I'm A Person Too !

25 March 11

Posted at 1:00

I'm A Person Too

Last Friday I spent the day photographing people involved in the charity I'm A Person Too (IP2). They are a group within the charity Stand Up For Selef Advocacy. The purpose of the shoot was to create a library of images that will be used on the new IP2 website, used in promotional material etc. The charity is moving into new premises in Rotherham from what I gather is a small and rundown location at present. We used the new location for the shoot. The charity is populated by a broad cross section of people all with learning difficulties. 'Learning difficulties' is something of a catch all phrase and covers people with very small difficulties right across the spectrum to some people with a lot of challenges. Before meeting the folk on Friday, together with the people who organise and run the charity, I hadn't really grasped what it was all about. The penny very soon dropped though. It is clear that 'we' people without learning difficulties don't recognise how we should act to be sure we don't further disadvantage those who face challenges that we do not. This particularly applies if we are in a position of public service of any kind - doctors, policemen, shop assistants etc. etc.

Well the guys and girls at I'm A Person Too offer training for us by sharing with us their personal experiences. The 'training' is so powerful. When it's delivered you soon realise these folk who one would assume are somewhat disadvantaged actually have abilities often matching or superior to a lot of us who do not suffer. In delivering their message the folk from I'm A person Too had such confidence and passion and they were so motivated and rewarded by successfully getting their message across. For me it was a humbling experience - to see the pride, fun and happiness oozing from people who are explaining to us how we can avoid making their tough lives even harder was really an eye opener.

I for one, have heard and used the term 'learning difficulties' without really understanding what it means. Sometimes you can't recognise someone has a problem and sometimes they appear obviously 'different'. But when any individual is given the opportunity to explain to us. learning difficulties or not, that they are A Person Too, it's a really powerful message. A message we all, especially those in public service, would benefit from being aware of.

I really had a great time time last Friday, I learnt a hell of a lot and revised some of my own prejudices.  But that's not why I was there - my job was to take photos - I delivered 110 images to the charity last Tuesday.

Comments

Chris – it was great to hear the effect you had on the team as well! Thank you so much for your work and kind words here – very much appreciated! So much so in fact, we’ve blogged about you too! http://imapersontoo.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/another-persons-view/ Thanks Again. Sue (I’m Catherine’s equivalent in the south!)

Sue Windley replied almost 12 years ago.

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