About Project Director
The Plus Value Awareness initiative family is developed by Keith McKenzie.
He has studied at further & higher education at the Hereford College of the Arts, University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google Digital Garage.
Twenty years of providing Awareness projects
Keith was diagnosed Asperger Syndrome back in 1999 but have observed lack of ground-level representation of individuals with the autistic spectrum outside support environments and felt the awareness communications was too much focused on the medical aspects, parent viewpoints.
For over 20 years Keith has used his and others experience to change public perceptions not only within the autistic spectrum but also specific neurological difficulties like Dyslexia, ADHD, Dyspraxia along with phobia like social anxiety.
Living as a black male with autism, Keith also wanted to emphasise the importance of valuing hidden differences regardless of any diverse background.
The emphasis on approaching projects is to focus more on the human aspects and to value people with differences better for a fairer society. This has been developed into projects, marketing campaigns, information, visual art and consultations. This is presented as ground-level survey findings, PowerPoint presentations, seminar talks, exhibition displays, online projects along with providing suggestions & solutions.
In recent years Keith observed the issues which affect a person with differences including generalisation, stigma, cynical judgements, greater intolerance this lead to the creation of Plus Value Awareness in 2015 and evolved the awareness projects to address these matters and provide greater insight & context to enhance the effort to challenge attitudes & perceptions. Also, the changes were made to develop awareness projects towards a social enterprise. In 2020 the concept towards social enterprise. Click here to find out more
Awareness Involvement
Keith was featured on projects & publications events including Autism West Midlands, University of Birmingham, Bridge Advocacy, Autism Cymru, The Autscape Organisation, Autism Inclusion, National Autistic Society. Also, he has been involved with different organisation past and present including Autism West Midlands. As part of the examples Keith's visual art project was featured on a publication by the National Autistic Society "The problem is Understanding". This was part of the charity's special anniversary year back in 2002.
(including a project developed with Carter Graphics Worcester), Scottish Autism (previously Scottish Society of Autism), Strathclyde Autistic Society, Autism London, Autism Wessex (previously Wessex Autistic Society), Autism East Midlands (previously Leicestershire Autistic Society and Nottingham Society of autistic adults & children) and other regional support charities around the country.
In 2018 Keith was nominated by Google's Digital Garage for a West Midlands Combined Authority's mental health award for Plus Value Awareness website which improves supporting an ADHD member of staff.
In addition attended awareness events by National Autistic Society, Autism West Midlands, Queen Alexandra College Birmingham, University of Birmingham and Autism Inclusion. The events including National Autistic Society's annual general meeting in 2000 & 2008.
Beyond Awareness
Other than awareness Keith is an active participant on issues affecting local communities such as Cultural Diversity, Safety against Crime, Transport and many more. Keith has also involved in a county-wide event in Worcestershire to combats homelessness with youth workers and young people as a marketing designer and event participant.
Over two decades Keith has been involved with a unique music project King of the Beats which embraces quality music & beat making. Keith assists behind the scenes such as filming (of documentaries), assistant to events. King of the Beats has been involved with legendary and emerging names in black music and in particular the classic style hip-hop inspired from the 1980s and 1990s.
Also, Keith is involved with community-based dance classes for "Salsa with Pauline". Based in the local communities of Birmingham, Keith's role of participation as an experienced helper providing guidance & added insight.
Keith has a background of art and design, specically related to Graphic Design, marketing, selected photogrpahy and visual art
Elsewhere, Keith's activity in with salsa dancing where is also a participant in classes and events, Keith has volunteered at major dancing conventions twice a year at the NEC near Birmingham. Annually during August, Keith is involved with "Motion City" the annual summer event organised jointly by Birmingham's Latinmotion & London's Mambo City. In December I have volunteered annually for Latinmotion New Year's festival. Both events cover around two of three days with lots of visitors and performers from all around the UK and Internationally. In 2018 Keith was on a special assignment and was involved in a big surprise to celebrate 25 years of Latinmotion in Birmingham. Including designing a large customised greeting card, liaise with key members to get involved and live presenting complete the surprise including unveiling the signed special anniversary greeting card on stage to the organisation founders in front of a large audience.
Using his own experiences and observations, Keith has incorporated the Plus Value Awareness initiative to develop a specialised family of suggestions and guidance materials. This was created to provide possibilities to improve inclusivity at salsa dancing environments for individuals with neurological difficulties.
Further details available on the "My Background page" of the Keith Mckenzie website
A special Q&A Information page developed
As part of project director is part of a series of community project to showcase the host city of the commonwealth games, explore more insight from the Project Director including about his influnces, background and ambitions
Keith Mckenzie website
Find out more by visiting the Keith Mckenzie website containing details on a variety of projects and achievements together with updates on all developments
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Important notice:
Please note, despite Keith has shared some of his personal information on the page, he will not discuss his experiences online or on social media unless it has been approved by Keith. Therefore any information shared online without any authorisation will not be tolerated. Keith will also not tolerate any form of derogatory typecasting presumptions or any language which display discrimination or hatred online & social media.
Specific actions will be made necessary click here for details.
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