:LIFE MODEL Disabledkevin

Vulverable by Samual Gilmore

 

 

 

 

Can I tell the last 6 weeks and the year ahead

On July 16th I auditioned and was accepted at Plymouth uni on a dance theatre degree. I danced on my knees and I was completely fu**ed, after!     I   thought     I might  be  invited  to take  part in a  few  dance  sessions, although I  knew I  could   do the complete  course.  To my joy my questionable talents were recognised for what I hope they are?

 

Everything I undertake I always approach really professionally;   In the 90’s I tried to get selected as a New Labour mp and MEP candidates!  Unfortunately it was impossible to convince grassroots members that despite my speech difficulties, I could serve and excel as their MP! Many of my fellow candidates were impressed and intimidated at how professional I was.  In the last 10 years, I have modelled and acted, in TV and film dramas.  

 

now  I  model   and  I’m  employed  as a   life model   at  Pcad   -   nude   modelling  is another  taboo  people have problems with.  Ironically life modelling is the only job I have been paid   for.  The only downside of attending University is I will   probably   have   my housing benefit cut and may   have to rely on my modelling income.

 

Once I decided to  commit totally   to the  course I   decided I wanted  to  improved my    fitness,  if  only to    demonstrate to   myself   I can still set and   achieve  my  goals!   Nearly every  day since  July  21st   I  have gone  to Costa  Coffee  via  a  route  which   means I push myself a mile.   The first week when I got to Costa I   was    wiped out. Five   weeks later I    can do   the   mile without stopping and not be tired.     Now when I   get there, the staff set up my netbook and I email, as   before the   21st!

 

Also  before  the 21st, when  I got off  the ground from  a  laying   position,  I always  used my head and neck  to get   up   on to  my knees! I had never been able to use my arms, well elbows, to    get up.    The   first time  I attempted to  get    up    using  my   arms,  it took   me   30  minutes to  get up 8  times   but last  Thursday,  I  got  up  30 times in 11 minutes.  I must  admit here  that for   most  of  August I was  in  a  lot  of   pain,  my  back, left   shoulder  and neck.     This is    because I have not really used the left   half of my body before.     Every  day the  pain  got   better,  so  carried   on  but it  did make me  less creative  for a  month   and  so  I'm really glad I used August like  this.

 

What are my communication   problems?  When I’m work, socialised or drink with people for a while, the best way for them to learn quickly how to communicate with me is for me to answer questions verbally. If anyone does not understand, I spell it out partially with my nose on a laminated a4 printed keyboard!

 

I have found with groups of people, 1 or 2 begin to pick up my speech quickly and they translate for others, this breeds confidence in others and they catch on. Reversely if I just type answers, it’s my experience, if I depend on my pc; my computer becomes an extra barrier to overcome!

I cannot use my hands at all and so I use a head pointer, my hat, to type, When speaking to large groups, I found when I took my hat off, more people ask me questions!

If I want to talk to one or two people, I start simply by answering yes / no questions. Then I start to ask simple questions like "how are you". Then as they become comfortable with how I talk, I chat more! And more until I can't shut up!

 

I am not worried about Disability awareness because I accept I am severely disabled, this is how many people see me and I feel it’s just stupid to say I’m not!  When I ran for M E P, (Member of the European Parliament), the herald referred to me as Disabledkevin! I loved this label; I’m clearly disabled and called Kevin.

 

When I  was at  Hereward  college, where I was a failure,  I   expressed  a  desired and  achieved  the  goal  to live independently,  despite   every   one  constantly  saying   it   was   impossible.   Since 1982 I have lived in my own home and begun to find myself, my confidence, belief, my emotional and creative horizons are, constantly growing and developing.

 

Since   82,   I have not been used   to   having help on hand.   I just went shopping, banks,   Australia, pubs   and nightclubs alone and love coping,   being   ‘normal’.  The  DDA has curtailed my   independence  but    I  accept  I  am an unique  case!   For   instance I can no longer fly long   haul, alone!

 

I hope this is helpful and    not   too rambling, if   you have any questions,   thoughts, comments or   brickbats,   please email me,

 

 Thanks, Kevin                 kevin@disabledkevin.com

 

 

http://www.disabledkevin.com/  http://disabledkevinthinks.blogspot.com/ http://twitter.com/disabledkevin

When I ran for M E P, Plymouth's Evening Herald referred to me as Disabledkevin! I loved this label; I’m clearly disabled and called Kevin. 

JOSIE & ME DANCING http://tinyurl.com/cp3qn8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

interview for uni!

Why are you particularly interested in studying at Plymouth University?
It's my local university, it offers excellence in the field of dance and
drama, originality, Plymouth is probably the only University that hopefully
will see that I have potential and take a chance on me. I know many people
here, I work with the fine arts students, many of my part time carers are on
the nursing course and I love challenging Professor Michael Thrasher with my
elections predictions!

What attracts you to his course? Dance has been an interest because it is a
means of non verbal communication and until recently I felt it was something
I could not participant in until I danced with Josie. . Last march I took
part in a 'movement' drawing class with a professional dancer, the lecturer
thought I would sit still and Josie would dance but we improvised.

What does dance have to offer society at large? In western society dance is
used to mark or celebrate great events, such as weddings or birthdays.
Dance can be an entertainment or night out at the Candy Club. Dance can
inspire and educate but it has to be more accessible!

In India dance is part of daily life, from monthly festivals to dancing in
the aisle for four hours, at the cinema. Yes I did draw a crowd.

What do you see yourself doing after graduating from the course? I want a
fresh challenge to rise and excel at! A drama and dance based degree would
transform my basic dramatic writing and acting skills into maybe an
accomplish author / director, whilst transforming my love of dance into a
complete understanding of the subtleties of this ever evolving art form! I
see myself as more of a collaborator, writer, and director!

Which dancers or dance companies have inspired you? Although I have always
loved and been inspired by dance, I have not seen many dance performers
because after seeing them, I am very frustrated because I want to dance
but I thought I could not be a dancer. I have seen the Rambert dance
company at the theatre royal on three occasions, the forbidden planet,
sorry, in London and Plymouth. Blood brothers the 97 vintage. Birmingham
Royal Ballet's Swan Lake, although I don't really like classical music and
don't understand ballet, I was surprised that I really enjoyed and was
moved by it but I can't say I understood it all but does that matter.

Can you tell us about a dance performance you have seen recently? The last
'musical' I saw, although not a 'dance' peace was War of the Worlds,
Brighton. I can remember thinking they could have included more live dance,
'Forever Autumn' cries out, for one or two dancers performing the sense of
the lyrics, in a ballet dance style. As for the face with Richard Burton
imposed on it, this is entertaining for a while but I kept thinking
wouldn't it be great for the narrator to be a dancer / reporter with a video
camera, still lipscinking Burton but filming, dancing the story! .... Like
Jon Snow!

More than 10 years ago I saw a short piece in the Drum, with 4 dancers,
although I can't tell you what it was called and the dance company, I can
still see it in my mind, I love contemporary dance, it should be fresh,
unique and push the boundaries.

Any Questions for us? I will have benefits problems if the course hours are
more than 16 hours a week, can you accommodate this? I am prepared to
challenge this rule but if I don't have to, it would be helpful! Can we be
creative?

Lastly, everyone else you see today will be more knowledgeable about dance
but I hope I have demonstrated I do have a passion, creativity and a little
ability. Also everything I endeavour to do, I nearly always begin at the
back but with my drive and intellect, I soon catch up!

Letter of application to Plymouth University

I'm a creative, open minded, decisive person, who has more time to think and
imagine because of my 'disability' and my speech problem... Until becoming
a life model I had not realised how creative I was. Some people are
completely thrown by a life model with a handicap, it challenges several
'norms', so often I come up with my own poses.

I could not read or write until the age of 12, so for me life did not begin
until I was 20 and this is why I think I have a young outlook on life.
Since leaving college, where I was a failure because of my abnormal
education, I have self educated and found myself, still my confidence,
belief, my emotional and creative horizons are constantly growing and
developing.

In the 80s I programmed station formats for ilr stations and worked for the
super station, which supplied overnight programming for ilr stations. I
produced Johnnie Walker, well tried too, until Richard Branson pulled the
plug, to move on to Virgin Radio.

In the 90's I tried to get selected as a New Labour mp and MEP candidates!
Unfortunately it was impossible to convince grassroots members that despite
my speech difficulties, I could serve and excel as their MP! Many of my
fellow candidates were impressed and intimidated at how professional I was.
I was the first candidate to record a video for selection meetings. The
Labour Party in their wisdom decided to hold over 50 MEP selection meetings
in a 2-week period and it was impossible for any candidate to address a
quarter of these meetings. Originally, to negate my speech problem and then
to overcome the multiple selection hurdle, I wrote and directed a 5-minute
video address. The local video company that I hire to record my address were
impressed with my script and vision of the video; they inquired, "Whether I
would consider scripting their commercial videos"!

My video surpassed my highest hopes because I received many more nominations
than I expected! I think this was because the video illustrated what I was
capable of, better than a simple written or verbal statement! It showed me
going around town unaided, writing and giving a speech and a Sky News
interview!

In the last 10 years, I have modelled and 'acted, in TV and film dramas.
Many production companies are surprised how professional I am. When Zenith
booked me for Itv1 Class of 76 and blocked out 5 hours to shoot my scenes,
understanding the pressures and requirements of TV shoots, I delivered my
performance in 15 minutes.

The internet has completely changed and empowers my life, from online
banking and writing for Hilary Clinton and to beginning to shape and
cultivate my creative juices, I feel I am now ready to attempt and succeed
at a theatrical and dance based degree.

Music has always been a very important part of my life; I love new music, be
it pop. Rock or dance! Dance has been an interest because it is a means
of non verbal communication and until recently I felt it was something I
could not participant in until I danced with Josie. . Last march I took
part in a 'movement' drawing class with a professional dancer, the lecturer
thought I would sit still and Josie would dance but we improvised. Everyone
was impressed and so the second session was videoed, it confirmed to me that
I could be a member of a 'dance company´ with something worthwhile and
unique to contribute.

I can write political speeches and comment pieces without much effort, I
want a fresh challenge to rise and excel at! A drama and dance based degree
would transform my basic dramatic writing and acting skills into maybe an
accomplish author / director, whilst transforming my love of dance into a
complete understanding of the subtleties of this ever evolving art form!

If I am accepted onto a degree course I will apply myself to it 110%, while
continuing to write and model because the more things that stimulates me,
the more energy and inspiration I will be able to focus back on the course.