An exciting new photographic display has been launched at the Playtrail in Derry.
The images, which both highlight and challenge the negative attitudes encountered by young disabled people, were taken by the young members of The Bud Club and Headliners.
The images expand on the themes of participation, inclusion and redefining stereotypes. Much of the work carried on from the themes explored by the members of The Bud Club in their recent award winning theatre production “I Am Me!”
It is hoped the public artworks, displayed in the entrance to The Playtrail, located within the grounds of Ardnashee School and College on the Racecourse Road,.will raise awareness of the interpersonal challenges young disabled people encounter daily.
As part of the project Headliners work-shopped a number of coping mechanisms and means of increasing the emotional resiliency of participants.
Gavin Melly of The Playtrail said: “This project was designed to help the young participants find ways of coping with the unfortunate fact that many people our members meet, often see a disability before they see the young person.
“It is very important we challenge those who treat our young people as disabled first and as an individual second.”
One young participant Garrett McLaughlin spoke to those parents and young people gathered at the launch, stating: “I really enjoyed learning how to use the camera and taking different photographs which would help us challenge the stereotypes and labels young people with disabilities face daily.
“We posed for and captured hundreds of pictures. We then matched the best ones with lines from our educational play ‘I Am Me!’”
Those messages, among others, include “choose to accept me,” “I am not different” and “Choose to include me.”
Garrett said: “I really enjoyed the project and was delighted to see our work being placed around the park.”
Malachy Kyle of Headliners said: “The finished images have given a comic book format as a theme. It portrays the participants in their true light, as superheroes.
“Headliners were delighted to facilitate such a worthy project and the hope now is that this artwork leads to changing perceptions and attitudes, not only among those using the park but among the wider public.”
Photo shows Mal Kyle of Headliners and Gavin Melly of Play Trail presenting Garrett McLaughlin with a Millennium Volunteers certificate in recognition of his work on Headliners disability awareness project “Together We Can.”
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