Jimmy - an Eastender's story

Michael Shamash

My name is Michael Shamash and I am a freelance researcher with ties to Middlesex University and the University of Bedfordshire. In this paper I aim to recount and explore the life of Jimmy, a 61-year old man with Downs Syndrome. He lives with his father on a housing estate near Canning Town in the East End of London. He has always been a well-loved member of the local community and has a very supportive close knit family.

I first got to know Jimmy when I worked at a user-led day centre in nearby Mile End. Jimmy's mother, who died seven years ago, was very proud of him and kept a fascinating archive of his life. I would like to examine the history of learning disability and community in the East End through the eyes of Jimmy and I would like the work to be a complete collaboration between Jimmy and myself, true co-production.

As London undergoes massive social change and services are cut, I feel that this would be a very opportune moment to see how one person's life reflects these processes.

Biography

Michael Shamash - I am based in North London. I have written widely on a range of disability related themes. I have written a report on hate crime against disabled people. A major area of interest of mine is fashion and design and how it affects the lives of disabled people. I have worked in Disabled People's Organisations. I have given talks about social participation to people with learning disabilities. I am currently the chairperson of the service users and carers group at Middlesex University's social work course and I do similar work with social work students at UEL and the University of Bedfordshire trying to ensure that service users are involved at every stage.  I believe firmly that disabled people's voices must be heard across all parts of society.