COMEDIAN Tim Ferguson did not want to talk about his disability when first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but over the years he has learned to roll with it.
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The Australian funnyman, who rose to fame as one third of comedy trio The Doug Anthony Allstars, will take his new show A Fast Life on Wheels on a regional tour from September to October.
The tour will kick off at Hobart's Theatre Royal on September 7 before moving on to several regional venues in NSW, Victoria and the ACT.
It follows his successful 2012 solo tour Carry a Big Stick and a successful reunion of the Doug Anthony Allstars.
Tim said the show was a comedy show first and foremost and would contain some shocking humour, but also had an important message to share about disability.
"I think it's a good time to get the message out there about disability - it's not the end of anything, it can be the beginning of a good thing," he said.
Tim - who has to use a wheelchair due to his condition, said people were often uncomfortable around disabled people and unable to look past their disabilities.
"People get nervous when talking to people in wheelchairs because they don't want to say the wrong thing."
"People don't need to be wrapped in cotton wool, they've heard all the jokes."
But the show isn't all about people with disabilities, Tim said he would also champion a platform of inclusion for other marginalised groups such as bald men and short men.
"Short men should be included in all activities, except going to nightclubs and public drinking," he joked.
"People talk about inclusiveness for people with disabilities, but it's not about including them, it's about accepting them."
He pointed to stigma associated with hiring disabled people in the workplace - saying research from the Human Rights Commission suggested people with disabilities worked harder and did not complain as much.
Tim, who first experienced symptoms of his condition at the age of 18 or 19, was initially reluctant to share news of his condition with others.
He said he did not want to deal with the well intentioned but excessive inquiries about his health or bombardment of suggested homeopathic remedies that would inevitably follow.
"I thought it was nobody's business and if I told everyone, they would freak out," he said.
"Once it got to the point where I was in a wheelchair, I realised I couldn't avoid it any more, so I may as well have fun with it."
Tour dates:
TASMANIA
- September 7, Theatre Royal, Hobart
NSW
- September 27, Orange Civic Theatre
- September 28, Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre
VICTORIA
- October 4, Ballarat Mechanics' Institute
- October 5, Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo
- October 26, Riverlinks Westside, Mooroopna
ACT
- October 19, The Street Theatre, Canberra