Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellowship (360G-Wellcome-203987_Z_16_Z)

Founded in 2010, Touretteshero has one ambition: to change the world one tic at a time. This simple, yet radical proposition informs our philosophical, artistic and practical approach to making creative work and engaging diverse audiences with ideas relating to disability. Our shared vision of the future is for: A society in which assumptions about difference are transformed into constructive conversations Negative narratives around disability that feed entrenched stereotypes dominate our cultural landscape. This is damaging to both disabled and non-disabled people and means that opportunities to understand wide-ranging experiences are lost. Research by social scientists relating to disability rarely pierces public consciousness, and this means opportunities to challenge perceptions and broaden the conversation are often missed. A report by Scope in 2014 found that, "67% of the British public feel uncomfortable talking to disabled people". This is a statistic that we aim to address in our vision for the future. Cultural, scientific and public spaces in which disabled people are visible and included equally Census data from 2011 shows that 18% of the UK population identify as being disabled. Yet this is not reflected amongst those leading our arts, public, and academic sectors. Diversity statistics published by three leading bodies – the Arts Council, Higher Education Statistics Agency and Civil Service – show that disabled people make up just 2% of the workforce in major arts institutions, 6% of those working in the civil service, and just under 4% of academic staff in our universities. This is significant because it means that the ideas and experiences of disabled people will not be present within the institutions shaping our culture, thinking, and policy implementation. This represents a risk for us all because it means that disabling barriers are likely to remain invisible, particularly to those in influential positions. A society that is inclusive and responsive to all In 2011 World Health Organisation Director Dr Margaret Chan said, "Almost every one of us will be permanently or temporarily disabled at some point in life. We must do more to break the barriers which segregate people with disabilities, in many cases forcing them to the margins of society." Our vision is for a future in which disabled people play an equal role in society and where inclusive approaches are embedded within our communities ensuring that an individual’s needs or circumstances can change without their whole life needing to change as well. Communities that are curious, questioning and engaged and have a deepened understanding of themselves Our aim is for a future in which access to ideas, and opportunities to think about, discuss, and challenge them, are accessible to everyone. Academic and scientific Research can sometimes seem abstract or out of reach to those impacted by the issues being investigated. In our vision of the future there is a more fluid, collaborative connection between research and patient communities. The theories and knowledge generated by researchers become springboards for shared discussion, action and increased understanding.