Growing up with a disability and not being able to play with other children would be hard for any child and would prevent them from realising their dreams but not Marlene le Roux.

This author of the Look at me has recently exhibited pictures of herself and those of 23 other disabled women at Taal museum in Paarl.

Funded by the British Council, her exhibition seeks to affirm the role of disabled women in society and give them a space in the world. Le Roux says she wrote this book because she was tired of the ag shame attitude that society gave to disabled women.

Photographed by former model Lucie Pavlovich, the stories and photographs in the book showcase the lives of 23 South African women living with disabilities. The exhibition is in Braille and all the stories are on audio tape,’ says le Roux.

‘I just felt that I want to celebrate who I am, disability and all.  I realised that only a person with a disability can change the mindset of society.’

Le Roux who walks with the aid of a calliper says she chose the title Look at me because most of the time people with disabilities are invisible and she wanted to change that.

‘People don't want to look at you.  They will ask the person pushing the wheelchair what does she wants to drink.  So you become the object of rejection. And the title is Look at me, says I am here to stay disability and all.

Her exhibition has recently been to the Taal Museum in Paarl where it was very well received, she says.

‘It was the first time that the Taal museum mounted an exhibition of this subject. People that wouldn’t have normally visited the museum visited to read the stories and view the exhibition.’

Asked which stories have touched her life from the book, Le Roux says cannot single out one woman that stands out.

‘The book is intended to affirm not only women with disabilities, but all women.  These stories allow women to reflect on their struggles and their inner journey to personal self-mastery, the painful discovery of puberty, rejection and the overall victory of I am and I am beautiful for me.’

Le Roux says she could write another book about the women exhibiting before the making and publishing of the book and what the book meant for them and their families.

‘The women are all now public speakers and confident to share their story.  Yes the book played a major role in all our lives how we looked at ourselves now.’

She adds that the exhibition has transformed her and taught her to be more humble.

‘I have personally realised that my journey to self-mastery and believing in myself is a life time journey.  I have come to respect human beings and the exhibition has taught me not to be judgemental.’

Like any other road le Roux’s road hasn’t been an easy one and she is often faced with challenges.

‘The world is still so ignorant about disability, people can judge so easily, just because we are just showing a little bit of leg or breast and disability is still view as an ag shame issue.’

She adds that the exhibition was the best gift she could give to the disabled women that she exhibits with.  She acknowledged this to her inclusive approach makes it a team effort, she says.

‘The exhibition has reached people that it wouldn’t normally reach.’ she adds.

‘It’s been overwhelming positive. It also proves that persons with disabilities are human beings first.’

‘In future the Austrian government, English and Swedish Government wants to mount the exhibition because it is the first of its kind,’ she adds.

To read more about the exhibition and to get in touch with Marlene le Roux visit Artscape. To find out what’s been happening in Africa visit our news in Africa section. To see upcoming events visit our events page. To find out where we are in Africa, visit this page.