As a neurodivergent, chronically ill, person with disability diagnosed later in life with long-term health conditions, Libby is passionate about learning, improving, implementing and promoting all things accessibility, visibility and inclusivity in arts, work and everyday life. Libby is on Adelaide Fringe's Disability, Access and Inclusion External Advisory Committee, which works to ensure that artists and audiences of all abilities can participate in Fringe. 

I am still learning about improving, implementing and promoting accessibility for myself, so I want to take the opportunity to learn what others need as well so I can do my best to accommodate. I don’t always get it right, but I want to try. I am passionate about everyone having an opportunity to grow and succeed. We can’t do that if there are people in our world who are unable to access even the most basic of accommodations and needs. I’m a qualified teacher, so it’s deeply embedded into my practice to be inclusive. I try to continue that outside of the classroom. I want everyone to feel safe, included and engaged in all the things I am part of because, as a person with cognitive and physical disability and chronic illness, I know what it feels like to begin the race way back from the starting line. If we have the ability to make life better for other people, we should all try to do that. It feels good, and it gives you more access to people and places you might not otherwise have known or experienced.

A few years ago, I wrote a show about endometriosis (Endo Days) for fun and catharsis. I had no idea it would lead me to connect with thousands of people, patients, partners, parents, and health practitioners who were wanting to talk about and learn about chronic pain, invisible illness and disability, and misdiagnosis. It has been such a joyous and incredible experience. This show has allowed me to entertain, empower and educate audiences, but has also taught me that I need to lean into my own abilities and disabilities and make accommodations for myself when I need them. I have found such strength in this and it has helped me to build a more sustainable career, be a more empathetic venue owner and producer, and a better artist. I have been able to write and perform more shows because I know now how I can better manage my health and my time. That is because of the information and connection shared through a little show about chronic pain, invisible illness and disability, and misdiagnosis. I think that’s pretty powerful stuff.

I have learned so much from partnering with and/or enjoying the incredible work of important organisations like Access2Arts, Purple Orange, Deaf Connect, No Strings Attached, Spectrum Connect, Restless, Tutti, True Ability, Carclew, and Urban Myth (which is where my artsy access journey started).

Individual artists who have significantly altered and improved my mindset, approach and practice have been people like Gemma Winter, Peta Spurling-Brown, Victoria Falconer, Amy Hourigan, Kat Grey, Jamila Main, Diana Divine, Kitty Obsidian, Sabrina Buggy, Kate Gallagher, and the fabulous Kymbo McKenzie (and so many more). These people have opened my eyes to new things and so much stuff I should have seen before. They have given me encouragement and support, and have held me accountable for how I work in this space. I appreciate them so much.

One of the best things I’ve ever done has been taking Endo Days and our teacher cabaret Extra Curricular regionally. We performed Endo Days at one place where a father and his daughter came along. They’d never been to see a theatre show before, let alone a comedy cabaret about pain, but the young girl had been debilitated and completely incapacitated by pain and she hadn’t had any joy with the medical teams in her area. Her dad was trying to support her but he was feeling pretty defeated. He saw a poster for the show at his local supermarket and figured it couldn’t hurt to bring his daughter along – if anything, at least they’d have a fun night out together. At first they were uncomfortable but intrigued. Then they really started getting into it and understanding I was there to hear their stories as well as tell them mine and by the end, the dad was singing along, ecstatically air punching at everything he could relate to, and they were both laughing at all the fun bits. At the end they shared their joy with me and said they had felt so lost but after the show they felt seen and heard. They felt like they had community and some tips on what to do next. I was so grateful they came. I wrote the show because I’d felt exactly the same as them – lost, alone and in pain. There have been so many highlights, but that one stands out because art can bridge a gap and truly help people. It’s why we do what we do.

 What advice would you give to other artists or organisations looking to support the disability community through arts and culture?

As an artist, I am getting better at providing information about what I need. As a venue owner, I am still learning, but trying to get better.

So I think my advice would be, please ask artists what they need and then listen to the answer. Some accommodations and access requirements can be expensive. In some buildings or structures, it’s impossible. If that is the case, and you’ve tried other avenues, just be honest with the artist. They might know a way to help you to find a solution, or it could give them an opportunity to find another venue or respectfully decline your offer to be in their cast.

Don’t be afraid to work with disabled artists and organisations. You might think you can’t work with them because you don’t know or don’t have what they need. But you’d be surprised what we can work with, what we can bring and how many problems we can solve with gaffer tape and a bit of enthusiasm.

 What are you most looking forward to at Fringe 2025?

 

I have a young son with disability so we have written a show for him called Kidstock. It’s an interactive mini-festival for sensory seeking kids and their families. Music has helped our little guy learn how to talk and how to connect so we have created an accessible and interactive show where young people can either get involved and storm the stage for their rockstar moment, or hang back and enjoy the tunes and vibes. There are songs to sing along to, games to play, and everything is delivered with compassion and understanding that some kids can’t and won’t sit still. So this show will be a safe space to get up, move around, cry, sing, let loose any ticks or stims, dance, sway, or roll on the floor if it feels good. This show is for my little boy and all the other kids for whom music and movement is the key to their soul.