Kaupapa
and
Shared Expectations

This page contains DAT Fest's Kaupapa and Shared Expectations

What is DAT Fest?

A two-week spectacular, designed to showcase and encourage the huge amount of talent and potential in the D/deaf, Disabled, Neurodivergent (DDN) communities

DDN led

An all DDN lineup of performances

Provide opportunities to practice, upskill, and connect.

What are the DAT Fest Goals?

Provide accessible opportunities for DDN performers and creatives.
Help DDN performers and creatives to learn new skills, present and perform their work, and hang out with other people like them.

Offer accessible and welcoming public shows.

Offer accessible and relevant workshops to DDN performers.

To lead by example. We keep intersectionality and inclusivity at the centre of what we do, with a human rights based approach (especially the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, and #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs).
Make sure accessibility is at the centre of what we do, and do our best for everyone involved with the festival.

We respect each other’s spoons, energy, abilities, individuality, and needs. We uplift each other and our communities.

We will always try to improve. No festival is perfect, and there is no such thing as ‘completely accessible for everyone’. DAT Fest aims to be better each year than the year before, to take individual needs into account, and to seek and reflect community feedback.

We contract DDN people whenever possible, as part of supporting and upskilling our communities, and providing opportunities.

DAT Fest 2024 Shared Expectations

What Are Shared Expectations?

The DAT Fest Shared Expectations are a set of instructions to help keep everyone safe and well.

If you have any questions or concerns please email:

hello.datfest@gmail.com

What We Are Asking You To Do:

Be a decent, kind human.

Treat everyone with respect, kindness, and dignity.

This means no:

ableism (including lateral ableism)
racism
sexism
transphobia
fat-phobia
queer-phobia
religious discrimination
ageism
attacks on marginalised communities or identities (including in performances).

Please wear a mask when you can. Covid is still around!

Please stay home if you are sick with a cold/flu/covid/anything infectious.

Please do not touch people, or dogs, or mobility aids without asking first. Consent is very important.

If you want to help someone, give them advice, learn more about their disability, or give them feedback, please ask them first if they are okay talking about it. Consent is very important.

Remember that there are some disabilities that you can’t see. Someone’s disability might be “invisible” or “dynamic” or “complicated”. Even if someone doesn’t look like they are disabled, they are still welcome at the festival.

Please respect people and the way they are. There are lots of people who take part in the festival, and that means there are lots of different ways to talk to them.

Respect each other’s communication styles, cultural backgrounds, social behaviours, neurotypes, gender identity, and ways of being.

Use requested names and pronouns (if you don’t remember, just ask again)

Please treat everyone as an individual with the right and ability to make their own decisions, and to be responsible for their own actions and choices.

Look after yourself. Do what you need to take care of your body, brain, and wellbeing. Let others do the same.

DAT Fest is a safe space.

Be your real self but don’t hurt people.

Bring a support person if you want to.

Lie on the floor if you want to.

Leave the room if you want to.

Go to the quiet space if you want to.

We have a person looking after access. If you need to know more, email access.datfest@gmail.com

Don’t bring alcohol. Te Auaha has a bar. Please don’t get drunk!

Be professional, but the DAT Fest way!

Respect your own limits.

Care for your brain and body.

Ask for help when you need it.

Adapt as needed (pyjama zoom meetings for the win).

Support and help each other.

Communicate when you are able in a way that works best for you.

Communication is key. If you are unwell, don’t have enough energy, need something, are running late, etc., please contact the team as soon as you are able to at hello.datfest@gmail.com

Be a good audience member. Please support your fellow participants and performers by giving them your attention, in your own way. You can always move in and out of the room.

You do not have to say how you identify unless you want to.

Please be aware: it is public knowledge that all performers and workshop participants are d/Deaf, Disabled, Neurodivergent, or chronically ill in some way.