Below is a round-up of several developments during March and April 2025
Awareness
New style Showcase awareness specials have started
As part of the online changes on supporting events on my awareness website, a new style showcase specials were launched. This was to coincide with the neurodiversity celebration week in March.
This involves creating a distinctive pop-up indexed link with an emphasis on the images linked with the content. Each link wet to the specifically creative insight blogs or specialised projects for supporting a particular event.
It appears on my awareness website within specific sections including that online feature including appropriate elements of the online fratures "Awareness Focus" (On understanding and customised content) & "Events+".
This replaces the separate web pages for supporting awareness events. This decision was made because the online audience is more interested in direct links to specific content.
A second version was created for supporting autism awareness events in April & June including World Autism Acceptance Month and Autistic Pride Day.
Content for International Womens Day
For this years annual event I have develop trial video reel. It containt a reminder of different factors to value and embrace women with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Social Anxiety
You can view the trial video reel on Instagram
Content for Neurodiversity Celebration Week
On my awareness website, I have develop a family of different insight and alnalysis blog articles. This inclules: not to use Neurodiversity as a diversity trend, and hpow neurodiversity needs to be more far reaching. As part of the same event I share some of my special developments featured on this website
You can access these and similar content on the Neurodiversity Focus section of the awareness website
Content for World Autism Acceptance Month
A family of specially made awareness content was made for this website and on my aweareness website
On this website I written articles though my persopnal experences and perspective. This incluldes not society needs to be less reactive for myself and other autitsic people. Also I express the importance of the improvements of social attitides in my area and region.
On my awareness wbeiste and wordpress blog I have written insight and analysis articles inclulding changing from the negative narrative, to encourage embracing instead of demonising and the imbalance of autistic people at employment. Also I share some of my special developments featured on this website
You can access these and similar content on the Autistic Spectrum Focus section of the awareness website
Content for Autism Dance Day and International Dance Day
See under Embrace Dancing title for details
Embrace Dancing
For supporting the annual dancing events (Autism Dance Day & International Dance Day) I have developed the second themed dancing awareness special. This edition is titled "Unify Dancing, not Divide", with the importance not to divide or exclude people from dancing related to differing ability or perception.
More content to added for the next 12 months under the same theme.
You can view the dancing awareness special on the Embrace Dancing webpage
The previous awareness theme title "Dancing with an open mind" is being converted into a downloadable resources for anyone in the dancing community and to be available online soon
Futher updates soon on this website
Special awareness meeting and an online feature of me with Autism West Midlands
I was invited to a special meeting with Autism West Midlands and was interviewed for a special feature online & on social media during World Autism Acceptance Month.
It includes aspects of my life and provides advice and guidance that inspire autistic people in the West Midlands region.
Participation
Transport linking awareness and education (virtual/video)
I have participated in an education and awareness project for Transport for West Midlands and the West Midlands Travel Safety Partnership. It is called the Neurodivergent Project, and I have provided top tips for a neurodivergent with transport user to remain safe while navigating the network and for guidance for front-line staff on public transport to make the journey experience easier. Because it addresses some details of my personal experts this video is not available for the general public and it is shared with staff and travel safety teams within transport for the West Midlands.
In preparation for the meeting and video interview, I have developed a series of interview scripts for me to refer to during the filming, and I have also developed an interactive share organizer file focusing on my experience and suggestions on travel related to using public transport in the West Midlands.
Creative
More illustrations and visual designs for supporting awareness events
Visual art and illustrations have been added to support some of the different awareness events during April and March, including Neurodiversity Celebration Week and World Autism Acceptance Month. Some design examples are featured as part of some blog articles featured on the Plus value awareness insight blog on WordPress with specialised articles through my perspective are featured on this website on the KMC blog page
View these and similar design on a creative webpage focus on illutrations on awareness topics
An updated collection of dance class marketing
From the beginning of this year, I updated the presentation style to the dance class marketing for Salsa with Pauline.
Further details soon
Active
Attending Naidex & Ventrefest
For the second year, I attended the disability expo Naidex at Birmingham's NEC during Neurodiversity Celebration Week and during the International Day of Happiness. Through my awareness projects, I have networked with businesses like Lloyds Banking Group. ITV plc and Virgin Media O2.
I also had a brief visit to the business and enterprise event venture fest organised by West Midlands Combined Authority.
Special Developments
A special city legacy event at Birmingham's New Street Station
I attended a special event on the legacy of community projects since Birmingham hosted the commonwealth games. As I was a featured community participant for showcasing art city since the games it was important for me to network and share my developments and insight.
Addressing the coverage of the planned welfare reform
With the recent news coverage of the welfare reform which affects a variety of disabilities including neurodivergent people and those with invisible disabilities, I have addressed my concern to my local member of parliament on the stigma calls by specific cabinet
ministers of government and parliament along with the way the coverage has been addressed on the depressed and media which wrongly portray the variety of disabilities who face barriers into employment. I felt the coverage had too much of a one-sided perspective with a hostile tone that wrongly disrespects and punishes a person for the difficulties they live with and the obstacles they face.
During my attendance at the disability expo event Naidex, I addressed my concerns with one of the leading influences of disability awareness in the UK
Keep updated via this website and on social media.
Notice to editors
Keith Mckenzie
Keith is an awareness campaigner, a creative designer (Graphic design and digital art) and a salsa dancing participant
With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations.
Keith was educated at Hereford College of the Arts, the University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google's Digital Garage. Since 2000, he has developed over twenty years in providing awareness projects, campaigns and activities with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also are involved with salsa classes in the local community as an assistant. Also have participated in major dancing conventions twice a year in Birmingham for Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity.
In 2022, Keith become a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the commonwealth games
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