Susan's prize snap

The achievement is particularly significant for Susan who has Down's Syndrome.

Despite being part of a loving family, Susan, now 40, had few friends of her own age when she was younger.

Today her best friend is her niece Gemma and Susan's photograph of herself with Gemma has won a prize in a national competition to find photographs and stories that give a unique insight into the everyday lives of people with a learning disability.

Susan will see her image displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum and will be attending a prize-winners ceremony there on February 18.

The display brings together over 30 of the best photographs and stories by and about people with a learning disability, chosen by a panel including leading photographers David Bailey and Eamonn McCabe. There were 430 entries for Snap!, a nationwide competition organised by Mencap.

The photographs give many differing perceptions both good and bad of what it means to have a learning disability in the United Kingdom.

While many of the photographs capture universal experiences such as love, work and happiness, others show the struggles still facing many people with a learning disability in their everyday lives.

There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK, and nine out of ten face being bullied and discriminated against all their lives.

Mencap is fighting to change this and give people more of an understanding of the problems and prejudices that people with a learning disability have to face.

Susan's photograph of herself with Gemma won the section entitled 'Love and friendship ... relationships and family life' and illustrates how much their special friendship means to both of them.

Susan set the camera up to take the picture on delayed release.

Said Susan: 'Because I was "different'' I didn't have any friends when I was a child.

'But then my niece Gemma came along and we have great times together even though I am 23 years older.'

Susan has been taking photographs for many years and her pictures for the Lewes Calendar have helped to raise thousands of pounds for charity.