Free outdoor charity exhibition comes to Newcastle

Thursday 15 October 2009

A thought-provoking exhibition portraying the lives of people with a learning disability will go on display in Newcastle on 20 October.  Celebrating the diversity of life, ‘This is Me' goes on display at Grey's Monument in Newcastle courtesy of learning disability charity Mencap.

Showcasing a selection of winning photographs and stories from Mencap's annual Snap! competition, ‘This is Me' offers a unique insight into the lives of people with a learning disability. From playing the violin wearing protective head gear to mountain climbing in a wheelchair, every picture in the exhibition has been taken by or of someone with a learning disability and illustrates some of the many obstacles they have triumphed over. ‘This is Me' aims to get people talking about learning disability in order overcome the prejudice that surrounds it.

Lloyd Page, a winner of the 2009 Snap! competition, said: "There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in this country, but 73% of people don't know what a learning disability is. ‘This is Me' is a great way of showing others that despite the barriers, the hopes and dreams of people with a learning disability are just like anyone else's."

Rankin, renowned British portrait and fashion photographer one of the judges of Snap!, said: "These photographs encapsulate the ongoing fight by people with a learning disability for social inclusion and independence. Every one of the pictures tells the world that ‘disability does not mean restriction, I am the same as you and here's the proof'."

This is me is supported by The Sorrell Foundation and Land Securities. For more information on Mencap visit www.mencap.org.uk.

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For press enquiries contact Lucy Hannagan at the Mencap media office, 020 7696 6017

Notes to editors

The exhibition will be at Grey's Monument in Newcastle until 26 October 2009.

* 73% of people in the UK cannot give an accurate example of a learning disability - statistic from a survey by Mencap in April 2008.

• Mencap works with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.
• 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability.
• A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops before, during or shortly after birth. It is always lifelong.
• Learning disability affects someone's intellectual and social development all their life. People with a learning disability find it harder than others to learn, understand and communicate.
• People with a learning disability don't get an equal chance in life. Mencap fights to change laws and services and to provide better access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.
• It is not a mental illness and should not be confused with mental health issues. It is not dyslexia or Aspergers syndrome.
• It used to be called mental handicap but we don't use this term anymore because most people with a learning disability find it offensive.