This year, we’re thrilled to be selling some specially created badges from the Brothers Creative Works Emporium for World Down Syndrome Day.
Stacey, Evan and Olly are behind this beautiful design and Stacey has kindly answered a few questions for us.
Tell us a little about your family
Evan and Olly live at home with mum and dad and one of their older siblings Sam, who is 15. Their oldest sibling, Owen (24) lives independently. We live in Southampton, Hampshire.
A little about the brothers:
Evan is 8 years old, he has Down’s syndrome. Evan is a Stroke survivor; he had a significant stroke in 2019 which has left him unable to walk well and he uses a wheelchair, although he has learned to walk again. He has lost the use of his left arm/hand unfortunately which with therapy he is working hard to try and get some use back. Unfortunately, the stroke took away a lot of his skills he already learned; he is trying hard to catch up.
You can read more of Evan’s survival story here.
Olly is 7 years old. Olly is Autistic, non-speaking, has a learning disability, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and also has Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
What inspired you to start Brothers Awareness Emporium?
For many individuals with disabilities, pursuing traditional employment can be a daunting prospect strewn with challenges and uncertainties.
This frightens us as parents, and this is the reason why we want them to have purpose at a young age. Overcoming challenges and developing confidence is vital and this opportunity serves both for the boys, it also raises awareness of disabilities/hidden disabilities/neurodiversity and much more and provides the boys a chance to build something from the ground up whilst young.
Not only does it provide this, but it provides them with therapy, interaction, its therapeutic, confidence building and much more. As parents, we will do our utmost to allow boys to experience a life they deserve.
What are Evan and Olly’s favourite tasks when making the badges?
Evan’s favourite task when making the badges is taking the badge out of the badge holder…seeing it complete, knowing that ‘he did that’ and when he is asked to produce a new design it’s even more exciting for him.
Their product range has expanded and they are now producing many more. He recently made a printed mug for staff at his school, he was so proud that it didn’t reach where it should have and instead, he drank out of it for the day in his classroom all the time showing his friends. He was so proud.
Both Evan and Olly love to go to the post office to send their international orders, pay for postage and watch them go into the delivery sack whilst charming the staff.
Olly enjoys standing alongside the printer and passing me everything which comes out of it, the more colourful the better. He also loves to stick the stickers on the front of the envelopes.
One of Evan’s most favourite tasks is instructing his little brother what to do and when to do it, what to touch and what not to touch!!
To be honest, they enjoy every stage when producing their products.
Who would you and the boys love to see wearing one of your badges?
We, as parents, hope to see as many individuals as possible raising awareness around disabilities, hidden disabilities, mental health and hundreds of unknown conditions together with the boys.
I think Evan would be made up if he saw his favourite twosome Singing Hands wearing one of their badges and I’m sure it would put a smile on Olly’s face if Mr Tumble showed up wearing one!
What other hobbies/activities do the boys enjoy?
Evan enjoys socialising at every opportunity and would turn any frown upside down. He loves his pet dog ‘doggy’, feeding her, playing with her and going out on walks. He loves to go out on bike rides using his specialised bike and finds it funny that daddy has to run to keep up. He regularly goes to his local science centre which he really finds fun. Evan is a very lovable and sociable young man who is determined and strong. He loves to joke around a lot and make people laugh. He enjoys going to school with his brother on the school bus to see and socialise with his teachers and friends.
Olly loves swimming/splashing, trampolining, climbing and large outdoor areas where he can run around at speed to burn off his energy. He also loves to hide away in his sensory area and chill out on his iPad.
What’s the one message you and/or Evan and Olly would like to send with every World Down Syndrome Day badge we sell?
Teaching about disability will help in breaking social barriers and allow a better, wholesome approach to inclusion of people with disabilities and we hope you will support the boys and make them proud by raising your awareness together with the DSA this WDSD 2023.