Show

The show’s artistic perspective was centered on an autobiographical theme based on experiences of women with disabilities: our daily life, emotions, and realities. The program consisted of twenty-two numbers in which sixteen artists and four volunteer artists1 performed onstage. This two-and-a-half-hour program included eight monologues, six short scenes featuring two comedians, four collective numbers where women took the floor and affirmed their voice, three choirs, and a song and dance number that integrated a multicultural dimension.

The presentations were in English and French and, in some cases, in both languages (The Gossips). We integrated a multicultural theme through the characters played by the participants, through the anecdotic use of the Arab language, and in a song in Inuktitut.

To get a better feel of the themes of the show, here are a few excerpts from the presentations:

We’re twenty women and we all have disabilities. We’ll speak out with pride, boldness, and humor! (W. Hadjabi)
…Hopefully one day, I’ll have a beautiful, caring man to share my heart with. I fear being without love. (P. Parkes)
I… I never had a sweetheart… (F. Leblanc)
My couscous! Khalil Nakass el-Nar taht el tanjra! (W. Hadjabi)
I wheel myself to the centre of the stage and I park myself in front of the audience. (M. Blais)
I press on the starter... And I blast off, away from Earth… Maybe I’m going to paradise… But at breakneck speed. (L.Blais)
When my neighbor was told that I was married, she flipped out and exclaimed, “Married? You aren’t serious, are you?” (W. Hadjabi)
I opposed my determination to my dexterity and coordination problems.(L.Dugas)
Oh, no, not I. I will survive; Oh, as I Know how to love. I Know I stay alive… (Collective)
I told him about my condition. He stopped walking… He still kept himself from talking… and I left. Mom, it’s been four days since I last heard from him. ( L. Thomas)
I would really love to go to my appointments without having to worry and wonder if the premises are accessible. (L. Thomas)
I ask of you to please come closer to look deep into my eyes, where you can see with me; my true self (T. Riccio)
I wonder if, one day, I’ll ever secure accessible housing… housing that suits my needs. (W. Hadjabi)
Yes, Madam, you must book at least three days in advance. Please call back tomorrow. (W. Hadjabi)
I’m sorry, Madam, but your transport is at nine p.m. and it’s now nine p.m.... But I can’t leave now! I’m sorry, Madam, but I can’t wait for you… (W. Hadjabi)
Madam… I found a gynecologist at the Jewish Hospital… He could offer you an appointment… Yes… Unfortunately, the waiting list is long… a two-year waiting list. (L. Thomas)
My inability… Creating walls between me and the talking world. I tried many… ways to communicate but all left me feeling unvoiced, disassociated. Five years ago, I got… little Lightwriter, voice synthesizer …. “Hey people, I’m here! I’m ready to take my place in the world”. (D. Landry)
Taking my place in the world has been my biggest struggle since birth… (D. Landry)
I, a woman who lives under the impression that my body is not as beautiful as what is inside it. (I. Boivert)
I put one hand on my belly and one hand on my heart to remind myself that I was still breathing… and then I cried… (P. Parkes)

The show was filmed and recorded on DVD, making it a promotional tool for the core values of the project. However, due to a lack of funding, we were not able to make the DVD presentation accessible (sign language – LSQ, ASL – English and French audio description).