Nottinghamshire Healthcare has developed an anti stigma and positive image campaign within its Learning Disability service. The campaign uses an exhibition of photographs to illustrate the connectedness of relationships in people’s lives whilst also challenging stigma through the illustration of names we give each other, ourselves and others in our lives.
This is the second Learning Disability project to feature strong images of clients who have given their full consent to being involved.
We are all called names. In society we use words as names to recognise each other. Sometimes we like these names, sometimes we would like to be called something else and sometimes these names and words hurt our feelings.
People with learning disabilities are sometimes called negative names or words. These can be used to hurt feelings and make the person feel bad about themselves and who they are.
‘Stigma’ is when bad names stick and other people think the words must be true. These images aim to challenge stigma using photographs and words. The t-shirts people are wearing in the pictures feature words used as names.
People photographed were asked if they wanted to be involved in this exhibition and consented agreement for pictures to be used.
Sam Wellington is Project Manager:
“We asked our clients to tell us about words people have used to describe them.
We asked:
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What is the worst thing anyone has ever called you?
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What is the nicest thing anyone has ever called you?
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How would you most like to be described?
Some of the names are loving and respectful but many are very hurtful. It’s a striking exhibition, which we hope will make people think. I’d like to thank Crocodile House for doing such a great job for us.”
Thisability RECOGNITION is an exhibition of images taken from a series of photographs aimed at challenging stereotypes and illustrating positive interdependent relationships.
Aiming to represent the richness of interconnected relationships this exhibition also explores the labels we give each other as a challenge to the stigma that grows when assumptions are made and relationships are not present.
The pictures will feature at The View from the Top Gallery, above Waterstones Bookshop in Nottingham, with an exhibition launch on 17September, 6.00pm–8.00pm. The exhibition will be open from 16–22 September (Monday–Saturday, 9.00am–7.00pm, Sunday 10.30am–5.00pm).
