or living in a housing situation not of their choice.”

At its core, disability theatre embraces the profound recognition that disabled lives and experiences are inherently valuable (Johnston, 2016). Moreover, disability theatre necessitates that the topic and messages come from the people most affected: we must lift up, listen to, follow and highlight the perspectives of those who are most impacted by the systems of ableism and other forms of oppression (Sins Invalid, 2019). Informed by disability justice principles (Sins Invalid, 2019), the self-advocate co-creators from CLS have identified the topic, housing. With the support of CLS, UBC researchers and the Massey Theatre, the co-creators are creating and acting in the production through disability theatre for social justice.

The play includes these accessibility and inclusivity features:

• All performances will be relaxed with dimmed lighting, soft sounds, and space for audience members to move around. A quiet sensory space will be provided outside of the theatre in a section of the lobby.
• The actors will be using microphones to assist people who are hard of hearing.
• ASL will be provided. Audience members who rely on ASL are encouraged to select tickets close to the front.
• Captions will be projected on the stage.
• The program is in plain language.
• Wheelchair seating is available. We recommend companions reserve seating nearby, if possible, to allow people with mobility needs to reserve accessible seats.
• There are gender neutral, accessible washrooms with full size changing areas at Massey Theatre. Theatre staff will provide guidance if asked.
• You will find plenty of free parking at the back of the building. Ramp access is available at both front and back entrances. Unfortunately, the Balcony level is not yet accessible.
• For more information about accessibility please contact admin@ticketsnw.ca