Foxes Academy

Here's some information about a training hotel in England that serves as a hands-on college for people who have intellectual difficulties (including Down syndrome). It's called Foxes Academy.

I'm interested in the courses that they provide. As well as hotel management they teach life skills, stress management, personal safety, sex education, and moving on.



I don't know how long it'll be up, but there's currently a clip of a student at work (well, actually she's getting distracted), on the Channel 4 website.

This shouldn't be a one off!

Our young person's art club has been going so well - I love it so much!

This is the first time I've been involved in an art project that I've felt so passionately about - and that I think has made such an incredible difference in people's lives.
It's outrageous that there isn't more in the way of social activity for people who have intellectual disabilities, or other types of specialist need, here in Nova Scotia. It's such a caring community - it really doesn't make sense!

Another parent and I have put together a proposal for a social and learning centre that we hope will provide a permanent solution for the hundreds of people who are currently suffering from social exclusion in this province. In the mean time, check out our Teen Possibles blog to see the difference that a weekly art workshop can make in people's lives.

The Possibles 2

Actually, I think it's really healing for me to work with the teenagers who have Ds in the photography club we've put together. Somehow meeting such individual and similar, fun and reserved, cautious and vivacious young people has helped reaffirm to me that Alfie will grow into an individual, an Alfie. He will be himself. And I don't have to worry about that too much. Everyone is so different, but if he's anything like these kids, I will be very proud.

We've got some more pictures up on The Possibles blog.

The Possibles 1

Our new club, The Possibles, is starting on Saturday so I've been running around with Renee (the other artist) getting everything organised.

One of the young people who is taking part came up with the name 'Teen Possibles' - I think it's great. Other members have rehearsed a hip hop dance, thought up a theme song, and even made a power point presentation! This is all before we actually start! We're all getting quite excited.

Please visit our Possibles blog to find out more.

Shifting Perspectives

Renée Forrestall, who is my fellow artist for our young person's arts project, has just sent me a link to this great photography exhibition in London. We could do a Canadian version. Any photographers out there want to get involved?

Funding Application for an arts project

I've been working on an arts project for teenagers and recently made a government funding application for it. I thought I'd post it here in case it can be of use to anyone else organising a similar project.

1. An arts project for young members of the Nova Scotia Down Syndrome Society: application to the Nova Scotia Government for funding.

2. Provide a short description of the project (1 or 2 sentences)
A group of between 8 and 12 young people (aged 14 to 28) who have Down syndrome, will be
working together with two artists to create artworks about their lives, hopes and dreams for the future.

3. Provide a full project description
Over nine weeks, a group of young people who have Down syndrome will work together to create photographic artworks, primarily at Chocolate Lake Recreation Centre.
The project will be user-led, and during the first session the group will decide upon a name for their club. They will explore and share their hopes and dreams of the future, and create artworks based on these ideas. Participants will have final say about which images are shown, and they will be actively involved in staging and taking the photographs.
The main medium used will be photography as this has immediate results and can look very professional, even if the artist's drawing skills are limited. The group will start with photograms (there is a darkroom attached to the project space), and will then create group tableaus that depict their hopes and dreams. Costume, props, framing devices, overhead projections, slide projections and movement will all be used. The group will then photograph and film these tableaus. Themes such as 'friendship', 'home', 'work' and 'fun' will be explored. The sessions will be paced so that participants are not under pressure to achieve results whilst retaining enthusiasm and momentum throughout.

The finished works will be displayed at an exhibition (possibly at Spring Garden or Sackville Library), and online. The Minister for Community Services, and her staff will be invited to attend the opening and talk with NSDSS members about the ways that Government plans for the future tie in with the plans of our younger members. There will also be a little party to celebrate our members achievements. Copies of the images will be given to participants in a presentation box. This might be awarded at the final show.
A volunteer will also document the project and this information will be added to a blog so that the story of the project and the participants ideas can be shared. Participants who live outside the Halifax area will be able to take part in the project, via two additional arts sessions, in which they will take photographs and interview each other. This work will also be added to the project blog.

This is a pilot project. We hope that the group will continue to make work as a club in the future and that the project will have a legacy above and beyond the exhibition. However, it will be clear from the start that this is a nine week project that will come to an end, so that members are prepared and don't feel let down when it finishes.

The project will be evaluated by informal monitoring and feedback sessions throughout. We will consult with users and parents throughout the project and will look for 'soft signs' that the project is not meeting participant needs such as people missing sessions. We will talk about what members hope to get from the project, and when it finishes, talk to them about what they like and dislike. We may use feedback forms with pictures if appropriate.


4. How does this activity support the Culture Division’s goals for Community Development and Artistic Development?
There is currently very little on offer in terms of cultural and artistic provision for young people who have Down syndrome in Nova Scotia. While the Special Olympics provides activities with a sports focus, there are few projects that teach artistic and creative skills outside school.
This new project will bring together people who may be new to the arts, with professional artists. Its primary aim is to help people develop new relationships whilst engaging in cultural activities.
People who have Down syndrome have certain things in common. It can be fun and reassuring to meet and work together. This project will celebrate the identity and culture that participants share, both as young people, and as people who are sometimes subject to discrimination and have additional challenges in their lives.
The project will encourage more participation in cultural activities by providing high quality arts workshops for people who rarely have the opportunity to experience professional arts practice.
By sharing the outcomes of this project, the participants will be helping to develop the province's cultural diversity. We hope that the finished artworks will be inspiring and thought provoking, and will maybe challenge the general public's perceptions of Down syndrome.
This is a pilot project. If successful, we hope to set up an on-going arts club, that will bring together young people to participate in a series of arts projects. We hope to get more ambitious in the future - maybe designing a billboard, making an online magazine, or creating a short film. It is important that this is an opportunity for participants to experience excellence in terms of artistic provision - we are not trying to mirror activities that could take place at school or home - and the outcomes will reflect this. We want to create high quality artwork with professional materials that will help to show that adults who have Down syndrome should not be treated as children.
The artworks created during this project will be displayed in places that are used by non-art
audiences, thus developing new audiences for the arts.

5. How does this activity help fulfil your organization’s mandate?
"Our mission is to improve lives for persons with Down syndrome and their families through advocacy, education and support."
Specifically, this project will:
- provide support for our younger members
- educate members by teaching artistic and life skills
- improve quality of life for our members
- help to break down barriers and combat stereotypes associated with Down syndrome
- inform decision makers about the needs and aspirations of our members, and we hope, help to influence policy so that independence and integration into the wider community are seen as
priorities.

6. What knowledge and experience do members of your organization have that will be required to carry out your proposed activity? (Organizations conducting workshops must provide a résumé or pertinent background of the instructor or resource person.)
Two professional artists will be leading this project:
Renée Forestall is a forensic artist who has taught at NSCAD. Her 16 year old daughter, Marie, has Down syndrome (and has helped to shape this project).
Before moving to Halifax last year, Alice Evans worked as an arts educator at the Serpentine Gallery (www.serpentinegallery.org.uk), for the Arts Council of England, and for the past eight years was Director of Westminster Arts (www.cwac.org.uk), responsible for the distribution of community arts funding on behalf of local government in Westminster, London, UK. She trained as an artist and volunteered as an arts facilitator for an adult who had intellectual disabilities from 1994 to 2004. Her youngest son, Alfie, has Down syndrome.
Additional support:
Kerri-Ann Ryan is a professional dancer who has taught people who have Down syndrome.
Other volunteers on this project will be family members and friends who have a personal interest in being involved.

7. If your activity is successful, what outcomes or benefits will it achieve?
The main aims of the project are to:
- combat isolation for young people who have Down syndrome
- provide a creative outlet for young people
- develop artistic skills and knowledge
- develop communication through art and conversation
- communicate to the decision makers who influence participants' lives
- provide a model of working that can be developed in the future
- build self confidence for participants
- develop life skills and improve quality of life
- raise awareness about Down syndrome in the wider community
- create a high quality art exhibition.

8. What relationships will your organization develop or strengthen within your community, or within your cultural sector, in carrying out this activity?
We will develop relationships between:
- the young people who participate in the project
- the NSDSS and its members
- the participants and the professionals who lead the workshops
- people who have Down syndrome and the general public
- the NSDSS and local government policy makers.

In My Language

This film is by A.M.Baggs, a woman who has Autism. As well as being a mesmerising artwork, it is a powerful statement about difference; questioning the value of so-called 'normal' ways of interpreting the world. During the first part of the film she uses her voice and visuals, she then translates her language and describes her intentions via a text to voice machine:

"Only when the many shapes of personhood are recognised will justice and human rights be possible"

A.M.Baggs has more work on You Tube - she posts as SilentMiaow. Matthew and I were blown away by this. It's interesting because I've known quite a few people who've been on the Autistic Spectrum, some are friends and relations, others I've worked with when I've been leading arts workshops. One woman in particular reminds me of Ms Baggs, she interacted with her environment by writing letters on everything. We did some interesting drawings together but it strikes me now that I just didn't really know her at all. It's confusing to me that I could known someone and not have known them at all.

I read today that there are some new breakthroughs in research into ASD. The genetics of the condition are being analysed and soon 'there may be an end to autism'. Hmmm. I hope that they don't mean 'an end to autistic people'. Pretty soon I wouldn't be surprised if they introduced pregnancy tests that tell you if the fetus has DS or ASD.

Interestingly, Mat's best man, Pete is a lecturer in Economics at Univerity College London. The Psych department there tested all the lecturers in Maths, Economics and Engineering for ASD - in particular Aspergers Syndrome, and according to Pete, everyone had it to some level or another. His results showed he was 'off the scale'. Might be why he is such an interesting man. These steps towards a mono-culture where everyone is 'normal' are hugely worrying.

Artists' Studio

Check out this wonderful artists' studio in Ottawa: H'art of Ottawa -
"a unique and innovative art studio where self-expression and a sense of place are encouraged and celebrated for people with developmental disabilities. Through the common language of art and self-expression, the artists of H'Art contribute to the community and the cultural life of Ottawa."

Thanks to Susan from the NSDSS for drawing this to my attention. The website's really well done; mature and respectful. Here are works by just two of the artists (I'm going to add more soon - there's so much to choose from!):

Carrie J.
"Passionate, articulate and knowledgeable about the Group of Seven, particularly Tom Thomson, Caroline is an artist whose work continues in their tradition of Canadian landscape painting. Insightful and resourceful, she contributes to the studio through her positive suggestions and enthusiastic sharing of information."


Jessie M.
"Jessie's work reflects her passion for feathered creatures. Annual trips to Prince Edward Island also inspire her finely detailed compositions."

Act One, Scene One

I met with Rene Pye today to talk about setting up a theatre program for teenagers who have developmental delay. She and her partner have already put on two really great productions at her son's school and their looking to expand as there really isn't much in the way of after-school clubs or entertainment for kids with intellectual disabilities here. There are lots of models for this kind of work and the rewards for participants are amazing - developing self-confidence, breath and voice control, balance and gross motor skills, literacy, communications skills, social interaction, team work, problem solving and most importantly - having loads and loads of fun.
When I used to work for Westminster Arts we helped to set up Streetwise Opera, which has developed into a really exciting and professional arts program for homeless people in the UK - it was the dream of one person who just made it happen. Their productions have brought tears to my eyes. Other groups that are putting on professional shows with people who have disabilities include: Chickenshed Theatre, Back to Back Theatre (pictured) and Lung Ha.

Stars in the Sky Dating Agency

When Alfie was 2 weeks old we saw a documentary about a dating agency for adults with learning disabilities on Channel 4. The agency was started by two women who have intellectual disabilities and they run it themselves with two support workers. Their website has a 'text and pictures' function which is simple to use and very effective - in fact it's beautifully put together. The agency only costs £5 to join, and they provide a discreet chaperone for the dates as well as an introduction - but you have to live in London. There isn't a Halifax version yet, but Alfie's only 6 months old so I guess there is time for someone to set one up here! I admire these women's ambition and hope that when Alfie is older he is able to have ideas and see them become a reality.

A few useful websites

I'm trying not to spend more time blogging than playing with my children. Here's just a quickie:
I've had an update from Minister Streatch from the first letter about housing for adults with disabilities. I've included it in that rather lengthy post.
Also, someone emailed me who used to work at Home Farm Trust in the UK. I looked up the website and it looks really interesting - this is the kind of support that we should have here in Nova Scotia. Thank you Deborah.
The Big Tree is also a very good resource for using new technologies with people who have learning disabilities.
And, if you have kids you should check out Bob the Builder on the cbeebies website.

Jane Cameron

I absolutely adore the work of this artist, Jane Cameron. These are images of some of her tapestries. She also wrote poetry and was a swimmer for the Special Olympics.