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Philip J Connolly

The Disability Resilience Network is designed to lift all disabled people beyond the vital debates on equality, diversity and inclusion to the raging issues of society through disruption, innovation and resilience.
The goal of the network for disabled people is the inclusive economy.
It is about disability but it is even more about adaptation and coping in response to loss.
In this approach everyone has something to offer and something to gain.
It is a network because you don't have to be anywhere other than where you already are.
To act in the interests of disabled people you can simply join the network.
Philip J Connolly - DRN Founder
The PurplE Influence
Join the
network
The Disability Resilience Network invites and needs you to participate in all sorts of ways.
From volunteering, skills sharing, donating funds and offering services this membership allows the network to grow and support each other in this new community.
Fill in the 'sign up' form to be part of our network!
Read our Campaign for an
Artist residency
Poet and Creative in Residence.
'J' Ahmed
"Licensed to rhyme
For the good of mankind".
'J' is a talented poet, artist, rapper, innovator and friend from Salford. 'J' writes on all matters which are concerned with the human condition, often writing poems on race and equality related issues and those issues rarely broached in and around mental health.
"I've always believed I have a responsibility as a poet to use my art to ardently promote positive change in the world. But, my work now goes deeper than that - I believe the art form of poetry to have dynamic and as yet unexplored healing properties. I try, therefore, to actively promote the practice of writing poetry almost as much as I continue to avidly write and explore, alongside others, this valuable process... Poetry is change - poetry is growth - poetry is healing "


DISABILITY RESILIENCE
network for change
POEM BY 'J'.Ahmed
It is the very longest road
This road we tread for change.
And, this road
Is one which throws us
Curve balls -
Please maintain;
The strength which you
Will surely need
To move us to a plane
Where people are more equal,
Treated more the same.
This test of our resilience
Called life,
Well it began
Way way back in history
From the genesis of man -
The struggle for amoeba
To rise up from the seas
To claim the lands of all the world
To become who we now be.
Evolved to this society
With each our part to play,
We represent the struggle
And we struggle every day.
It is from birth
That we progress
To surely find a way -
Falling before walking
Then striding through our days.
And this Is our resilience,
This unseen golden gift.
The quality
Which helps us rise
And gives our friends a lift.
It is the strength that holds us
Firmly to our course
And keeps us striving onward
A potent Natural force.
Coupled with the ability
To truly self reflect,
We understand the value
Of changes we affect.
We are a force for reckoning,
We are a force for change,
We are the unified
Who cannot see things
Stay the same.
This universe is ours.
We are the stars that shine.
The cosmic laws of governance
Have helped us to refine.
See just like all known energy
We are set to change
From one form
To another
If we only use our brains.
And remember,
What we leave behind
Pays testament to us.
Our loving living memories
Live on when we are dust.
We are each original,
Some lead and some will follow -
Always so creative
In our quest for new tomorrows.
The path for the disabled
Requires resilient minds,
Our burden is our gift
And we must always
Strive to find;
Ways of adaptation,
Ways to help us be
Enabled to be able
For this will set us free.
Please join us on our journey
Whomever you may be.
Please dont be defined
By your disability.
We tread this path
In our own shoes
And never tread the same
But wherever we are coming from
We tread this path for change...