New TV series encourages schools to explore disability and inclusion

Screening on SBS TV and SBS On Demand, Perspective Shift is a documentary series in which three young artists with disability talk about their creative practice and life experiences. 

The TV series and accompanying study guide offer students and teachers an engaging way to discuss unconscious bias toward disability and how disability is usually depicted by the media.

The Attitude Foundation commissioned Perspective Shift as part of its push to improve equality for people with disability in Australia by creating opportunities for them to tell their own stories.

“The aim is to improve community attitudes and foster a more inclusive society which will in turn lead to improved human rights,” says Founder and Chair of The Attitude Foundation Graeme Innes.

“Perspective Shift challenges common misconceptions about disability through the stories of an actor, an artist and a dancer, all successful in their chosen fields and making valuable contributions to our cultural life,” says Mr Innes.

An accompanying study guide is linked to the curriculum of a number of high school subjects and will challenge students to contemplate the effect of unconscious bias and how best to address it.

“This is a great opportunity for Australia’s young people to think about disability and inclusion with contemporary and interesting materials,” says Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Attitude Foundation, Matt Field.

“If we are to change community attitudes to disability, it is vitally important that we change what young people are told about disability so we can see those important shifts in perspective become embedded in our future,” says Mr Field.

You can view the episodes and find the accompanying study guide here.