What do you see in the picture, how is this person similar to you, how are they different?
Oliver Bromley lives in South London and has Neurofibromatosis Type 1, a genetic condition that causes harmless tumours to grow on his nerves.
Last month, Oliver went to a restaurant in his home town for something to eat. As he walked in he noticed a sign saying "cash only" so he went straight back out to withdraw money from a cash machine round the corner. Minutes later he was back in the restaurant.
Oliver was about to sit down when a staff member approached him to say he had to leave as there had been complaints about him; he was "scaring the customers."
Oliver says, "There had not been enough time between the time I had been there first, and the time I went back, for anyone to have made a complaint about me, so obviously the restaurant staff were not happy about the way I looked."
Oliver chose to leave quickly. He chose to not challenge the staff.
He formerly complained to the restaurant but did not receive a reply. Oliver chose then to notify the police. The police said this was a hate crime.
Oliver says he does not mid people asking about his difference and says the restaurant staff response probably came down to a lack of education. He has chosen not to name the restaurant because he doesn't want retribution.
He says although he is disappointed about the incident, some good has come if it because he and his family can now "create awareness around people with facial difference."
Oliver says, "It's not about me, it's never been about me."
No Outsiders: We belong here by Andrew Moffat (scheme of work for primary schools)
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