Development summary Visual art, visual ideneity, written analysis, writing online content, develooping information webpage
This is the first Differences Originals Project since it became part of plus value awareness initiative back in 2015. Launched in 2020, this project is aimed to widen the overall objectives beyond understanding autism and the importance of value in their lives with dignity and human rights.
Through my observation over a period of years, I have noticed there were too many situations where autistic people and other hidden related differences have been violated of their basic human rights with a lack of Dignity and value.
This ranges from social attitudes which treat people with differences less valued and treated as comical or as a hated target.
they have been many cases of healthcare professionals and public services as a whole as neglected the lives of autistic people and other hidden differences. Unfortunately, some examples which lead to certain people unnecessarily losing their lives.
This is why I have created the project value and dignity. the project was inspired by the award-winning right campaigner Paula McGowan. I had the opportunity to meet her held a presentation at Birmingham city University over her story with a son Oliver. Oliver tragically lost his life through inaccurate profiling and was over medicated against his dignity and human rights.
Preparation process Developing the information for the project was a gathering of different factors relate to different balances within daily and specific situations when accessing healthcare, public services and when being seen at public places.
Development stages The content on the project pages was broken down into a number of factors. the examples of factors including the gap of insight and context, the reality on a lack of value, negative examples, the side effect, what needs to change and steps to improve value. the project ended with positive ways forward and the overlord final points that what everyone in society needs to pay more attention to.
This was developed into an awareness information page. This was presented with a collapsible subject divider which encodes the online visitors to select the appropriate information appropriate for them.
In the short & long term, I hope to develop this project further as part of education, training and empowering activities. Including campaign posters and printed support materials comma education packs, PowerPoint presentations and education exhibition displays. This is planned to form part of potential services and social mission activities towards a social enterprise proposal with aware + Vision.
My personal insight This project complete the 20th anniversary of providing a variety of awareness products on how life affects people living with hidden differences. However, the anniversary will not call for celebration because I do think the understanding process towards autism and other hidden differences have been unfairly retrograded. This is partly because of stereotyping false typecasting, generalisations and negative presumptions. This project I have to develop is hoping to widen people's mind over the overall direction beyond understanding and acceptance. Also, the project aims to encourage to change how we judge and treat individuals with hidden differences with the factor of valuing the lives as citizens in society rather than just a recipient with limited value and voice.
The ultimate approach must improve value in the lives with a person with hidden differences with their dignity and human rights must be respected.
Find out more, visit the project page on the Plus Value Awareness website
Note to editors The campaign & information lead awareness initiative by Keith McKenzie which provides and groundbreaking approach which focused on the human aspects of understanding of hidden differences focusing on empowerment, information and guidance. Click here for details
Differences Originals The specialised family of awareness projects since 2000 and became a fundamental element of Plus Value Awareness family since 2015. Click here for details
The Focused projects by Keith Mckenzie This is related to selected aspects of art & design. Including Graphic Design, Selected photography, branding & presentation and selected visual art for Print, digital & online.
Keith Mckenzie With a background of Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant of the music film documentary, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations. In addition has involved with providing awareness projects, campaigns & information for nearly 20 years with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. In addition a participant if community-based Salsa dance classes and an occasional volunteer at a major salsa dancing conventional at Birmingham's NEC.