Young artist receives nomination for Sense Awards

There are two options in life, give up or give out. When you’re faced with a disability it could be far too easy to do the first option but if you  are someone with a determined mind and spirit you will do the latter. 

 

Ava Jolliffe is a 15 year old deaf blind and wheelchair user. She doesn’t wallow in self - pity though. She utilises her time to create digital artworks using her tablet computer and raises awareness about deaf blindness through her social media channels. 

 

Her recent artistic achievements include the following :-

Her future projects include commissions from Ocado Life Magazine.

 

Ava though is extremely vulnerable. In her childhood she was told she would not live past the age of seven due to the rare disorder Brown - Vialetto Van Laere syndrome. 

 

Throughout the pandemic she spent a considerable period of time being isolated but it was during this time that she became even more creative and brought deaf blindness to the forefront of the public domain.

 

This has led her to receive a Young Person of the Year nomination at the Sense Awards. ‘Sense’ is a national disability charity and it has quite rightly recognised Ava’s outstanding achievements both as a young artist and an advocate for deaf blind people.

 

Ava expressed her joy upon receiving the news,

 

“ I am so very proud and happy to have been nominated for this award. I have worked very hard in advocating for my deaf blind and disabled peers by showcasing my abilities to challenge perceptions and to improve understanding of complex needs artists and people. I have so many goals I want to achieve, and I want to show the world that disability does not stop you dreaming big”.

 

The Sense Awards recognise the achievements of people with complex disabilities and the staff, carers, family members, volunteers and fundraisers who support them. 

 

Winners will be announced on 25th November. 

 

For further information please visit the following website link:-

 

^Alex Ashworth CCG Art Blogger