The dancing awareness and suggestions publication is now openly available to everyone Since 2019 a family of publications was developed and created awareness understanding and provided suggestions to make sure that dancers with head dippers are not disappointed when attending classes workshops events and conventions. The documents were originally limited to the leaders and key crew members of the Birmingham base salsa dancing organisation Latinmotion. Then in 2022, these documents were updated to include volunteering suggestions for participating in dancing conventions living with hidden differences. This was initially shared to Birmingham’s Latinmotion and London’s Manbo City linked with the NEC summer convention MotionCity. Then in the same year, these were featured online for the autism awareness audiences on the website of one of the UK's most respected awareness campaigns with Anna Kennedy OBE. Now being openly available for everyone for the first time the documents have been rewritten and updated. This was developed to make sure more people involved in dancing are aware of factors which every needs to consider to enable inclusivity. In addition, the updated documents are a response to the concerns of experiencing unpleasant amounts of discrimination and ableism. The specially written publication provides insight on the challenges of an independent person with hidden differences in specific partner dancing environments like Salsa Bachata, Kizomba, Cuban Salsa and many more. The documents also provide a variety of solutions and suggestions to make sure a person with hidden can able to maintain a positive experience without compromising situation which can affect their presence Why this was created Despite the dancing environments having a variety of people with different backgrounds, I have observed and experienced many situations when some people with hidden differences can be at a disadvantage and in some cases become discouraged. Especially if there's little or no ground-level understanding provided. These documents are designed to enable and improve inclusive environments regardless of the specific difficulties, strengths and any ability and capacity limitations. You can now view and download these documents by visiting the Embrace Dancing webpage Discover more To anyone involved in dancing if you need to benefit from this document and would like additional aspects to spread the word and could benefit your dancing community, organisation, convention & events, get in touch via my LinkedIn profile Notice to editors
Keith Mckenzie With a background in Art and design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparation has been involved with providing awareness projects, campaigns & information for 20 years with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also are involved with salsa classes and events including participating in two major salsa dancing conventions at Birmingham NEC Plus Value Awareness The Plus Value awareness initiative is a family of projects, information & campaigns about challenges understanding and awareness for people with invisible difficulties, to see more human rather than medical aspects and to promote and educate higher Aspirations. Eventually develop this awareness initiative to provide future potential services, products and social mission activities as part of the umbrella identity Aware+Vision Hidden differences are used to describe independent people who live with specific neurological difficulties or Anxiety that is not noticed. This is associated with moderate or mild psychological and learning-related conditions (including Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD and social Anxiety).
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I had an opportunity to have a meeting arranged with transport safety offices for the West Midlands region. I was invited and attended a health and safety training meeting arranged by Transport for West Midlands (the transport authority section of the West Midlands combined authority, the devolved authority administered by the mayor of the West Midlands) This involves a collection of transport safety officers from different areas of the metropolitan west midlands county. As an autistic person and a neurodivergent, I have expressed my experiences when navigating through transport facilities and services. This includes packed environments, late hours and passenger behaviour. I have also expressed my experience related to transport officials and staff when accessing services and the challenges that can occur. I have also informed the attendees of my awareness project "Zero Toxic" project against prejudice, bullying, discrimination and hatred. Combining my experiences and my "Zero Toxic" project I share several suggestions to be considered. After the meeting ended a comment was made about further participation with transport safety staff with transport for West Midlands in the future. Find out more of the Zero Toxic project by following the links below Read the project information by visiting the Combined project page Visit the Zero Toxic project via the Plus Value Awareness Website I am available to share my lived experience with your organisation or business which enables better understanding and inclusively. Also can provide useful information from Plus Value Awareness If you are interested to involve to be with different experiences then getting touched fire my profile on LinkedIn. Please note it will be my decision of me if I accept any connection request on LinkedIn. Notice to editors
Keith Mckenzie With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in the music-related film documentary, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations. Also has been involved with providing awareness projects, campaigns & information for 20 years with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also are involved with salsa classes and events including participating in two major salsa dancing conventions at Birmingham NEC Zero Toxic The Plus Value awareness project was developed by me which provides information and guidance against produce, bullying, discrimination and hatred towards hidden differences. The project was launched in November 2023 to coincide with the two awareness the anti-bullying week and the Give Us A Break campaign (by Anna Kennedy OBE). The anti-bullying charity Remendi has featured the Zero Toxic project as a resource for the charity's service users as Victims of hate crimes. Plus Value Awareness The Plus Value awareness initiative is a family of projects, information & campaigns about challenges to understanding and awareness for people with invisible difficulties, to see more human rather than medical aspects and to promote and educate a better sense of value. Eventually develop this awareness initiative to provide in the future potential services, products and social mission activities as part of the umbrella identity Aware+Vision Hidden differences are used to describe independent people who live with specific neurological difficulties or Anxiety which is not noticed. This is associated with moderate or mild psychological and learning-related conditions (including Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD & Social Anxiety) A combination between Awareness & Creative A new marketing style awareness project I have launched for my awareness initiative Plus Value Awareness. The project titled "Zero Toxic" is designed to provide a family of strong and effective messages and information to combat prejudice bullying, discrimination and hatred. The project presents a variety of topics compared to the online project it replaces. Also it goes beyond areas such as verbal abuse, bullying, physical assault and hatred. In addition it contains mistreatment examples, including subtle types of manipulation, disruptive exploitation and other types of mistreatment examples which is not necessarily obvious to many. The new project is presented under a variety of features to discover Zero Toxic Pledge The list of suggestions and actions to combat bullying, discrimination prejudice and hatred. Toxic Examples This section provides a variety of different examples of mistreatment at a variety of levels. Further information is to be added on a gradual basis. Factors This is divided into seven areas with a family of short messages which everyone needs to do to take responsibility against bullying palace discrimination and hatred. Difficulties and mistreatment This section focuses on examples of how difficult it affects those with hidden differences and how this can lead to mistreatment. Time to act and speak up. This provides a summary of guidelines and tips when bullying, discrimination and hated occurs. This provided guides for hidden differences, the general public, any personal contacts and along with leaders and management of specific inclusive environments such as education employment, communities and volunteering. Further developments are to be created for the Zero Toxic project, including an insight and analysis document, visual art by the project director and marketing materials for the project (including posters flyers and leaflets) The evolving presentation of this project will evolve further with a special version of this project will appear on a special web page which will expand the project to all types of disabilities regardless if the person is visible or non-visible. Aspects of the project are planned to evolve further by presenting the message of the zero toxic project to communities, businesses, public services and society with a series of presentations, workshops, exhibitions, and displays customised to specific types of environments and circumstances. My approach to developing the project is with branding and visual presentation which incorporates a grid and pattern circles with the visual flexibility which involves a variety of different icons and pictograms. Aimed to provide flexibility against different subjects and points on different platforms and materials. The product entity incorporates a stylised word mark with the cross inside the "Zero" wording along with a cross within a circle used as a visual indicator. The Zero Toxic Project is now available to view via the Plus Value Awareness website (Opens in a new window) Discover more on how the Zero Toxic project was developed and the creative presenation in detail by visiting the Combined Projects page This project is a combination between Awareness & Creative Notice to editors
The Zero Toxic project replaces the previous project "is this the right value?" which was online for seven years since 2016. The project compliments the existing bite-sized project "Think Twice" focusing on bullying. Plus Value Awareness The Plus Value awareness initiative is a family of projects, information & campaigns about challenges understanding and awareness for people with invisible difficulties, to see a more human rather than medical aspects and to promote and educate a better sense of value. Eventually to develop this awareness initiative to provide in the future potential services, products and social mission activities as part of the umbrella identity Aware+Vision Hidden differences are used to describe independent people which live with specific neurological difficulties or Anxiety which is not noticed. This is associated with moderate or mild psychological and learning-related conditions (including a mild form of autism through to, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD & Social Anxiety). Keith Mckenzie Project Director of Plus Value Awareness as well as an awareness campaigner Keith is 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 being 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 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 |
AuthorDesigner (graphic design & photography) A participant of king of the beats. Developed awareness project for invisible difficulties Archives
April 2024
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