Downs Side Up's Ups and Downs in 2013: A Linky for 2014

Time to take stock

January is the time I like to spring clean my blog a little, cut the deadwood and look at it afresh after a Christmas break. It's easy to feel you haven't achieved a lot in a year, that you are stuck in a writing rut, but now's the time to look at even the smallest of steps forward, celebrate your achievements and motivate yourself for the year ahead.
Here's a taste of where Downs Side Up, our Down's syndrome support blog, has taken us this year.
I'd love to invite you to join the linky below with either your favourite post of the year or a summary of where your SEN blog has taken you or your cause, or simply a post about where you are heading in 2014. Please take time to visit and support others who link too, with lovely comments, that's how we draw our community closer.

January 

The year kicked off with a very exciting get-together of all the UK models with Down's syndrome that we could find, doing their bit for #adinclusion. Natty, Seb, Jojo, M&S, Next, Co-Op, Boden and more. We met at the Down's Syndrome Association head quarters incredible Normansfield Theatre. A place filled with the memories and the energies of those with Down's syndrome who had lived and acted there when John Langdon Down first detailed the condition, caused by an additional 21st chromosome. How far he pushed forward, but how much further our children can travel today, the world their oyster...

Coffee with Liz from DSRF UK

The beauty of living in Cornwall is that lots of people pop down here for their holidays during the summer. That has recently begun to include online contacts and friends and I've been delighted that they want to give up a portion of their holiday to meet up in real life.

Elizabeth Corcoran who heads the charity Down Syndrome Research Foundation UK and I met up in our favourite café, along with Daddy Downs Side Up, Mia and Natty on Saturday morning. We have chatted online, it was Elizabeth who put me forward to give evidence in Westminster re the current Disability Abortion Law but we had never met, as she gave her evidence online and by post.

Elizabeth has a younger brother who has Down's Syndrome and her charity aims to channel funds into medical research to improve the lives of those with T21. The sad fact is that the majority of research into DS currently focusses on the testing and screening process. Elizabeth and her team would like to see that balance changed in favour of studies into preventing dementia, improving cognitive function, maintaining a healthy heart and so on.

Well, Liz was one of those ladies it was so easy to get on with. We chatted away about current and future projects, hopes and fears, family and work, supporting each other, oh, and of course managed to fit in the obligatory funny face photos, instigated by Natty who immediately fell in love with her.