Disabilities

The workshop aimed to expand the community of sign language users and enhance equal access to justice services. The event, funded by Australia, was organized by Callan Services in Bougainville with the goal of bridging communication barriers and promoting inclusivity.

As a result of the workshop, Ruth Tohaka from Carterets Island, who developed a disability at a young age, plans to raise awareness about the rights of individuals living with disabilities and facilitate access to justice services on her island.

No matter how witty they think their little insult is going to be, I've heard it before."

Born with a rare form of dwarfism, Kiruna has spent her life dealing with discrimination and abuse.

But through a combination of talent, luck and unflagging self-belief, she has forged an impressive career on stage and screen, here and in Britain.

"She has always been aware that she was different from other people," her mother, Kerry, said.

"In a way that's been liberating because when you're different you don't necessarily have to follow the road map."

The performance work at the Sydney Opera House requires six kilometres of rope, and may or may not result in lift-off. Its title, Cherophobia, means the fear of joyfulness or happiness.

"It's about the process, the anticipation, the wonder and unknowingness of if anything will happen," Lakmaier, a British-Viennese live performance artist, says.

The childlike balloons, reminiscent of the animated film Up, are counterbalanced by the tension provided by the rope, which restrains the artist and her body.

For the first time, films that have been made and acted by people living with disabilities will be a key part of the program.

It has been made possible by Screenability — an arts initiative in New South Wales to help more people with disabilities break into the film industry.

"I think it's really important that you have creatives with disability in charge of that narrative," Sydney Film Festival's Screenability programmer Sofya Gollan said.

Ivanhoe Grammar School has partnered with e-NABLE, a community of online 3D designers, so students can learn how to make and produce prosthetics.

Steve Brophy, the school's director of information and communication technology and eLearning, said the school had used 3D printers for years but was looking for more meaningful projects.

"We wanted to move past the kids just printing knick-knacks and thinking that things like bobble heads and little toy cars were good enough.

But at the age of 28, he slowly found himself struggling to walk up stairs and get out of low furniture.

He was diagnosed with a degenerative neuromuscular condition called inclusion body myositis.

The disease causes Mr Grant's muscles to waste away to the point that he may one day struggle to breathe and swallow.

"To a degree there was a loss of identity," he said.

"I used to love riding motorbikes, sailing and working on cars and bushwalking and doing active things.