Disabilities no bar: Young shutterbugs fight stereotypes through their lens

AMMAN — Armed with cameras, four disabled students took on a mission to fight stigmas and break down stereotypes surrounding persons with disabilities through offering the public a glimpse into their day-to-day lives. 

Their efforts culminated into a group art exhibition titled “Through Our Eyes”, which ran at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (JNGFA) from March 13 until March 21.

The exhibition is part of a research project conducted by Sarah Benson, a lecturer in inclusive and special needs education at the University of Birmingham Dubai, in collaboration with Mayada Al Natour, an associate professor at the Department of Counselling and Special Education at the University of Jordan.

As part of their research, Benson and her co-investigator Natour spoke to students in many schools across three governorates and noticed a predominant attitude of “sympathy and pity” towards people with disabilities.

By giving this group of young people cameras, they were able to “control the narrative” and tell their own stories, Benson told The Jordan Times in a recent interview. 

“Their photographs communicate a simple and strong message: ‘We exist, we matter, and we are just like you’,” she added. 

“Images transcend language — indeed we had participants with a limited use of oral language, who were able to communicate their stories,” by showing instead of telling people, she continued. 

Benson also pointed out that participants documented things in their everyday lives that made them happy; they took photos of their schools, families, friends and others who are kind to them, which “demonstrates the importance of community and belonging”. 

Empowerment is a main goal of this art project, she added, noting that one of the participants has subsequently been tasked with managing his school’s social media platform. 

“The exhibition allowed us to start a conversation with the local community, which I hope will be an ongoing one, to help demonstrate that people with disabilities are simply a part of our community fabric and not outsiders,” Benson said. 

Inclusive education in the Arab world

The past few years have witnessed notable improvements and stepping stones when it comes to inclusivity at schools in the Arab world, according to Benson. 

She noted that the “Jordanian government has been heavily investing in projects to promote inclusive education”, however research shows that persons with disabilities still face stigmas and misconceptions, “which can make life incredibly isolating”.

The educational sector in different countries around the world is dealing with similar barriers to inclusivity, such as overcrowded classrooms or the lack of funding and resources, Benson added. 

“We can't rebuild every single school. However, we can start by shifting how we talk and think about disabilities, which aren’t deficits, but simply different ways of being,” she continued. 

Benson also pointed out that when people with disabilities have access to schools, offices and other community spaces, “society’s overall well-being is improved and enriched by allowing more voices to be heard”. 

She further stressed the importance of representation, not just to help the wider community think of disability as a difference not deficit “but to show youth with disabilities what is possible through allowing them to see themselves mirrored in the large societal fabric”. 

The project was funded by the Disability Under Siege Network, which brings together researchers, educational practitioners, advocacy organisations and disability-led groups in the UK and Middle East to promote inclusive education for children with disabilities in conflict-affected countries, according to Benson.