Campaigner Aims to Transform Perceptions of Disability

At the age of 15, Fleur Samways was hospitalized due to severe vomiting, exhaustion, and abdominal pain. She received a diagnosis of acute severe ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Following two months and a surgical procedure, she was released from the hospital with an ostomy bag, designed to collect intestinal waste. Currently, she is actively highlighting her disability to challenge existing societal barriers. The 19-year-old, who is a student at the University of Southampton and works part-time for a modelling agency, expressed her enthusiasm when offered the chance to participate in a photoshoot aimed at portraying individuals with disabilities from a fresh perspective. Fleur stated, “For people like me, when we actually do see ourselves being represented in any media, it all just feels a lot more normal.” This photographic session was organized by the Business Disability Forum with the goal of establishing its Disability Smart Image Bank, a resource for businesses and media organizations seeking stock images. The bank is slated to feature hundreds of pictures illustrating individuals with various disabilities and conditions in common daily scenarios, such as at an airport. Fleur commented, “At the airport it was really fun,” adding, “It was really nice to work with people who are also disabled and know that you’re all working towards the same goal.” Prior to her diagnosis, Fleur experienced difficulties coping with the ambiguity surrounding her health condition. She recounted, “I was really in a shell because I didn’t know what was going on with my body.” She further noted, “After the operation I was much more healthy and confident and I think it’s changed my life for the better.” Fleur mentioned having a strong support network during her initial diagnosis and advises others not to hesitate in discussing their disabilities. She believes, “I think just try and normalise it and society will then normalise it and it will become easier for you to live your day-to-day life”. Lara Davis, the communications director for the forum, collaborates with companies and employers to enhance the services provided to their disabled staff. She stated, “We did research that showed disabled people feel underrepresented and misrepresented in images both in the media and in advertising.” Davis explained that the campaign’s objective is to produce a collection of images that accurately portray the reality of living with a disability. “We’re hoping that businesses will also use these to represent diversity because the disabled community is just as diverse as the rest of the population.”