William, an ironmonger, was given a camera to capture aspects of his life, both those that cause difficulties and those that bring joy. Through a translator, here is his explanation of the pictures.
So first are some pictures of some rough and smooth places, and also some staircases I have been climbing[…] Some of the places are very difficult for me to pass and others are easy. For example, the staircases, they are very difficult to climb because of my condition as a disabled person – I use an artificial leg and also crutches attached to those artificial legs. And sometimes passing or climbing those stairs is very difficult for me to do.
One time went to the electoral commission to do something there, and at that place I found it difficult to climb the stairs[…]. I had to go to the fourth floor […] and it was very difficult because they had no provisions for disabled people. So staircases are very difficult for me to climb.
There is another picture of a building with a very rough road – or a very rough path – and those rough paths are very difficult for me to pass and I can easily slip at those places due to my crutches and artificial legs[…].
There is also this duck that I have in the pictures, and ducks are animals I really like. I love animals […]. So there is also a picture of some rabbits, a pen for rabbits. I have it in my house for my landlord. […]. There is also a picture of some animals like hens and chickens. And they’re all animals that I like[…].
There is a picture of the golf park too, in Tafo here, and sometimes when I’m bored or feeling stressed or something I go there to entertain myself, just go there to watch people play the golf. But I don’t play […].
I also have a picture of my brother […]. He’s into building canopies and other decoration stuff. And he also helps me. Sometimes when I have no money to spend my brother helps […].
So in this picture […] we have a picture of a small boy. And this is the only child that I have. And even though I’m disabled, I have to work to cater for this child […]. And there is a picture of my wife also and they’re all family, and I need to work even though due to my condition, I need to work so that I can make the family survive[…].
And finally: a picture of myself without my artificial leg. Some people don’t believe that I’m disabled and I have one leg cut off, because of the artificial leg that I have. So people don’t normally believe me. Sometimes I will limp and all that, but people really believe I have two legs and I can go about doing everything. So I really [included] this picture to show people that I’m really disabled.
Focusing a Lens on Ability 