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A Reflective Update From Tom

15/11/2019

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'Up until this last year, my understanding of ‘disabilities’ was very minimal. For a long time, disability was shrouded in this cloud of unknowing, primarily, because my exposure to it was equally as minimal.
 
I’ve taken away a great many things from working at Turning Tides and its helped to blow away the cloud of unknowing to help me discover a great many things. Perhaps, most importantly:

  • Disability labels do not restrict. When tasks or projects are presented appropriately anything is possible

  • Our differences make us who we are (and that’s brilliant)

School experiences particularly, made disability something difficult for me to understand. I remember an activities day at school where individuals with ‘disability’ labels visited. We were then made to sit in a circle and ask that individual questions about their ‘disability’. Rather than break barriers, I felt the day had succeeded in doing the opposite: the whole experience made it feel very ‘us’ and ‘them’. 
 
I am incredibly grateful for the education I have received throughout my life, however looking back I can’t help but think there could have been better experiences with regards to ‘disability’. Working at TTTP has given me knowledge that I believe the wider society lacks. It allowed the cloud, casting an antiquated shadow over disability, to quickly dissipate. I soon realised that ‘disabilities’ were simply differences, that we’re all different and that these idiosyncrasies and differences are qualities that should be cherished as shining beacons of individuality. Issues of ‘capability’ then become null and void when people’s qualities are embraced and projects are presented thoughtfully and appropriately. 
 
The stuffy old stereotype surrounding disability is boring and outdated. We recently premiered our Heritage Project to the community, we perform together as a band all over the South West. We upload and edit podcasts for the world to hear, we’re researching what could make train access across the South West more accessible and we run an entire Tea Rooms teaching valuable skills, such as cooking (that I more than anyone needed). All this was done as a team, ‘with’ not ‘on behalf of‘ individuals with labels.
 
I am excited to see where the future takes TTTP and I hope they can continue to blow away the cloud of unknowing that surrounds disability for others too, to show the talent and potential of more and more people. On a larger scale, I hope the Social Model Approach can eventually be integrated into mainstream society, to unlock even more potential.

Written by Tom Wood, Published By Eliot Palfreman

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  • Home
  • Blog
  • About The Project
    • Profiles
    • What People Are Saying (Social Impact) >
      • Individuals
      • Our Community
      • The Wider Community
      • The Company
    • Supporters
    • Who We Work With
    • Developing an Equal Access Workforce
    • The Social Model
    • Company Structure
    • Code of Conduct/Core Values
    • TTTP Charging Policy
    • Why We Are Called TTTP
    • Copyright
  • What's Happening
    • Sessions
    • Sports Sessions
    • Current Projects >
      • #Inclusive Journeys
      • Crediton Railway Heritage Project
      • Equal Access to Music Programme >
        • Jam Buddies Junior
        • Jam Buddies: Crediton
        • Jam Buddies: Okehampton
        • Family Jam >
          • #Grlpwr
          • Loud Tuesdays
          • Jedi and The Winstons
        • Bursaries for Individuals >
          • Bradley
          • Kira
          • Kier
          • Amy
          • Toby
        • Accessible Music Tech
        • Developing Equal Access Music Leaders
      • Turning Tides @ The Palace
      • Page Turners >
        • Ideas and Reads
      • Healthy Living
      • Turning Tesco #Inclusive
      • #Inclusive Sports Qualifications
      • EPIC MW
    • EPIC (Enabling Service)
    • Out Of The Box (Virtual Enabling)
    • Turning Tides Support Network (TTSN)
    • The Archive >
      • Making an Exhibition of Myself
      • Inclusive Music Session
      • Festival Tour 2017 >
        • Festival Preparation and Band Practice 2017
        • Exeter Respect Festival 2017
        • CredFest 17th June 2017
        • CredFest 24th June 2017
        • Ellen Tinkham Open Day 2017
        • D'ArtsFest 2017
        • LapStock 2017
      • QECC Project
      • Radio Vibe >
        • Around the World in 80 Waves
      • School Rulers
      • Twenty One Zombies
      • Bam-Ba-Lam Jam
      • Better Than...
      • The Songwriters
      • Morpheus at Arnos Vale
      • Okehampton College
      • Gallery
  • Products & Services
    • #Inclusive >
      • #Inclusive Endorsement
    • Turning Tides @ The Tea Rooms >
      • Shop
      • #InclusiveInk
    • Small Talk (Accessible Communication)
    • Training
    • Evaluation Services
    • Volunteering with TTTP
    • Employment Services
    • Mentoring
    • Catering Service
    • Another Root (Gardening Service)
  • Films & Music
    • Vimeo
    • YouTube
    • MixCloud
    • SoundCloud
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Out of The Box Festival