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noblebeast · Nov 28, 2005

I'm lovin' this series, Eric. It reminds me of the years I spent working with this population. I didn't have my photography interest high enough then, but in retrospect I would have enjoyed doing something just like this. Too, too often these individuals get turned away from by the "normal" people. A well done photograph (like these) gives those "normal" others a safe distance from which to regard them, and hopefully realize they ain't really any different. Then maybe next time they encounter another person who seems "different," they might talk to them and make a new friend. Thanks for sharing these! -- Joe

CarlRadford · Nov 28, 2005

Indeed this has been a great series and a challenging one too, probably more so for those of us that wear a social work badge as it were, I'm not sure we should say it's "sad" and who and what is "normal" just accept this as a unique series of portraits of people - one that I at least would love to see more off.

Aggie · Nov 28, 2005

Oh the memories of working with what was called the TMR. I have many very fond memories of special olympics and cheering my crew on. I love this series. Keep it up.

eric · Nov 28, 2005

My wife is a special ed teacher and they have new names, its seems, for the population these days. I think it was called DD when I was doing it (developmentally disabled). My wife calls is low, medium, severe something which is good too cause you'll know how to deal with them. I'm sure that will change again. Funny how I'm involved with this population since college. My wife just did part of the Special Olympics and I didn't get a chance to watch.

laz · Nov 28, 2005

Beautiful series. Since all of those whose lives have been touched by the developmentally disabled seem to be responding I will also. I had a profound change in how I viewed what a good life is all about while working with the DD.

No, I didn't learn how lucky I was. Rather I learned how valuable any life is with love in it. The love in their hearts is often overflowing. I was given so much by people who judged by conventional standards have nothing to give. I was enriched in so many ways.

The only saddness is how society treats them, they are richer in spirit than most.

mark · Nov 28, 2005

You say it is sad that they will be like they are ten when they are thirty. There are plenty of times I wished I was as carefree as a ten year old. Maybe these folks are the lucky ones.

These are great shots.

I work in education, and the labels are SLD, MMR, SMR, DS, MH

papagene · Nov 28, 2005

Great series Eric. Thanks for posting these photos. - gene

Thomas Bertilsson · Nov 29, 2005

Great portraits, Eric!

Sprout client

noblebeast

CarlRadford

Aggie

eric

laz

mark

papagene

Thomas Bertilsson

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