The Blackwell family achieve smashing misconceptions
Malcolm
Malcolm

With over 35 years’ experience of running international manufacturing businesses I have been involved in PE backed, UK and US quoted companies and management buy in’s. This has involved being responsible for businesses in a number of countries including the UK, US, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia and France. I have spent most of this time leading businesses through challenging times requiring a transition and then onto profitable growth.

This has given me an insight into managing change effectively, building teams and empowering people whilst recognising  the different cultures and aspirations of those involved.

Sue
Sue

Sue - Informed by my upbringing within Quakerism, connecting with the homeless around the braziers at Spitalfields I have an unshakeable belief in the rightness of equity and social inclusion. From the day Jen was born we opted to bring her up as a child of her community in spite of the fact that she has Down’s syndrome. We entered the arena of mainstream education fully aware that it wouldn’t be a walk in the park. It wasn’t. But we quickly became well versed with the 1981 Education Act, likewise we put considerable effort into carefully choosing the educators we worked alongside for both Jen and Anthony. My focus is ‘the art of the possible’ enabling people to live a life of their choosing in a society where everyone belongs.

Jen
Jen

‘Dream, Believe, Achieve and you will go far!’

‘Winning awards shows that people with learning disabilities can do amazing things with their lives if given a chance’ Jen.

I was born to dance. I am a dancer, dance leader, the co-Founder, director and Queen of DanceSyndrome! www.dancesyndrome.co.uk I also play the flute with my ‘flute monkey mate’, love karate and WWE wrestling, chillaxing with my best friend Becky, and diamond art on big canvases! I love winning awards, appearing on national TV, dancing/speaking on big or small stages, rubbing shoulders with VIPs, being invited to Buckingham Palace garden parties and the House of Lords!

‘I do have Down’s syndrome but my disability doesn’t define me for who I am’ Jen

Sue
Anthony

Holding a masters in engineering I have consistently worked within technology led industries across automotive, motorsport, marine and defence. With over 10 years’ experience running international technology and engineering business having lived in India, USA and the UK I have consistently developed businesses to achieve through innovation, revenue growth and cashflow improvement. Currently I hold the position of CTO and Divisional Managing Director within a multi-national business group delivering solutions from software and controls engineering to complete vehicles.

With more than 8 patents I have extensive experience in achieving growth through a blend of commercial, technical innovation and operational leadership. Currently I am based in the midlands with my wife and 2 young daughters.

Tell Me More

Turning life upside down!  Malcolm and I have always believed that Jen is a person with human rights, equal to those of any other person.

Take 2 recent graduates, gift them a textbook pregnancy and their first child, add in Downs syndrome and no rule book, sit back and see what happens.  This is our story.

41 years ago Malcolm and I became parents aged 26.  5 hours after Jen’s birth the registrar furrowed his brow and voiced his concerns ‘is this the baby you were speaking about?’  Suddenly the carpet was swept from under us as we passed through the invisible door from ‘happily anticipated parenthood’ into the unknown incomprehensible world of ‘disability’. In less than 24 hours the seeds of negativity had been sown with nurses looking troubled and other parents with ‘normal’ babies expressing their sadness at our ‘predicament’.  I couldn’t leave quickly enough with my ‘different’ baby.  Happily Jen hadn’t read the books and had no problem in hungrily breast feeding at the first opportunity!

We embarked on a journey where there was no path, no guide, little support, where neither of us brought any experience or knowledge to the table.  At times it has been daunting, challenging, frustrating but resourcefulness, determination and positivity have all helped immensely.  9 months later ‘patterning’ became the norm under the watchful eye of BIBIC, British Institute for Brain Injured Children, and with Jen 21 months old, we welcomed Anthony into the world.  Our family was complete.