Relaunch of Forum

First of all, an apology! I have been so busy this year that it has been difficult to make time to update this blog. I will try harder - honest!

Now to the reason for this post. Sadly, earlier this year, the Forum I was hosting on Dance and Communication issues was invaded by a bunch of idiots ( I could use another word, but I won't!), leaving inappropriate postings, pictures and website links. This left me with no option other than to delete all posts and purge the membership list.

I have now put into place a number of security measures. All memberships now have to be approved by me. Registration only takes a couple of minutes.

If you have any interest in starting or joining in discussions on Dance or Communication issues, do come on over and join me - it will be lonely without you! The link is Alan's Forum .

ISAAC Story Writing Competition (Continued)

It was a tremendous thrill to attend the Story Reading Reception at Downing Street recently and to receive my certificate as the UK adult winner. It was brilliant, too, to renew many old acquaintances.
Huge thanks to Liz Moulam and Patrick Poon from Communication Matters, who had worked so hard to make sure the evening was such a huge success.

Communication Matters

I can't believe that we have already come around to the annual Communication Matters Symposium but I'm off to Leicester on Sunday! I'm looking forward to renewing many acquaintances, learning all the latest news and developments in AAC and having a lot of fun, too. This year I am giving a presentation entitled "What Dance Means To Me"which I am hoping to make the basis of the book that I am planning to write on the same subject.

ISAAC Story Writing Competition

I was delighted to learn that I was one of the UK winners in the recent ISAAC "Many Stories, One Voice" Story writing Competition. The competition was open to all communication aid users throughout the world and the brief was to write a short story (500 words or less) suitable for children. In October, I will be attending a reception in London, where I shall be reading my story. If you would like to read the story, just follow this link.

Huge congratulations go to the other winners in the UK - to Sean Lucas and Beth Moulam. WELL DONE!

Summer School '08 Sheffield

I've not long returned from a fantastic week in Sheffield where I ran five days of dance workshops as part of the Summer School organised by IBK Initiatives. The event was held at the stunning Centre in the Park, Norfolk Heritage Park and was designed to help the young people involved to think about their futures.

A huge thanks to all the people (IBK staff, support workers, volunteers and artists) involved in making the week happen (I won't start naming them - I'm bound to forget someone!) and a special thanks to Dr Pippa Murray for inviting me to participate. Everyone worked tremendously well together as a team to make the week such a success. Thanks also to all the young people - they were a joy to work with.

It was also fantastic to meet up again with Laura and Andy and to work with them. And, to cap it all, I also got the opportunity to visit Kevin Davies, who I worked with on "I'm with Stupid", and his lovely wife Andrea.

We Make Manchester - 3

Well, it's all over bar the shouting and I can relax a little before shooting off to Sheffield next week!

DanceForce were absolutely brilliant on Sunday - as far as I'm concerned the stars of the show! My thanks to Victoria, Kelly, Laura, Susan, Marcus and Raza for all their hard work, creativity and just being so much fun to work with. I hope that I will have a chance to work with them again. I'll be putting up some video here of their performance as soon as I get a chance.

Thanks too to Clair, an amazing powerhouse of energy (!) and to Maureen and Phil at GMCDP.

Ah well, back to preparing for next week.

We Make Manchester - 2

The work on the We Make Manchester Project is developing well and really exciting. The group decided to call themselves "DanceForce" and have been working hard over the past few weeks to create their dance piece, "United City", and also to prepare themselves to lead dance workshops for the young visitors to Urbis on 13th July.
Below are some photographs of the DanceForce.


Find more photos like this on Portrait of a Nation

We Make Manchester

At the moment, I am busy with a really exciting piece of work as part of the "We Make Manchester" Project. I am working with a group of young disabled people to create a dance piece on the theme "United - City" which they will perform in Urbis, Manchester, on Sunday 13th July 2008. The group will also be leading dance workshops for young visitors to Urbis. If you are between 13 and 18, come along on the day and see DanceForce perform, join in one of their workshops and also take part in the other exciting events happening to celebrate the things that make Manchester special.

My thanks go to Chris Abbott and Clair Heaviside who are facilitating this event.

Naidex 2008

I'm very much looking forward to my visit to Naidex at the NEC tomorrow. I'm hoping to bump into many old friends (I always do!) and, this year, I'm especially on the look out for a battery-powered speaker setup that will enable me to make myself heard in busy places (like Naidex or the pub!) by boosting the output from my communication aid. I need something that will clip onto my wheelchair mounting system next to my Tellus.
If anyone knows of such a system, do please let me know.

Communication Aids (An update)

I've been so busy this year with work and with having my bathroom refitted (and that's a story all of it's own - more like a nightmare!) that I haven't had a chance to post on here for some time.
However, I felt it was high time that I made some comment on where I'm up to with communication aids. In December I took delivery of a shiny new Tellus 3+ (In red, of course!).


Following a massive amount of research, last year, including spending most of my time at Communication Matters testing all the machines on offer, I had come to the conclusion that this device would best suit my needs. I had also experimented with a trial version of Grid2 software on my PC, which I found to be really easy for me to programme independently. Techcess were happy to supply the Tellus with Grid2 (from Sensory Software) installed.

I'm delighted to report that both the device and the software have fully met (and, in some areas, exceeded!) my hopes and expectations. So much so that I have been able to switch over almost completely from my previous device in record time. While I realise that no two communication aid users needs are the same, I feel that this combination is well worth a look for anyone seeking a new aid.

Pyramids Arts Centre , Warrington October 2007

This is a video of me dancing to "This Chair" at Pyramids, Warrington in collaboration with Drake Music Project .

NEW WEBSITE!

I am pleased to announce the launch of my brand-spanking new, shiny and sparkly website, mouseonthemove.com!
The site is still in development but it is my plan to expand on the opportunities and advantages that my dance workshops offer to schools. I'm also going to have a section for communication aid users/their families, friends and supporters. And a Forum has been added which I am sure will soon take on a life of it's own!
Go visit.

Christmas Dance Update

Unfortunately, if you missed going to view my Christmas Dance, you're too late! OfficeMax, who hosted this bit of fun have now closed the site.
Better luck next time!

Christmas Dance

I have created a special Christmas dance for my readers. If you could use a good, hearty laugh after Christmas, go take a look - please be patient as it sometimes takes a while to load. The dance can be viewed here.

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas and would like to wish everyone a
"Very Happy New Year!"

WIRRAL DANCE4ALL (Part 4)

The fantastic drawings that Ben Small produced from the Dance4All club have now gone on display at St John's Precinct in Liverpool city centre. They are located on the Upper Mall, near the lifts and the Centre Manager's office. If you are in Liverpool, go and visit them - you'll be impressed!
If you would like to see more of Ben's work or commission him, his website is http://www.benjaminsmall.com/ .