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 is my belief played out in front of my eyes every day.  For tens of years many people thought I was totally deranged. 

Jen and Sue Blackwell

From writing Jen off at birth they thought supporting her as we did wasn’t worth the effort, but today I feel like the luckiest parent alive. I live my life enriched and impacted by learning disabilities each and every day.  I watch in awe as the pioneering DanceSyndrome and Jen forge onwards sharing and contributing, spreading happiness, joy and well-being in their wake. 

Society needs to rediscover humanity through humility.  Only then will marginalised people be heard and empowered to contribute. 

A society driven by ableism loses sight of humanity.  It disregards huge swathes of the population who are effectively silenced, people such as those with learning disabilities, the 10s of 000s who are insecure surviving rather than thriving, those who are socially isolated or dealing with mental health challenges. 

Without a voice in their preferred language such people will never be heard.  Listening compassionately, attentively and intelligently with humility will enable marginalised people to be heard.  It will liberate their thoughts and creativity enabling them to challenge and change the system, influence others, become leaders, be seen and respected as inspirational thought provoking people rather than the label that society chooses to define them by.   

Leaders can come from unexpected places.  When empowered to lead people become contributors to the common good, a force for good.  They become less needy, less dependent on ‘the system’.  Instead they stimulate communities, create opportunities, see innovative creative solutions the rest of us are blind to whilst simultaneously becoming more confident, self-respecting, happier. 

I want to spread hope across every sector of society and especially to parents/carers of young people with learning disabilities.   

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If you’d like me to share on your podcast, at your conference or contribute more to ensuring we take the steps to rediscover humanity through humility get in touch.