Distant Voices Advocacy
Merv and Nikki Kenward
What were the aims of the Distant Voices
What were the aims of the Distant Voices
Nikki Kenward and her husband, Merv, established THE DISTANT VOICES in the summer of 2009. Nikki, a conceptual artist, and Merv, a community worker who is now a full-time carer for Nikki, are both passionate about disability advocacy and raising assisted suicide awareness while promoting community integration.
What were the aims of the Distant Voices
What were the aims of the Distant Voices
What were the aims of the Distant Voices
The aim of the group (pics) was to foster community integration by bringing together able-bodied and disabled young people in an inclusive environment, challenging the often negative perceptions of what individuals with disabilities can achieve. We engaged through the arts and actively campaigned to ensure our voices were heard. We believ
The aim of the group (pics) was to foster community integration by bringing together able-bodied and disabled young people in an inclusive environment, challenging the often negative perceptions of what individuals with disabilities can achieve. We engaged through the arts and actively campaigned to ensure our voices were heard. We believe in the philosophy that a ‘high tide’ should ‘raise all the ships’, as the segregation of individuals only perpetuates abuse. Unfortunately, we recognize that disabled individuals are particularly vulnerable to abuse and may face unnecessary risks, including unnecessary deaths during illness. The use of methods like the LCP (LINK) has been alarmingly common as an assisted suicide awareness topic, highlighting how depriving someone of fluid can lead to guaranteed death.
Death by Indifference
" Everyone was represented"
" Everyone was represented"
You can read about this if you go to the: MENCAP report DEATH BY INDIFFERENCE. We needed to ensure everyone was safe, as this report irrefutably demonstrated that euthanasia was and is already occurring. Historically, similar tragedies unfolded in Germany during the 1930s, where disabled individuals, dehumanized as ‘useless mouths,’ becam
You can read about this if you go to the: MENCAP report DEATH BY INDIFFERENCE. We needed to ensure everyone was safe, as this report irrefutably demonstrated that euthanasia was and is already occurring. Historically, similar tragedies unfolded in Germany during the 1930s, where disabled individuals, dehumanized as ‘useless mouths,’ became the first victims, with over 250,000 disabled people used as guinea pigs by the Nazis. This emphasizes the urgent need for assisted suicide awareness, community integration, and strong disability advocacy to protect vulnerable populations.
" Everyone was represented"
" Everyone was represented"
" Everyone was represented"
The fact that Nikki, as a disabled person, created and ran DISTANT VOICES meant that, intrinsically, everyone was represented in our community integration efforts. You can read more about the group by going to LINK………… The group operated for 10 years and came to an end only when Covid interrupted our meetings; by that time, many members h
The fact that Nikki, as a disabled person, created and ran DISTANT VOICES meant that, intrinsically, everyone was represented in our community integration efforts. You can read more about the group by going to LINK………… The group operated for 10 years and came to an end only when Covid interrupted our meetings; by that time, many members had grown into adults with their own children and futures to look forward to. We miss them and are immensely proud of what they continue to achieve, especially in the realm of disability advocacy and assisted suicide awareness.
A little bit more about the Distant Voices
How it all began........
Nikki Kenward and her husband, Merv, established THE DISTANT VOICES in the summer of 2009. Nikki, a conceptual artist, and Merv, a community worker who now serves as a full-time caregiver for Nikki, envisioned a platform that promoted community integration between able-bodied and disabled young people. Their mission aimed to challenge negative attitudes surrounding disability, proving what individuals with differences can achieve. Through various artistic expressions, they actively campaigned for disability advocacy, ensuring their voices and the voices of their community were heard. They firmly believed that a "high tide" should raise all ships, recognizing that a segregated mindset fosters abuse and misunderstanding.
Unfortunately, there is a pressing need for assisted suicide awareness, as disabled individuals are at risk of experiencing abuse and may face unnecessary mortality in times of illness. The misuse of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) often led to tragic outcomes, with deprivation of fluids guaranteeing death. The MENCAP report, titled "Death by Indifference," sheds light on these critical issues, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring safety and dignity for all. This report underscores the harsh reality of euthanasia, which is still present today.
Historically, as evidenced in Germany during the 1930s, disabled individuals were tragically among the first targeted for extermination, deemed as "useless mouths" and exploited by the Nazis, with over 250,000 suffering dire fates.
THE DISTANT VOICES held particular significance, as Nikki—being a disabled person—led the group, ensuring that diverse perspectives were represented. This group thrived for ten years, only concluding when COVID-19 restrictions impeded their meetings. By then, many members had matured into adulthood, now looking forward to their own families and futures. We miss them and take pride in their ongoing accomplishments.
What we stand for (and against)
Dignity in Dying has adopted the notion that 'assisted suicide' represents a choice in death, but we strongly disagree with that perspective. While the idea may sound appealing, the reality tells a different story. The truth is that when assisted suicide is legalized, the cost of providing high-quality medical care at the end of life actually increases. Caring for someone during this critical time is expensive; it often proves to be much cheaper to end their life prematurely.
If this sounds alarmist and you believe it could never happen, we encourage you to consider examples from other countries where similar policies have been implemented.
Our focus is on genuine choice—the choice to live until a natural death occurs. We advocate for community integration and the right to live with dignity, ensuring that everyone receives care, regardless of the expense. Every individual deserves the human dignity of not feeling like a burden due to age, illness, or disability. We empower patients to shape their own care experiences.
Make no mistake: Dignity in Dying seeks to take these critical choices away from you, undermining true disability advocacy in the process.
THE SWEET LIFE OF DAISY HEALY
Antony Gormley's One & Other (2009)
In 2009, sculptor Antony Gormley created "One & Other." This project featured selected participants who would spend one hour on top of the Fourth Plinth, running for a total of one hundred days. Each individual was free to perform, present, or express themselves in any way they chose, highlighting the importance of community integration. Ultimately, 2,400 people were randomly selected and invited to share their thoughts or talents, promoting disability advocacy through their diverse acts.
Nikki explained, “In 2009, we aimed to highlight an aspect of disability that would benefit from greater exposure. I came across Dominic Lawson’s shocking article about the disgraceful actions of medical staff at Kettering General Hospital in 2005, which led to the tragic death of nine-year-old Daisy Healy, and sparked conversations around assisted suicide awareness.”
Dominic Lawson
Dominic kindly connected me with Daisy's parents, Amanda and Mark. Her mother spoke with me for several hours about what happened, demonstrating remarkable integrity and sensitivity. I am profoundly grateful that she trusted me enough to share Daisy’s life story for THE PLINTH. This story not only raises assisted suicide awareness but also highlights the importance of community integration and disability advocacy. In the future, her story will also be featured in Nikki’s play, "5 A DAY" (LINK).
We continue to raise awareness about what happened in various settings, including the media, Parliament, the House of Lords, and theatres, where Daisy's experiences and those of her family can be shared and heard.
I’ll let Amanda share Daisy's story; her words reveal the truth behind this tragic crime. (LINK)
"Underestimated her quality of life"
It took an additional six years and the involvement of the Health Ombudsman for Amanda Healy and her family to receive confirmation that the system had failed Daisy, and that her family had 'suffered an injustice.' The findings highlighted the critical need for assisted suicide awareness and better community integration for those with disabilities. In response, the hospital and its staff claimed, without any sense of guilt or conscience, that they had 'underestimated the quality of her life.' Despite the Ombudsman’s findings and calls from disability advocacy groups, no one was dismissed or charged with her murder.
5 A Day
Why 5 A DAY - Moments of love and death
**5 A DAY** seeks to raise assisted suicide awareness by uncovering the truth about this critical issue. This initiative aims to shed light on the 112 avoidable deaths each year affecting both young and older disabled individuals. These tragic deaths stem from various factors, emphasizing the need for robust disability advocacy and improved community integration.
Slippery slope
Neglect, incorrect diagnoses, and a lack of knowledge and care for disabled individuals are critical issues in the realm of disability advocacy. Medical professionals often struggle to effectively communicate with those in need, leading to a failure to recognize any quality of life. Many disabled individuals fear that, similar to others,
Neglect, incorrect diagnoses, and a lack of knowledge and care for disabled individuals are critical issues in the realm of disability advocacy. Medical professionals often struggle to effectively communicate with those in need, leading to a failure to recognize any quality of life. Many disabled individuals fear that, similar to others, they may slip down this so-called 'slippery slope' and that no one will care or notice their plight. We are often treated as expendable. Daisy's death, along with those of others, serves as a grave testament to this reality, highlighting the urgent need for assisted suicide awareness and true community integration for individuals with disabilities.
Knowledge is power. Information is liberating.
This article begins by outlining our aims: we want to provide you with essential information on topics like assisted suicide awareness and the importance of community integration. Rest assured that we, along with various organizations focused on disability advocacy, have carefully examined the facts, figures, and personal experiences of many individuals.
This significant change could effect all our lives....
Let us guide you through all aspects of assisted suicide awareness, explored and validated by informed individuals who are bravely speaking out. This significant change in our lives will impact all of us, often in ways we may not yet realize. The push for community integration and disability advocacy related to changing the law could occur rapidly if people remain unaware of the facts.
Crazy Christian Argument.....
We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and belief systems. There is a common assumption that opposition to assisted suicide stems only from those whose religion prohibits it, often dismissed as the 'crazy Christian argument.' This perspective is inaccurate and is often used to gain support for assisted suicide initiatives. While individuals in our community are legally entitled to their beliefs, we are also eager to engage with anyone who has a secular viewpoint or other opposing views. Our focus on assisted suicide awareness and community integration encourages dialogue, especially regarding disability advocacy.
Kier Starmer.....
Kier Starmer is a strong supporter of assisted suicide awareness. Although Parliament previously made the vote a free choice, having a leader who advocates for assisted suicide may influence how his cabinet votes, particularly in relation to community integration and disability advocacy.
The cruelest and most selfish response......
As many people have said, "If you want to know how good a society is, look at how it cares for the weakest and most vulnerable." Dignity in Dying presents assisted suicide awareness as a form of care, but it is the opposite of true compassion. This approach contradicts the principles of community integration and represents the cruellest and most selfish response to a profound need in the context of disability advocacy.
Don't Vote for what you don't know!
It is what they aren't telling you about assisted suicide awareness that is unforgivable. So let us inform you here before it’s too late. DON’T VOTE FOR WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW about community integration and disability advocacy.
