In 2024 I  organized and co-facilitated "𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹", a series of craft and new media 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 designed for a community of 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.

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This uniquely rewarding project was a collaboration with 𝗖𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹, a Bristol-based charity organization which creates performance and physical theatre “𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴”. In the Being Me Digital journey I collaborate with creative technologist Julia Ronneberger and a brilliant team of producers and co-facilitators with a deep expertise in working with neurodivergent communities.

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Starting with the questions: W𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗹𝘆, 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗮𝘁𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗹𝘆, 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺? 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝘆?, together we crafted 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘀, we learned how to 3D scanned them and turn them into 𝗔𝗥 (Augmented Reality) visuals, and we co-curated a 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 physical and 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, exploring how can our space reflect our individual sensory needs, but also how can we honor and respect the sensory needs of our friends, even when they sometimes are conflicted.

 

Our aim was to democratize and demystify technology from an intimidating to a creative tool for creation, self-expression, communication and self-regulation. From 3D portraits of our participants stimming and VR experiences, to 3D Avatars and Stop Motion animations using Green Screen techniques, our young participants were introduced to a variety of new media creative tools and learned how to safely use them with us and at home with their carers. 

 

We totally embraced the "creative chaos" route and encouraged messy play and experimentation combining crafting and technology.  

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We distilled these five-months activities into an friendly creative zine and digital toolbox to reach even more young people outside of the Being Me Digital Workshops.

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