The week that was!  The precursor to the eventful week anticipated! Life with and for Jen is full on in so many wonderful ways no one could ever have foreseen. As a dancer Jen has made her mark.  As a daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend she is loved.  As a leader, a flagbearer, a multi-award winner, a role model,

Awards raise profile and awareness.  This is our first exposure on a global stage making the largest minority in society more visible creating increased awareness for those in the room, opening eyes to the marginalized.   Intellectual disability affects people from all walks of life across the world but all too often they are hidden from view rather than celebrated as

Inclusion, or rather the lack of it as a given has been the challenge of our lives. So much lip service paid, so much time, talk and energy poured into it, so much money spent, so many claims made, about something which in essence is so simple; in practice can be daunting.  But is it of necessity such a huge

What a beautiful summer at the end of a beautiful year from nomadics living our lives of choice. I feel like the luckiest person alive as Malcolm and I celebrate 46 years of marriage. Pity about the weather! Depression after depression after depression this August 2024, but the right place for us to be is out on the water. Otherwise

Wow! I’m still stunned two weeks on to have been recognised as the Gold Award winner by the Stevie International Business Awards. On occasion awards appear out of the ether. When we enter awards, for DanceSyndrome or for Jen, it’s because we believe that sharing what we do with a wider audience enables and inspires other people to know and

Who would have thought it was possible for someone like Jen, with a profound intellectual disability, would have been honoured with an Honorary Doctorate for her services to dance? It’s been an incredible few months since we heard, absorbed the enormity of this honour from Salford University, and then attended Jen’s graduation ceremony in July 2024. The whole experience has

For Learning Disability Awareness Week 2024 this question, “Do you see me?” posed by Mencap is so deep and so profound, whilst simultaneously distressing, disappointing, and painful that it even merits consideration. It is a sad travesty of the 21st century, an inditement of the way society has stood idly by as people who happen to be learning disabled or

Just a few days ago Malcolm and I were camping with our trusty ‘big’ car tent (top left) by ourselves as it turned out, soaking up the glorious view over Lostwithiel in Devon. Whilst Jen, was loving living in style for a couple of days at the fancy Rubens Hotel, Buckingham Palace Road. She loves the whole experience of being

There are times in life you feel in control, and others where you feel powerless, inconsequential, insignificant, incapable. My nature is to be positive, driven, energetic, but just now I’m riding the roller coaster of grief after my mum passed away a few weeks ago. It’s difficult to focus. You think you’re on top of it, putting on your ‘can

Friendship is something most of us take for granted. Even though I’m naturally shy and introverted, and didn’t easily make friends in the playground, preferring my own company, I now have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances around the world. Some I don’t see or speak to often, but that doesn’t stop us from picking up where we left

When the idea for gathering dancers with and without learning disabilities together to learn skills, create choreography and support each other to develop it was because nothing existed to support our daughter Jen to do what she wanted to do – Dance. Jen, with a her support team at that time, came up with idea in her bedroom, then put

Dodging the cloud bursts we arrived at Blackburn Empire Theatre excited to watch Express 24, the annual show of the multi-faceted talented dance charity, DanceSyndrome. The Sunken Forest was an opportunity to put aside the cares of the world, allow yourself to be enveloped by finely wrought, enthralling, enchanting spell binding ballet.  The dance was absorbing as dancers shared their

Travel – And why not?  For anyone, everyone.  Even those who are deemed not to be able to handle change well. Without travel doors remain closed, opportunities are denied, adventures not experienced, face to face connections have no chance to flourish.  And so it’s been these past few 4 days. 4,640 miles 9 hrs flight, + 8 hrs transfer and airport +

It’s fascinating what the two words, “working together” conjure up  isn’t it? Does it really mean two or more people joining together in an equitable relationship to create something? Or does it mean that someone is wanting to do something for you that really only benefits them or their organisation, but because it may be seen as “helpful” it can

In my experience the simple answer is no. But should every relationship always be equitable? I believe every person has the right to be seen and heard in the language appropriate to them, with every voice and person of whatever age, ability or background, being able to contribute their thoughts, ideas fairly and equally with those they are in relationship

We don’t care that Jen has Down’s syndrome. Jen is Jen and that’s the bottom line. For Jen, celebrating all those around the world with an extra chromosome, or Trisomy 21 is important. For Jen, it’s a celebration of her and people like her being recognized and valued for who they are. We have strict instructions to wear odd socks

The joy of inclusion is something that can’t be explained.  Rather it has to be experienced firsthand.  It’s interesting to consider it from various angles.  Here it is from the perspective of one perceptive visitor to the DanceSyndrome space recently:  One thing was that I didn’t know how I would feel entering their space. I wondered if I might feel

A box just arrived……..a box of books.  Yes I’d ordered them, and yes, they’re all the same, but seeing your words in print in a proper book for the very first time is a proud moment.  Really?  Me?  Why me?  However did that happen?  Who’d have thought?  But then who’d have thought that the introverted shy 18 year old musician

Asking me to write about inclusion is like asking me to write about breathing.  Inclusion is fundamental to living. Isn’t it! It’s normal for us humans to embrace others with a friendly smile, a hello, hug, handshake or wave – people you encounter everyday in your family, your community, on the bus, at the shops, at your school/college/work, or passing

If all humans are to be afforded the respect and opportunities that they deserve, we have to learn how to live differently and embrace people from all walks of life – inclusion from the bottom up. Perhaps it’s easier to look at inclusion as a life-style choice?  Because choice it is.  If inclusion is your default setting it subconsciously impacts

This weekend saw me dive into files I’ve not looked at for years.  Photos, articles, letters of support all focused on the Art of the Possible, even one from my old music teacher at school, then the deputy head with whom my relationship was complicated by the fact that she was also a personal friend of my parents.  She was

Issues of Identity impact all of us.  ‘What makes you you? How did you become the person you are? What defines you?  How do others regard you?  Do you have a label?  And more importantly, do you wear your label with pride? Are you defined by your stature, the colour of your hair or your eyes, your age or ethnicity,

I’m honoured and astounded to have been shortlisted for the Northern Power Women Awards, Disruptor for Good. It seems unbelievable to be recognised for doing something that has simply been part of who I am, and who we are as the Blackwell family. When I gave birth to Jen, after a textbook pregnancy, it seems that I became a disruptor

I believe that world changing action will only result when all sectors of society are given license and opportunity to be heard, not just the educated or elite. Because everybody matters.  I speak personally and passionately from an extraordinary experience of life.  Thinking differently allows innovation, acting differently unlocks potential, offering opportunities creates fulfilment, with improbable unlikely unexpected outcomes . This

As we reflect on some incredible things that have happened these past few months, I wanted to share this brilliant article that was first published in the Winter 2023 edition of Animated, and is reproduced by permission of People Dancing. All Rights Reserved. See www.communitydance.org.uk/animated for more information. Reflections on a decade of DanceSyndrome In November 2022, North-West based inclusive dance charity

For us it’s normal. It’s what we do, it’s who we are. For others who know what it’s like to live with a learning disability, or care for and support someone with a learning disability it, we’re told it’s an extraordinary ordinary life. Jen was written off at birth by the medics. She wasn’t valued. From the off she was

We are all on a journey through life.  Inclusion, or the lack of, affects every person in different ways, likewise social exclusion which can be a lonely life sentence where the recipient is deemed guilty without trial and having committed no crime.  We develop and change as the years roll by moulded by our experiences, opportunities, exposure.   As children we

We’re in the business of changing lives. Ever since our daughter was written off at birth as having nothing to offer society we’ve not stopped changing perceptions of what’s possible. Earlier this year she received a British Empire Medal in the King’s birthday honours list. The organisation we created to support our daughter, Jen, who has Down’s syndrome, to dance

I’m no psychologist but why on earth do we continue to give people with learning disabilities and their families such an incredibly tough time? Most people with learning disabilities are born with learning disabilities.  Others acquire learning disabilities through accidents, notably brain injury.  No one chooses to have learning disabilities.  But it happens.  It can happen to anyone, or impact

For most of us freedom is taken as a given. It is assumed that unless you have committed offences punishable by imprisonment, that we are free to be our own person. If we accept that every person is a human being with equal human rights, then we all have the self same right to freedom. As we are all unique

Without realising it, it seems that Malcolm and I have been practicing co-production all our lives, supporting each other to be the best that we can be. With the arrival of Jen and her unexpected learning disabilities in the form of Down’s syndrome, she was naturally embraced into the same cultural norm.  I’ve always sought to do my best as

We found ourselves neighbours with the boat Gamechanger in the stunning Taransay Sound for a couple of nights recently. Chartered through Yacht Charter Fleet, and seen by many in the area, as reported in the Greenock Telegraph, we’d like to get this message to those on board. Please can you kindly forward this message to those who were in Taransay

This week is Learning Disability Awareness week, with the theme “Achieve, smashing misconceptions”. National charity Mencap are leading the way in busting myths about people with learning disabilities, sharing brilliant stories. We all have our own stories. I wrote in Carer’s week how important it is for each of us to own the narrative of our own life: “After a