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Claudia and the Easy Read Christmas Quiz

At about the same time shops started selling Christmas items, Claudia joined the Include staff team.

Here she introduces herself and our free Easy Read Christmas Quiz.

“I’ve joined Include as a Speech Therapy Assistant.

Having Attention deficit and Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), means that my brain is wired differently from what is considered normal. In other words, I am neurodivergent just like most Include members. I only found out I had ADHD at the end of my Master’s degree in speech and language therapy, when multiple social barriers made life very difficult.

The challenges of being a highly functional young neurodivergent adult, made me realise that much needs to be done to implement the social model of disability in our society. In other words, much needs to be done for society to start seeing that impairments are most often caused by social barriers. With this in mind, I knew I had to somehow be part of Include when I saw their new speech therapist job opportunity. So, I applied even though I only fully qualify as a speech therapist next January and I live 90 miles away.

Joining Include

From day one, I felt welcomed and comfortable enough to share my neurodivergence with senior members of staff. Not only I felt incredibly supported, but also felt that my neurodivergence was seen as a strength. 






It is really amazing to find organisations such as include! Indeed, seeing difference as a valuable asset is at the core of the organisation culture and this was clear from the day I interviewed for the job. To my great surprise, an include member who has a learning disability, was part of the interview panel. If our society was as inclusive as Include, experiencing this would not have been a surprise for me. Nevertheless, I was thrilled to see small changes towards a more inclusive world and certain that I had made the right decision by applying to Include!





Working with The Champions Group on the Christmas Quiz










The Include Champions Group sessions do more than just collaboratively produce content with people that have communication difficulties. From the first session, I felt a sense of union and friendship between all members of the group. Just like when friends meet, these sessions start with members spontaneously sharing how their week was and things they are looking forward to.





Free Easy Read Christmas QuizDownload





You will find the free audio format when you click here: SoundCloud







Alongside the collaborative work, group members also discuss various topics of their interest. This was no different at the last champions group session, where we jointly worked on the Christmas quiz.   





Within this session we not only worked on the quiz but discussed different Christmas traditions.  







Having in mind that I am Portuguese and Christmas traditions are quite different from England, this was such an interesting conversation! 







I was very surprised to learn that traditionally some people in England set their Christmas pudding on fire and the champions were surprised to learn most Portuguese people eat salted cod with their Christmas dinner.







I suppose what made this conversation intriguing was that our differing perspectives on what constitutes a “traditional” Christmas were acknowledged as part of our world’s diversity. To put it simply, Christmas traditions are just forms of Christmas celebrations. Just like gestures, signs and body language are just forms of communication. If all forms of communication are equally embraced, people with communication difficulties have fewer barriers and fewer difficulties. This is what the social model of disability theorises and what Include.org believes!





If you are reading this blog, you are probably already contributing to this. Include is here to help if not! 





We wish you all a merry Christmas and a more inclusive happy new year too.”












Penny Sims

Penny Sims 


Communications and Partnerships Manager

			

	











	

		

			
    

		
Easy Read Halloween QUIZ
		
			


	

		

			

				
				
				
				
			


			

				

Include.org FREE Halloween quiz – questions and answer sheetDownload





You may well do our quiz and find out lots of things about Halloween traditions and how it all started…but our Champions Group decided that these days Halloween is actually an opportunity to demonstrate some more up-to-date values!







We have to respect that some people don’t celebrate Halloween – even if they did as a child. 





It can be difficult to enjoy the idea of people you don’t know knocking on your door and asking for things!








Philip one of our members, remembers an event from his childhood when his Dad chose ‘trick’ but what happened next, (with foam coming in through the letterbox) was actually quite intimidating and Philip can appreciate that for some people Halloween may make them feel nervous. Others in the group recalled tricks involving eggs being thrown at windows.







When you live in shared accommodation, as Ellie and Hannah do, they know that they need to respect the fact that other residents may not what any involvement in Halloween. 





So being kind and remembering that is important.







However, at least half of our champions do have plans to dress up and do fun things for Halloween. Anna is dressing up as a vampire with the teeth and everything for a party she is going to with a group…and she hopes to have some red wine to drink, if not any blood! 







Philip has already dressed up as The Joker, and Simon as scarecrow, for a Halloween disco.





Hannah has plans to dress up for a spooky themed Zoom.







There is also the opportunity to do our quiz instead of Trick or Treating!





Include.org FREE Halloween quiz – questions and answer sheetDownload





For the audio format quiz use SoundCloud.





We talked about other things that can help to make Halloween more respectful and inclusive.







It was agreed that the idea of only knocking on doors where people have left out a pumpkin and decorations is a good way to leave people alone who do not like to celebrate Halloween. 







Equally it is possible to be considerate as a home-owner too. Neighbourhoods can make a plan to ensure everyone can still get involved in halloween safely. 





For example, if you notice someone with a blue pumpkin / collecting bucket at your door it is good to know that this is a sign that the person has autism and may find it hard to speak or interact in the conventional way. We also heard of an example where the parents of a young boy (who has severe food allergies) give treats to local houses to give back to their boy when he goes trick or treating in his own road, so he feels included and is still safe.







These are good examples of empowering people with additional needs and their communities to take part in Halloween in ways that work for everyone.









We also found this from https://www.instagram.com/elizabethrussoart/   and wanted to share it. There is more information on Elizabeth Russo’s Instagram.







Here is a timely reminder of Include’s values: 





Kind





Empowering





Fun





Inclusive





Respectful





And finally, a Halloween song from The Include Choir: https://youtu.be/aIRhUwJKggU







Penny Sims

Penny Sims 


Communications and Partnerships Manager

			

	











	

		

			
    

		
Something about The Include Choir
		
			


	

		

			

				
				
				
				
			


			

				






We have exciting developments here at Include. 





This summer, very soon, we are launching a new choir!










We continue to build the original Include Choir (with rehearsals in Redhill), The Include Choir Online is still here too so people can join us on Zoom or Facebook live. If outdoors activity is more your thing, you can join our Stroll and Sign sessions…but right now we’re busy adding a new Include Choir group, which will rehearse in Epsom.







Both choirs will perform at community events and conferences in various locations across Surrey – and in other places like London. Not just in Redhill and Epsom.







You can find details of what is on and when on our website.





Easy Read – explaining about The Include Choir





As we start to introduce a whole new group of people to The Include Choir, we’ve been thinking about how we explain who we are and what we do to people who don’t know Include.org





To help with this, the Include Champions Group took a really close look at how we talk and write about Include. Even to the point of discussing if we use a capital G on the word group when we say Champion’s Group!





We double checked which of the accessible fonts is the most popular and we decided on Sofia Pro, because we like it and it is Dyslexia-friendly.





We also took great care to select the best photos and graphics to enhance our next FREE Easy Read which – you guessed it – is all about The Include Choir! An audio version is also available on soundcloud.





About The Include Choir, a FREE Easy Read Resource:Download





The things that make a big difference





Some people might think we’re “just a choir” – BUT a lot more goes into championing inclusive communication than just getting together to sing.





The little details that enhance inclusion and participation matter as much as the big steps forward – like launching a new choir. And without volunteers, none of this can happen – the big or the small.







We want to once again congratulate and thank our amazing volunteers who have been recognised as some of the very best with the MBE for volunteer groups – the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service! 







If you would like to join or volunteer or have any questions or suggestions about the new choir or anything else, please let us know by commenting below, via our social media or emailing info@include.org







Penny Sims

Penny Sims 


Communications and Partnerships Manager

			

	











	

		

			
    

		
Mindfulness
		
			


	

		

			

				
				
				
				
			


			

				






January can feel like a long month for many reasons.





January 2021 was a lockdown month, and so for some people, it felt even longer. When we were in lockdown, Include produced extra newsletters and ran more Zoom sessions. We tried to make the content helpful – things to help keep people included and happy – one of those things was mindfulness. Protecting our mental wellbeing is still very important.







This January, in our first Champions session of 2022, we talked about mindfulness again.












Our Champions sessions are where Include members get together on Zoom to discuss and share ideas about important topics like The Mental Capacity Act, or in this case Mindfulness.










What is Mindfulness?





Mindfulness is about taking the time to notice how you are. To connect your body, mind and senses. Sarah sums it up well;





“It’s ideas about how to help your moods. What to do if you feel low, stressed, or if you have anxiety or depression”.





Sarah also pointed out that the information that she has found about mindfulness is not always very easy to read. So that made it clear that a FREE Easy Read about Mindfulness is a good idea.










Do I need to try mindfulness?





We talked about how to tell if you might be stressed and need to take a bit of time to practice some mindfulness. When we are busy with life, we might not notice that we have become tense. The Champions came up with a list of indicators that may mean you need to slow down:









  • Muscles tight
  • Headache
  • Feeling anxious
  • Tummy ache
  • Panic attack
  • Shoulders up by your ears



















Hannah said;





“Take time and listen to your body. You can do mindfulness every day, wherever you are. And it can help you to get a good night’s sleep.”










Ways to be mindful





In our session the Champions tried out a few mindfulness techniques such as taking a big yawn and stretch. And we were all silent of 30 seconds and took care to notice any sounds around us. 







Philip and Simon noticed the sound of a plane flying nearby and their washing machine going. Josh noticed a train going past and Ellie heard her tap.







But practicing mindfulness doesn’t mean you have to be still and quiet – doing things like colouring, sewing, blowing bubbles or Lego are also good ways to be calm and focussed.







Listening to music can be good too – you might like to see our B is for bubbles song on YouTube combining music and bubbles!?







Our Champions have some brilliant suggestion for apps that can also help with mindfulness – Headspace was recommended by Sarah, and Happy Colours by Philip. There is more information inside the FREE Easy Read resource. 





FREE Mindfulness Easy Read from IncludeDownload





FREE Audio version 












Penny Sims

Penny Sims 


Communications and Partnerships Manager

			

	











	

		

			
    

		
Welcome to our World
		
			


	

		

			

				
				
				
				
			


			

				






For World Kindness Day 2021 (13th November) we’re doing 5 things!










1)   Thanking our amazingly kind volunteers and supporters.





2)  Giving away a FREE Easy Read resource that explains how to be a Kind (Inclusive) Communicator:







The How to be a Kind Communicator  
Free Easy Read ResourceDownload





The Free audio version is here on our Soundcloud.







3)   Showcasing The Include Choir’s special song In My World, and telling the touching story behind it (below).





4)   Streaming songs with messages about Kind Communication at #KindFest2021 – the world’s largest online festival of kindness.





5)   Sharing the first of Include’s organisational values – decided through coproduction workshops earlier this year… Can you guess what it is?!





In My World…







From the depths of lockdown came a beautifully unifying and uplifting song. It will be showcased at KindFest2021 on World Kindness Day.  







We spoke to the three main creators…












“I actually love the song. It makes me feel good and calm. I like singing it and it’s good when the choir sing it,” says Louise.







“My Mum taught me how to play piano and at college I had singing and piano lessons. I have done (Makaton) signing all my lifetime since nursery and school – it helped me lots with learning and communication”.





All of these skills come together when Louise helps The Include Choir.





The inspiration for her song started when the Makaton sign of the week word was Colours. At this time, Include was delivering many services online (not just singing) and offering self-care tips to help people feel okay during lockdown. Louise shared her top tip, which was that coloring helps her to calm. And she has a special book called Keep Calm and Color Unicorns!







But Louise’s all-time favorite phenomenon is the rainbow.







And this is at the heart of the song. She says; “I love colours – they make me feel good – all except black and grey – even though I’m wearing a black T-shirt today! Ha!”







Sue, Include’s resident accompanist (and Louise’s Mum) helped write the song and compose the music.







Sue says; “I asked Louise to think of beautiful things to do with colour. Her input is there throughout; sunsets over a calming sea and the hazy blue of the sky.”





Sue credits her then fiancé, (now husband) Paul, with one of the lyrics “the blushing pink of the roses” because he bought and named a rose for her “The blushing pink”. But says Sue; “Without Louise, there would probably be no song – she is the true inspiration.”





Sue is keen to point out that the song can still feel relevant to people with visual impairments “that’s what colour mean to me” can refer to how people imagine colour.












A stunning animated video featuring The Include Choir and many members of the community singing and signing the song was created by fabulous volunteer Xinning.







“I was living with my boyfriend in a flat in Manchester when I joined this project. Because of the lockdown, we spent all day in the living room working together. But I didn’t meet anyone or make any friends during the lockdown.





I sense the message from the song is that no matter how many difficulties we are facing, always remember to find the existence of beautiful things in our world. I really enjoy the song because gives me the power to get over a hard time and find people who are caring for each other.





I use the simplest way of making animation, which is to draw frame by frame on a computer I believe this is the strongest way to express emotion. I choose to use simple shapes to animate. It is concise and lets people easily understand the meaning which the song wants to convey.







Louise suggested a great idea which was to add butterflies in the animation. She also provided illustrations of butterflies from members of the choir. 





I animated it in a rigging animation software. 





It makes the video lively.







It feels great to hear people’s feedback on my animation. Sometimes I feel doubtful of my animation but once people told me that my animation is good, I feel everything is worth doing.”





 
In My World highlights the benefits of being willing to join other people “in their world”. That’s what we mean by Inclusive or Kind Communication. Being willing to adjust ourselves in order to properly connect with someone else.







Penny Sims

Penny Sims 


Communications and Partnerships Manager