Anything is Possible!
Liam Plumridge is now the new Young Ambassador for the Dyspraxia Foundation. 19 year old Liam has been appointed as a Trustee of the charity following the success of the 2010 Dyspraxia Foundation conference on 17 July aimed at inspiring teenagers to discover “Anything is Possible”. He will be leading the Foundation's group of teens and young adults with dyspraxia, supported by a peer group aptly called 'Team Dyspraxia'.
From the Top:
Team Dyspraxia front & back
Louis Barnett, Ken Hames & Liam Plumridge
Cheerleading
Fact finding
Over 100 young people, professionals and families attended the event at Aston University in Birmingham where Liam and other guest speakers spoke about the challenges facing young people with dyspraxia.
The conference, supported by the Solihull Partnership as part of their ‘Together for Disabled Children’ programme looked at leisure activities and barriers that might prevent teenagers with dyspraxia making the most of clubs, sport and social groups. Results of research from the day will now be analysed and will be published later this year as part of our 2010/11 Awareness campaign.
Sally Payne, Chair of the Dyspraxia Foundation said “The conference has given us a new momentum to empower everyone with dyspraxia and inspire young people and their families to enjoy life more. We know many have been prevented from making the most of their leisure through lack of access and awareness. With Liam's commitment and enthusiasm I am sure we can develop more opportunities for activities for everyone with dyspraxia.”
Liam's major event of his life so far is going to Ecuador to take part in the BBC 2 programme Beyond Boundaries. In the third series of the programme, Liam was one of ten people chosen to take part in the expedition and trekked from the Amazon Rainforest up the Andes mountains to finish at the Pacific Coast. The group were the first known group of disabled people to complete this type of expedition and led by ex SAS commando Ken Hames, they completed this rigorous trek to show that disabled people can successfully complete the “unthinkable”.
Speakers on the day included Ken Hames, who following an impressive 25 year military career has created and presented a whole host of documentaries for television including ‘Beyond Boundaries’ when Liam was on the trek. Ken motivates and inspires people into making life changing journeys and achieving the seemingly impossible against all odds.
Louis Barnett thrilled the audience with tales of how he coped with dyspraxia and turned his talents to becoming Britain's youngest entrepreneur by setting up his own business: 'Chokolit' at the age of 12 and also being the youngest ever supplier to Waitrose by the age of 13! He inspired the young people to focus on what can be achieved with dyspraxia rather than concentrate on the difficulties or negatives.
Visit “Louis Barnetts' website”
Dyspraxia affects about six per cent of the population and affects the organisation and co-ordination of movement, thought and sometimes speech.
You can’t see dyspraxia and while sufferers can be very clever, everyday activities like tying shoes laces, riding a bike, taking a telephone message and even making a sandwich can be difficult.
Awareness of the condition is low and difficulties are often misinterpreted as laziness or naughtiness. People with dyspraxia can suffer low self-esteem, have difficulties making friends and are vulnerable to bullying.
Without the right sort of help and support these teenagers are at increased risk of mental ill-health, social isolation and under achievement, academically and in the workplace.
Typically activities like football, cycling and other youth groups may be a struggle for people with dyspraxia however with the right sort of instructor martial arts, swimming and rock climbing can be very successful and enjoyable. We look forward to the survey results......watch this space for how we are planning to use them!
Visit our Facebook Group “Anything is possible”
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the following organisations and companies for contributing to the success of the day:
Some related links:
Findings from a national consultation with young people living with dyspraxia
Dyspraxia Foundation survey highlights national support needed for teenagers in Awareness Week
Liam's story - Beyond Boundaries: Across the Andes
Classroom guidleines for seconday school teachers
