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, a contributor to society she revels in experiencing being recognized for the unique individual she is. Being supported, Jen continues to grow in confidence through the life she leads where dance is her language of communication, where friendships are forged through a shared passion, and where dedicated insightful support has led to her living a life of her choosing.

On Tuesday alone we witnessed Jen being all of the above, flourishing and thriving in so many ways, impacting so many.  She cannot help but give us all an inner glow.  This week Malcolm, Anthony and I have all had the privilege of walking alongside her for just a short while, something we rarely do in the flesh.

Monday to Friday have been non-stop, a huge challenge for Jen who needs significant down time is order to be her sparkly persona in the public gaze.  But deliver she did.  Jen stepped right up turning on the charm, speaking with authority, connecting and celebrating with all, and inspiring total strangers.

Is there a dancer who doesn’t want to perform in Blackpool?  In the Circle of Blackpool Tower!  Monday was a long day.  Jen and Donna had a very important reconnaissance trip to that floor, those back stage areas, that auditorium where they will be dancing next week by kind invitation of the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire!  Immediately followed by a shopping spree for an outfit for Tuesday, time with her flute monkey mate, visit to her chiropractor, and homemade pizza for late tea.

Jen is never keen for us to crowd her space, but on Monday she relented proffering more friendly welcoming hospitality than we have ever been treated to before ‘I hope you sleep well Mum and Dad’ .  Truly, music to our ears when you’re not used to hearing it.

Late night followed by an early morning is never a good plan, but it was the only plan, so early next morning we were up, dressed in our finery, ready for the lengthy train journey to London for Debbie’s Best Business Women Awards networking, then to St Paul’s Cathedral, and an after service celebration.  Jen of course wore sparkles which she sported with aplomb.

This was an ambitious plan.

Tuesday itself was simply a beautiful red letter Day in the life of Jen. From first thing in the morning, till last thing at night, she was surrounded by friends, by family, by people who loved her, embraced her, wanted her in their lives, because she is her own unique self. So, whether travelling on the train, networking with Best Business Women award winners, or at Saint Pauls, wearing her British empire medal with pride, absorbing the atmosphere, listening attentively, responding appropriately, or later at The Conductor with 30 guests to celebrate the enormity of the occasion, she stepped up with confidence. She is very much her own person, walking tall, proud of who she is. Being surrounded by numerous others, all wearing their Medals of the Order of the British Empire, and being recognised as one of them was a huge honour and privilege.

By being herself Jen shines a light spreading joy and happiness in her wake, total reversal of the life society had planned for someone like Jen, someone with learning disabilities.  But why not?  Why shouldn’t Jen revel in opportunities, take a chance, found a charity, follow her dreams?  These are human rights, the rights of all humans.

Someone like Jen is not expected to thrive, not expected to ‘amount to much’.  Jen does have learning disabilities but so what? It doesn’t mean that she can’t be aspirational, focused, driven, determined, insightful, dynamic, inspirational.  And Jen is not alone.  So many others with learning disabilities are innovative and creative in ways the rest of us can only admire.  They can conjure up solutions to thorny knotty problems earning our respect and admiration.

Jen, and people like Jen do not deserve to be sidelined in a parallel universe because it’s easier for the rest of society.  They deserve to play a full and active part contributing to and helping society unpick challenges, often of its own making!

If, like us, you’d like to see more people with learning disabilities being offered opportunities and the right support to enable them to be themselves, get in touch. Together we can create the change we want to see.