New Beginings

The Purpose of this blog is to promote The Dyspraxia Foundation E book' "Dyspraxic Adults Surviving in a Non-Dyspraxic World" self help book for dyspraxic adults. All proceeds go to the Dyspraxia Foundation Adult support groups. Available on Amazon for £9.99

 An Unexpected Turn of Events

On Monday I did a TV Presenters course. (I will do a separate blog on this when I get my reel back, so I can post my video as part it.

TCIL Staff raising Funds for Dyspraxia Foundation's Funky Friday.

 I came into work on Tuesday and found I had an appointment with Judy my line manager & John the Treasurer of Future Visions. I was expecting it to be about my contract for the new Hate Crime Project but wondered why I hadn’t been given any contract to sign. There was no sign of getting any funding to continue being Future Visions Development Officer and my Travel Training Project Co-ordinators Temporary contract.. Both are coming to an end. on July 29^th. But I have been given another week to write the travel training evaluation report.

I found out that TCILs hosting fees had not been included in the funding budget and although the Sophie the Chief Executive Officer had considerably reduced TCILs hosting fees, there would not be enough income for me to live on. I was quite shocked as I had just spent money on a reel for the TV presenters course and I had just booked and paid for another Holiday in Pefkos.

 I decided there and then that it was time to move on and find another job. I slept on the decision before I said anything that I regretted.  My mind had been made up and had not changed  by the time I got up. When studying mindfulness I learned that everything has a beginning and an end. To bare grudges would be completely counter productive, so I will be leaving both Future Visions and TCIL on good terms and I will miss all staff, FV members and TCIL volunteers. 

Me with the Travel Trainer volunteers

I was relieved to find that the job market in the voluntary sector has improved considerably since last year when my job was at threat. This week on the Salford CVS Jobs website there are 4 jobs I could apply for and people at work have emailed me 2 other job vacancies. My self-confidence has improved over the past years while working at Trafford CIL and I have every confidence that before October when I go on holiday I will be in an exciting new job.

 

Future Vision's Christmas Craft Fair

 I know that I have excellent skills in community development, delivering training, disability awareness, and working with disabled people. I also have the knowledge to know exactly what my access needs are and make my own assessment for Access to Work the government organisation that funds workplace grants for disabled people to help them keep their job. It is no surprise to me that there are many dyspraxic community development workers. The way dyspraxia affects me from as an individual. has its advantages in these types of jobs. I make connections with people from all walks of life.

• ·         I’m caring but empowering
• ·         I have a strong sense of social justice
• ·         I understand disability issues and anti-oppressive practice from a personal perspective
• ·         I have a sense of humour
• ·         I can think outside the box
• ·         I have excellent coping strategies that I can share with other disabled people
• ·         I am innovative and creative

I have added my CV for any potential employers reading my blog
JANET TAYLOR CURRICULUM VITI

A self-motivated, hardworking, conscientious individual who has gained a variety of skills in the work place. Has 24 years of outstanding teaching skills teaching students with a wide range of abilities in SEN, Community Education and University. Specialism in Dyspraxia Awareness Training, Community & Youth Work, Inclusive Education and Disability Studies. Has 16 years of experience i working in community, development, work and working with disabled people, Jewish People, the BME community, Young People and the LGBT Community. Is an excellent team player with the ability to work on her own initiative. Is flexible in her approach to meet the needs of the company and willing to undertake any training required to enhance her skills and knowledge in the workplace.

Employment History

Dyspraxia Foundation 09/07/16-present Adult Advisor/ Representative  

Representing dyspraxic adults at Trustees meetings, setting up adult advisory panel with dyspraxic adults with various expertise, chairing adult panel, giving information & advice, representing adults and the DF at internal & external events.

Trafford CIL 29/11/15- 29/07/16

Travel Training Project Co-ordinator

Recruiting disabled volunteers and giving them training to teach travel training to people with learning difficulties. Recruiting travel trainees, networking with other organisations, supporting volunteers, monitoring & evaluation of project.  

Future Visions 04/13-29/07/16   

Development Officer

Facilitating meetings and activities for people with learning disabilities. supervising sessional tutor, Networking, Recruiting new members. Supporting volunteers with participating in service delivery consultations, Publicity & Marketing.  Internal Verification of Open Award Courses, and assessing  & mentoring PGCE students.            

Dyspraxia Foundation Manchester Adult Support Group Oct 2000–Present (now

Co-ordinator (Voluntary Work)
Facilitating a self help group for adults with dyspraxia and related conditions, organising social events, facilitating and training committee, Delegating running of the group to members Group & individual work, Networking and advising , Representing dyspraxia and other disabled peoples groups awareness raising in the community. Representing Dyspraxic Adults on DFs advisory panel with a speciality in education & group development.

Salford Disability Forum  (Voluntary Work) March 2003- July 2005 February 2012-2016 Representing Dyspraxic adults, working in partnership with social services, PCT, Local Colleges and disabled people’s groups. Running Advocacy & Advice Stall at Ordsall Health Centre. Supporting Garden Centre

Dyspraxia Inclusive Training-Salford 2006- 2011
Self Employed-Dyspraxia Awareness Consultant
Preparing dyspraxia and neurodiversity awareness training for statutory and voluntary sector and employers

Tameside Local Involvement Network (LINk)
Community Networker June 2010-May2011
Recruiting & training volunteers from hard to reach groups. Devising Enter & View training for volunteers. outreach work. Working as a tem member of LINK & Tamside 3rd Sector Coalition.

Phoenix Supported Employment, Salford Nov 2009 – May 2010
Disability Employment Officer
Supporting young adults with learning difficulties into employment and training opportunities

BAND Building a New Direction Dec 2007-Oct 2009
Travel Training Project Co-ordinator
Piloting a cutting edge Travel Training  project for people with enduring mental health issues.

Work Based Experience for the PGCE Jan 2007- May 2007
University of Bolton Teaching 2nd Year BA (Hon) Community Studies students the Politics of Disability. Teaching Disabled Undergraduates & Graduates on return to Work Courses for the Designing Futures and Rise and Shine Projects. University of Manchester Community and Youth Work Courses.

Qualifications

Manchester Metropolitan University MA Inclusion & SEN (Pass)

University of Bolton Sept 2007- May 2007
PGCE Teaching in Further and Higher Education
Met Requirements

University of Bolton Nov 2005- Sept 2006
Advanced Diploma in Professional Development -Merit

University of Bolton Oct 2004- Jan 2005
BA (Hons) Community Studies 2:1

University of Manchester Jan 2002- Sept 2004
Diploma in Community and Youth Work- Met Requirements

A Hectic first week as Dyspraxia Foundation Adult Advisor

 The Purpose of this blog is to promote The Dyspraxia Foundation E book' "Dyspraxic Adults Surviving in a NonDyspraxic World" self help book for dyspraxic adults. All proceeds go to the Dyspraxia Foundation Adult support groups. Available on Amazon for £9.99

 Why Dyspraxic Adults need to bear with me until August

 My first week as Adult Advisor has been really hectic. It has been one of those weeks where it has been really busy, especially in my personal life and at work, then there have been a DF Trustees issue that required my urgent response, due to confidentiality I cannot disclose it yet, until it has been discussed further.

  

Personal Life

Some of you may know that I am responsible  for  Mum who has the middle stages of Dementia, she is still living in her own home with support. Mum can still make her own decisions.  but She finds it difficult to manage her finances. She is now finding living in her home more of a struggle. I am her power of Attorney over her finances with my Second Cousin Ian who has more idea of assets than I have. I feel a bit useless as a daughter as my dyspraxia means I cannot drive down to see her except on a Sunday as its hard to get to her house from work by public transport. I’m sure Ian thinks I use my dyspraxia as an excuse for not supporting my mum enough, but if I get too stressed I can’t function to hold down my 2 part time jobs.

Just before the DF AGM and Conference I looked at my junk mail to see if anything important was hiding in there. I came across an email that had been there nearly a week offering my Mum an I dependence flat at Heathlands a Jewish old people village in Prestwich.  When my Grandma went into a home it was different it was a bedroom with a sink in it. It was realised that this can cause deterioration, institutionalisation and learned helplessness. Now if an older person still has some level of independence they get a studio flat with a support package according to their needs. Heathlands independence unit Moorview  is upstairs. On the lower floors have units for older people who need more care to varying degrees. On the ground floor there is an activity room, a synagogue/ entertainment hall supported by the local community, a restaurant that serves 3 meals a day, morning coffee and afternoon tea. A there is also a café that sells snacks and a hairdressers. The Flat she wants is beautiful and overlooks reception so she can see who’s coming and going and it overlooks a stunning communal garden.[JT1] 

 

Heathlands Village

I  wouldn’t mind living there myself. I’m not sure due to being severely Dyspraxic, if anyone would be able to tell if I had the early stages of dementia or not. To some degree I do similar things to my mum. I forget to close windows before I go out. I lose my possession, I  putnon edible things in the fridge & not remember how they got there.  I forget people’s names or get them wrong even when I know them. But these things only happen when I’m stressed, overloaded or don’t get enough sleep. To be honest my mum house is always spotless. If a social worker assessed me on how untidy my house was as to see if I was coping, I think I’d get more points for not coping than my mum ever would.

I digress. My Mum who adamantly refused 2 years ago to even look at a flat, viewed the flat. A synagogue volunteer took her down to look at it, as it was within a timescale before it got offered to someone else and I had urgent commitments at work, that I will explain later on. I went with Ian this Thursday the only time that was mutually suitable for Ian, myself and my Mums social worker to look at my Mum’s flat  Which happened to be on my busiest day at work when my Open Awards verification had to be completed.. My cousin had to sort out if Mum could afford it or not in a very short timescale before he went on holiday. I am very grateful to Ian and I can’t thank him enough and I have no idea how I can return the favour. She now wants to move in straightaway and get very cross with me when I tell her nothing has been signed yet and I can’t help her until August, when I will only be working 2 days a week, so I will be less stressed and can sort out her move.

 Work

I have 2 jobs based at the Trafford Centre for Independent Living in Sale. My first Job is with Future Visions a Self-Advocacy Charity for people with learning disabilities. The second for Trafford CIL as a Travel Training Project Co-ordinator where I train & support volunteers of varying ability to travel train people with Learning Disabilities. My job role has changed and I’m now the internal Verifier. Future Visions  has put on courses  accredited by Open Awards. I am very lucky that Urszula is a very competent Tutor and assessor so verifying her courses has been reasonably easy. But verifying involves cross referencing assessment criteria which are numbered and cross referenced. It involves checking that assessment criteria, learner feedback and achievement decisions have been completed in individual files. There are 3 courses with 3-4 units and about 10 adult learners. I this all had to be finished in originally about 2 days before the external assessor visited us. 

Luckily my line manager suggested I do the travel training report for my second job next week . I could concentrate on verification this week which gave me an extra day. Due to a team effort Urszula, John and I got a glowing report and we I can now verify internally without an external verifier.

Adult Advisor

While all this was going on, Vee from a dyspraxic Adult whom I met at the conference phoned me with a funding Idea so I have arranged to see him next month. I am staying at my cousin Jonathan’s on the Thursday night as the Trustees Away Day is on a Friday, near Heathrow Airport and would take 4 ½ hours travelling there and back in one day. I have maximised my train fare by arranging some appointments on the Thursday. I have a meeting with Michelle Lee the DFs Chairperson & Eleanor Howes Chief Executive Officer, to discuss what my role involves as Adult Advisor. After this I have made an appointment with Vee so he can explain his funding idea. 

When I came home from work on Friday a huge wad of Trustee document were waiting for me to read so I looked at them on Saturday & filled in the relevant forms. I have also received several emails from Trustees and information passed on by Peter Keegan the previous Adult Advisor. I was not going to reply properly until the weekend so I could process the information when I’m less stressed, but a whole thread of a very important issue came up that I needed to respond to as soon as it had been brought to my attention. So Now you know why I have asked all Dyspraxic adults to bear with me until August.

In order to recharge my batteries, I have chilled out this weekend so I’m not too overloaded to start the travel training project report on Monday.

I think when all things are considered I have coped really well with such an eventful week. I have decided to treat myself for Rosh Ha Shana on October 1st (Jewish New Year) by booking another week in Pefkos (back just in time for Dyspraxia Awareness week on October 9th), before my paid working hours drop. All I need to do is save up for holiday spending money.

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 [JT1]