For over 6 years I have used my Awareness initiative to support International Women's Day with unique information to particularly value women with hidden differences by developing online awareness specials annually online & on social media. For the first time, I have evolved my support for International Women's Day. Not just creating online specials but also attending an International Women's Day event in person. I attended the IWD Expo which took place at Birmingham's Millennium Point. Some people have commented that it is one of the largest events in the UK for supporting this event. As well as networking and spreading the word of my Awareness initiative Plus Value Awareness I have also attended a series of presentation talks, video presentations and panel discussions. CLOSING THE GENDER DISABILITY GAP A panellist discussion on how to bridge the gap of general disability in opportunities and the workplace. The discussion covers different aspects including understanding a diagnosis of the stigma, how to improve access to training education and what steps need to be made to improve inclusivity and close and also covers aspects including how to improve access to inclusive education and what steps need to be made to improve inclusivity. One of the most notable points I heard was related to stigma including labels such as an automatic label or less capable. I can relate to this personally as a neurodivergent and through my awareness projects, I observe that some men with disabilities can relate to this example, especially in a perceptive, demanding and judgmental society. This discussion includes the voices of Georgia Bondy - Founder and CEO at Well Adapt, Jessica Hobbis - Strategy & Partnerships Manager at ScreenMe, Estella Edwards, Founder of Rise Foundation FILM PRESENTATION "She" is a special film presentation that was shown and was introduced by Keisha Grant Choreographer & Creative Director Keisha Grant who is the director. It features a team of women performing a variety of creative dancing which goes through different levels of the emotional journey. The emphasis is centred around the empowerment of women in dancing. WOMEN IN MEDIA A panel discussion with individually individual stories was shared on their journey towards their career in the media. A lot of different aspects were mentioned including the barriers when taking time out time, being persistent in opportunities but being more job than being loyal. The discussion also addresses how since the pandemic there seems to be an increasing gap in representation of women in the media. My Question to the panelist I asked the panellists a question after the main discussion ended. On what to be done the bridge the gap of representing representation of women in the media. Some of the responses includles that there are more women managers and the increase of shortlists amount of women when it comes to opportunities. The panellist includes Anita Champaneri, Managing Director at Delicious PR along with journalists and broadcasters Marverine Cole, Suzanne Virdee and Nikki Tapper. Earlier in the day I bumped into Nikki Tapper who recognised me when I met her back in July 2022 just a few weeks before the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony of the refurbished Perry Barr train station. Attending the event was an exercise where I could listen more on how I can improve how I communicate when spreading awareness affecting women especially those with hidden differences. My awareness website presents customised projects and articles focusing on women with hidden differences. The access this online feature select a link below to the Plus Value Awareness website to explore Notice to editors
Keith Mckenzie Keith is an awareness campaigner, a creative designer (Graphic design and digital art) and a salsa dancing participant With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations. Keith was educated at Hereford College of the Arts, the University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google's Digital Garage. Since 2000, he has developed over twenty years in providing awareness projects, campaigns and activities with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also are involved with salsa classes in the local community as an assistant. Also have participated in major dancing conventions twice a year at Birmingham's NEC for Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity. In 2022, Keith become a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the commonwealth games
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I have made connections with the community during Neurodiversity Celebration Week I have made comments and questions when attending events and workshops. Here are some examples: My comments During the Neurodiversity workshop "In Space: Feeling the Built Environment" at the University of Birmingham a task was given on our thoughts on we we related to build environment at the same time were given an example of expressive literature on environments. I presented a viewpoint from a wider perspective. Play mentioned it does depend on certain factors including climate, how the environment is well understood, how easy is the information to navigate and how the types of people are in the same environment. I also mentioned how open spaces do not accommodate anyone to take time out not only for relaxation but to auto regroup and organise themselves. This can cause disruptive effects for a neurodiverse or a person with hidden differences where on occasions when they are on the spot for too long any time to make adjustments and reorganise themselves. Not only it could risk bringing the worst out of them it can we lead to them facing disruptive ableism along with bullying discrimination and hatred. Having a certain timeout environment can affect how a person can be efficient for longer. I also mentioned that environments that use automated equipment can lead to discrimination from nearby impatient customers. I also mention how certain open places can cause indirect problems for example at New Street station they installed in 2023 and replication of the large decorated bull sculpture which was part of the opening families for the Commonwealth Games. This has attracted many people who photographed and filmed the sculpture from all items. This can cause a negative side effect for a person with hidden differences with a higher amount of people than normal and also it can be an embarrassment if they are stressed anxious or in emotional distress. Asking Questions As part of attending events such as conferences and seminars, I had an opportunity to ask some questions at different presentation talks. Here are some examples: Arron Smith During The Dyslexia Show at the NEC I asked Arron a question related to some of these plans to improve the representation of dyslexia and neurodiversity. I asked how we improve representation when it has been married harder recently with the UK Government removing the department for the office of disability back in December 2023 He responded in similar words to focusing more on the communities Roman Kemp During Naidex at the NEC I asked Roman a question after his live interview. As Roman's appearance at the Naidex event was on International Day of Happiness and informed me of this awareness day and used this as a context to ask my question. As society can be very perceptive and very judgemental, what you think needs to be improved against the stigma. I mentioned this question was personal to my perspective and admitted I had shared less & strategised more for example when I have experienced mental health challenges.' Roman responded to focus on the kids and feels it will be harder to convince anyone older. He reacted in surprise and admitted he didn't know about the International Day of Happiness. Nicole Steven Creative Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Channel 4 During Naidex at the NEC I asked Nicole a question after she presented the planned strategy to improve how disabilities are portrayed on and off screen under the "code of portrayal" Because the broadcasters are inspiring her ideas at Channel 4. So, I asked Rachel could this model could be replicated in other parts of society. I meant an example of Transport for London's report in 2024 to improve diversity and inclusion in the public transport system limiting the improvement for a newer diversity related to the design system when it comes to navigating through their transport network without any lived experiences from neurodiverse persons in the short term. Nicole simply responded that she understood. To see more details of my experiences in attending the various events during Neurodiversity Celebration Week please read the article my highlights on Neurodiversity Celebration Week. The new "Neurodiversity Focus" mini-feature is now available via the Plus Value Awareness website. Visit my awareness website "Plus Value Awareness" to discover of projects, campigns and information Notice to editors:
Keith is an awareness campaigner, a creative designer (Graphic design and digital art) and a salsa dancing participant With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations. Keith was educated at Hereford College of the Arts, the University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google's Digital Garage. Since 2000, he has developed over twenty years in providing awareness projects, campaigns and activities with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also am involved with salsa classes in the local community as an assistant. Also have participated in major dancing conventions at Birmingham's NEC including Motion City (created by Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity) during the summer and Latinmotion's NYE Fest during the New Year public holiday. In 2022, Keith became a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the Commonwealth Games My involvement in supporting this year's neurodiversity celebration week combines projects and articles along with connecting with communities during the week and a few days earlier. For this year a different approach was made by representing at selected events and being involved in a neurodiversity-related workshop. "I felt it was important to evolve my support to Neurodiversity Celebration Week" beyond social media and online. When networking and meeting people there are still some people not aware of neurodiversity celebration week" Attending events It started a few days before the week began by attending the Dyslexia Show for the second time. This annual Dyslexia and Neurodiversity event takes place at Birmingham's NEC. As well as catching up with many people I've seen previously also met new people. I watched presentations from Arron Smith along with a panellist discussion hosted by Keisha Adair-Swaby featuring Tumi Sotire, Steve Parke and Zoe Jane Littlewood. During the middle of the neurodiversity celebration week, I returned to the NEC for the first time visit to the Disability Accessibility and Inclusion event Naidex. It includes an interview with Broadcaster & Mental Health campaigner Roman Kemp to address the importance of supporting people who are experiencing Mental Health. Examples of presentation talks Including from Nicole Steven Creative Diversity & inclusion manager at Channel 4 Television presenting their strategy on disability on & off-screen and presenting key commitments from the Channel 4's Code of Portrayal. Also, a panel discussion hosted by Dr. Shari Dhanda with examples of effective campaigns on disability. One of the people I have met with Rebecca Bailey, BBC Creative Diversity Assistant Content Producer. Workshops I attended a specialised workshop to Mark neurodiversity celebration week hosted by the University of Birmingham titled "In Space: Feeling the Built Environment" addressing open spaces and how places at work and education become more accommodating towards neurodivergents. This event was developed by the University Neurodiversity Staff community and was hosted by Dorothy Buckard and Jeremy Kidwell. Online feature The online special was available to support Neurodiversity Celebration Week. It includes an original blog for supporting this year's event. The article titled "A Connected World" reminds everybody to look beyond work and employment for a neurodivergent and widen opportunities including community participants relationships and many more. Read the article via the Plus Value Awareness blog on WordPress Awareness Beyond the Celebration Week As part of transforming my awareness website a new mini-feature focusing on Neurodiversity related articles and related projects is developed, titled "Neurodiversity Focus". This is part of the newly revamped feature awareness Focus which showcases diverse and focused areas of customised projects, articles and information. It will also feature the current online developments that supported this year's neurodiversity celebration week. Interactions during Neurodiversity Celebration week Visit my article on how I have interacted when connecting with communities during Neurodibversity Celebration Week The new "Neurodiversity Focus" mini-feature is now available via the Plus Value Awareness website. Visit my awareness website "Plus Value Awareness" to discover of projects, campigns and information Notice to editors: Keith is an awareness campaigner, a creative designer (Graphic design and digital art) and a salsa dancing participant With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations. Keith was educated at Hereford College of the Arts, the University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google's Digital Garage. Since 2000, he has developed over twenty years in providing awareness projects, campaigns and activities with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also am involved with salsa classes in the local community as an assistant. Also have participated in major dancing conventions at Birmingham's NEC including Motion City (created by Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity) during the summer and Latinmotion's NYE Fest during the New Year public holiday. In 2022, Keith became a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the Commonwealth Games Some changes in how awareness projects are presented online and on social media The changes were made for many reasons. Firstly a change to how the identity symbol was used for for Plus Value Awareness because a recent rebrand of the transport operator Eurostar looked similar to the previous awareness identity. Despite I developed the previous identity design in the spring of 2021, there could be a risk of potential legal action due to the similarities. Secondly, due to an increasingly creative and competitive awareness environment, the energy and enthusiasm need to be added with a strong consistency. This led to the introduction of curved value shapes as a visual identity. This consists of a curved upside-down triangle interpreted and a curved "V" for value. This created flexibility and adaptability on different formats & layouts online, on social media (posts & stories) and for printed materials After 8 years the main font used to be updated as the previous font "Open Sans" was becoming very predictable and was becoming a burden in strengthening and maintaining the appeal to audiences online & beyond. So the use of the font is changed to "Lato" which means to bring new energy and raise enthusiasm to the topics and points addressed. Also, a new collection on flexible use of different typefaces to be displayed with specific projects and blogs for the general public and focused audiences. This is important to gain the attention of a more variety of audiences without appearing patronising or lecturing. The rebrand is not just for Awareness. The new style presenting is gradually being rolled out to this website and the enterprise proposal identity. This demonstrates a unified family of projects and developments from myself. This includes the focus projects from this website and with Aware+Vision. This is important to gain confidence to community and for enterprise environments. So in summary the changes to improve enthusiasm, energy while improve appeal & confidence Futher awareness rebranding is available on the Transformation pages of the Plus Value Awareness website Updates on other presentation will appear on the update blog of this website.
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About meI have an career background related to art & design, a participant on a music project King of the Beats and developed of series of awareness projects for local communities Archives
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