In/dependency, interdependency and resistance in the

lives of rural people with learning difficultiesLiz

EllisUniversity of Plymouth/Cornwall College CamborneMaster’s Dissertation findings

People from cities think that we in the country are all the same. They believe what they

see on TV!

‘Wild West’ (2002-2004) Simon Nye, BBC Productions

Michael played by John Mills in ‘Ryan’s Daughter’. Director David Lean 1970

Koudelika J (1972) Spain (The Village Idiot)

Arnie played by Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?’. Director Lasse Hallstrom

1993

Noah Perry, played by Adrien Brody in ‘The Village’. Director: M. Night Shyamalan (2004)

Research perspectives:

• Social Model• Salutogenic approach (Antonovsky 1996)

Outcomes

• In/dependence

• Interdependence

• Resistance

In/dependence

I would like a proper job in a cafe, but my CPO [community placement officer] has to

decide where I work. If I get a mainstream job then I loose my place at Kernow centre. I’m not really learning new stuff…. I’m not happy about my CPO. She’s rubbish.

Won’t help me get a job in a proper kitchen! (Seb)

Now I work at Melza’s. I’m on a placement from social services. So I don’t get paid. Social

services pay Melza’s. It may change soon though. I work really hard at Kernow and now I don’t

get any free lunch and no free transport! I work well there...all day!

(Seb)

I work for the office but it’s nearly finished now. I don’t know what will happen then. That’s something I’m going to have to find out. I like the work at the office and I have a lot of new friends there. I

know I’ll not get paid properly for the work I do

(Georgia)

Interdependence

It would be nice to help

mentor or train someone

else in sport or weight

training. But I don’t

know who I could help.

(Seb)

I was the one who had to look after my mum, when she had that disease whatever she had. It was quite difficult but I was

old enough to look after her. I rang up Katie my carer she came in to see me, how I was looking after her and she was so pleased with me looking after her. Mum was ill for a very long time….

(Bonnie)

Terri Schiavo

It’s a real mix, because some have a disability like me, Maria and

Jeff and some, like Cassie and Jo, don’t have a disability.

Some people without disabilities come as helpers, but some don’t, they just come because they like

it. (Georgia)

Resistance

The special school was a

very big room. I got in

trouble and the teacher told

me off because I can’t

think. It wasn’t nice at

that school. I didn’t learn

anything at the school.

They didn’t teach me

anything. (Josh)

You get people down. As soon as you call people labels, it gets them down, you know? So some

people don’t like labels and I’m one of them… I call people who dress differently, I call them unique people…. I don’t like labels really. I’d rather say

universal, being, that’s what I’d rather call myself and that’s a pleasant way to put it really.

(Owain)

I’m very gifted when it comes to my dyslexia you know, cos I feel I can do amazing things that no one else can do. I mean I can’t write hard words (but) I’m not bad at English.

Dyslexia people are very expressive and they can explain

themselves easily. (Owain)

…she’s psychic, she sees things. She thinks she’s going mad but I think she’s maybe gifted in some way, you know, like she can see

things that other people can’t see. (Owain)