Epilogues and Prefaces: Research and Social Work and People with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

It is well established that public photographic representations of people with intellectual disabilities strongly influences what we think we know about people so labelled. This paper reports on the unanticipated outcomes of a research project that looked at the ways in which public photographs often construct people with intellectual disabilities as dysfunctional, from the perspectives of the labelled people themselves. Research participants with intellectual disabilities were asked to critique a sample of public photographic images and then, using the computer software program, Photoshop, to change the images to reflect their critique. These changed images were then shown to a number of non-disabled audiences. In this paper, I address the unanticipated outcomes of the project: the effects on participants and non-disabled others resulting from activities arising from the project. These unanticipated outcomes speak to the power of visual imagery, to the empowerment that can take place when people with intellectual disabilities are enabled to have their voices heard, and the ways dialogue between people with and without intellectual disabilities can work towards new understandings. Social work, in its concern for social justice, has a role in enabling the expression of the voices of people with intellectual disabilities and facilitating opportunities for dialogue.

Abstract

Keywords:

• Intellectual Disability
• Social Work Research
• Empowerment
• Visual Imagery

Notes

¹The individual members of The PhotoChangers, Sam, Bob, Robin, and Donna, insisted upon the use of their own names in this and any other publication. The work that is presented is their work, they are proud of it, and they want readers to know this. They are given the opportunity to review any manuscript I write before it is published and receive copies of all published work. They are also planning a manuscript that we will write together.

² http://www.whatswrongwiththispicture.ca

³It must be noted that Robin chose not to participate in any public discussions or have his picture posted on the website—it is my sense that “disabled” is not the identification he chooses to present publicly.

⁴The work was accepted at an international disability conference in another country. Unfortunately, as all rely on disability benefits as their primary source of income (and we were unable to locate alternative funding sources), not one of The PhotoChangers was able to attend. Together we prepared a presentation which I made at the conference on their behalf.