I have always championed social change, challenging assumptions and adding my voice and support wherever I can – as a naturally shy introvert that's been quite something!
Read the full article: Championing social change
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#SocialChange
For most of us our lives are divided in differing proportions into work (or equivalent), downtime (personal space), social (time with others).
Read the full article: Together against loneliness
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#Loneliness #DownsSyndrome #Thinkingdifferently
Navigating any event is an art in itself ensuring sufficient support, downtime before, during and after, sufficient food and the right foods before and after performing protecting both stamina and focus.
Read the full article: Humanity rising – the power of love
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A perennial refrain from people with learning disabilities is ‘I want new friends’.
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#Loneliness #DownsSyndrome #Thinkingdifferently
As carers we respond in the moment, but understanding the trigger, the challenge, the perception or interpretation of the person with learning disabilities is a whole other artform.
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#artofthepossible #Thinkingdifferently
Jen's response to being asked about the best part of @dancesyndromeUK involvement in European conference? "My dancing family" :-)
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#IntellectualDisability #TheArtofThePossible #Thinkingdifferently
When Jen was 21 she said, "I want to live the life of my choosing and I want you [my parents] to too". It took us probably another 10 years creating DanceSyndrome & putting a new support structure in place but we are all #livinglife in ways we could never have dreamt blackwells.biz/the-joy-of-l...
What we often experience, as a family with one of us having a learning disability, is that people have no clue about what true inclusion means for us.
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#inclusion #InclusionMatters #Thinkingdifferently
We really need your help to reach our target to enable the @dancesyndromeuk.bsky.social iCreate performance at @thelowry.com in November fully accessible. Donate today & your money will be matched by Big Give. Please support us in any way you can #InclusionMatters
donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...
Together against loneliness - some thoughts from my 70 year perspective, 44 with my daughter who happens to have Down's syndrome blackwells.biz/together-aga... #WDSD26 #LotsofSocks
We found supportive families who opened up their hearts, their contacts and networks to us.
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#Choices #theArtofThePossible #Thinkingdifferently
We yearn to create a sustainable future for DanceSyndrome.
Read the full article: DanceSyndrome 17 years on
▸ https://lttr.ai/ApQbR
#TransformLives #InclusionMatters #Thinkingdifferently
Holidays can be as creative or innovative as every other decision we make about life and living
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#SocialCare #Thinkingdifferently #‘ServiceUsers
Dancers are dancers the world over, whether learning disabled or not.
Read the full article: DanceSyndrome 17 years on
▸ https://lttr.ai/AoIKA
#TransformLives #InclusionMatters #Thinkingdifferently
But best of all, Jen has real meaningful friendships she values immensely, we have the freedom to live our own lives.
Read the full article: DanceSyndrome 17 years on
▸ https://lttr.ai/AoIKA
#TransformLives #InclusionMatters #Thinkingdifferently
Pioneering professional development for people with and without learning disabilities
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#TransformLives #InclusionMatters #Thinkingdifferently
An unexpected gift by a perceptive boss allowed us space to breathe and regroup 6 months after our world was turned upside down.
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#Choices #theArtofThePossible #Thinkingdifferently
I am part of the DanceSyndrome Collective, a professional dance group who perform on big and small stages.
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#artofthepossible #DrJenBlackwellBEM #Thinkingdifferently
Today DanceSyndrome is thriving but we need to secure it for tomorrow, for the future Jen’s of this world.
Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/Aoym6
#TransformLives #InclusionMatters #Thinkingdifferently
The Blackwells believe Every person deserves the opportunity to be themselves, to follow their own dreams, no matter what ability or disability society perceives they have, or whatever label we've been assigned.
Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/AoFVP
#Choices
Can it really be 17 years since we took those first faltering steps towards the birth of DanceSyndrome?
Read the full article: DanceSyndrome 17 years on
▸ https://lttr.ai/Aoym4
#TransformLives #InclusionMatters #Thinkingdifferently
Our experiences have shown it's possible for people with Down's syndrome and learning disabilities to live very differently from societal expectations, which seem to still exist 44 years on from Jen's birth.
Read the full article: Choosing your path
▸ https://lttr.ai/AoFVP
Jen travels independently all over the country and the world with her latest achievement being to fly from the US to the UK alone. Who defines what's possible for any of us?
Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/AoeD5
#theartofthepossible #possibilities #Thinkingdifferently
We're arrived at Tampa Bay Florida before we deliver a talk and workshop at BizCatalyst 360 Encounter conference. What a delight it has been to reconnect with an exuberant Jen excited with the possibilities for living life to the full. blackwells.biz/the-vibrancy... #livinglife #hope #possibility
People with learning disabilities have the ability to enrich society and communities and educate us all on what true inclusion means. Let's start listening!
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#inclusion #theartofthepossible #Thinkingdifferently
Whatever life throws at us we believe there is always a choice to follow the path that feels right for you. When we sat back after a curveball 6 months after Jen's birth we realised we needed to regroup and find our own way blackwells.biz/choosing-you... #theartofthepossible
Dance really does give me a voice to be heard.
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#learningdisability #inclusion #Thinkingdifferently
We've done it! Completed our second atlantic crossing. It was so different from our first and in many ways opened our eyes again to the importance of #livinglife and being open to possibilities blackwells.biz/atlantic-cro...
#sailing #theartofthepossible
Only when inclusion is put at the heart of everything, will social equity be achieved.
Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/AlvWv
#inclusion #InclusionMatters #Thinkingdifferently
King Charles gave me a British Empire Medal in 2023 for my services to disabled people and The University of Salford gave me an honorary degree in 2024 for my services to dance for all the work when I co-lead workshops for students.
Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/AkXGQ
