What makes a life 'worthy of living'?
Between 1940 and 1941 around 70,000 adults with mental and physical disabilities were systematically murdered in Germany and Austria under a Nazi state-led programme called Aktion T4. They were deemed to have ‘lives unworthy of life’.
The exhibition ‘Finding Ivy – A Life Worthy of Life’ tells the remarkable story of 13 British-born victims of this Nazi-led killing programme targeted at disabled people.
Valuing people with learning disabilities
While the research is based on action more than eight decades ago, it encourages critical questioning of attitudes to the most vulnerable today, in particular people with learning disabilities and the true extent to which they are accepted as valued citizens.
It would be tempting to think that societal attitudes have moved on, but some subtle and socially accepted practices have the same outcome today. Pre-natal screening for Down syndrome is common practice, while poor-quality healthcare is leading to men with learning disabilities dying on average 13 years and women with learning disabilities 20 years earlier than the average.
Panel discussion
Join us to hear about the issues this raises, in a panel discussion being chaired by Dan Cohen, the next Lord Mayor of Leeds and featuring:
Dr Helen Atherton, School of Healthcare, University of Leeds
Dr Liz Corcoran, Down's Syndrome Research Foundation UK
Dr Nancy Jennings, relative of Zdenko Hoyos, one of the 13 British born victims
Helen Laverty, Professional Lead Learning Disability Nursing, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham
The event also offers the opportunity to learn more about the victims' stories, being told in a free exhibition, being held in Parkinson Court from 17-21 June, during Learning Disability Week.
Timings
16:30 Registration opens, refreshments, an opportunity to browse the exhibition
17:30 Opening remarks, short film screening, panel discussion
19:30 Drinks and canapes (and another opportunity to browse the exhibition)
20:30 Close
