What Makes You You?

Creating an inclusive society, I see possibilities through innovation & opportunity for all. Speaker | Leader | Charity founder | Disability & inclusion awareness | Changemaker #Leadership #Inclusion #Opportunity #Ability #Possibility #Disability I am the eternal optimist and see possibilities at every turn in the road. A classical musician by training, I am passionate about love and respect of every person whatever label society chooses to give them. Opportunities for all isn’t the same as equal opportunities.  Equality isn’t equity.  Inclusion shouldn’t be a tick box on a checklist. My focus is the art of the possible and allowing people to live a life of their choosing in a society where everyone belongs. Every person can contribute to society, with the right support and encouragement anything is possible! Each human being has equal rights to be able to tap into their unique potential and allow their own voice to be heard in the language that is right for them. My first-born child has Down’s syndrome. Following our parental instincts and striving to listen to what Jen needed at every stage in her life, she is now an inspiration and role model to so many others. She is a beacon of light, the recipient of a British Empire Medal, King's Birthday honour for Jen Blackwell BEM - blackwells.biz and I’m honoured to be her mother. Jen and I set up DanceSyndrome in 2009.  Now celebrating 10 years as a charity, the multi-award winning DanceSyndrome: Dancer Led, Disability Inspired, Home | DanceSyndrome has enabled others to have the most amazing lives, opening up new possibilities and opportunities to so many with and without learning disabilities There is always a way to allow someone to follow their dreams. We need to think differently, challenge the status quo and what has gone before. “Disability should never be a barrier to following your dreams”, says Jen. With love and respect, we can enable and empower everyone to be the best they can be; a contributor to life.