Kensmyth the first Alpaca Stud in UK to support the new Disability Sign?

Having read the following article in full detail (edited here) and with much empathy, Kensmyth decided to show their full support for the new Sign idea!

QUOTE

22^nd September 2013 BBC News – Damon Rose

The stick figure in a wheelchair has become one of the most widely-used and instantly recognised symbols in the world – but a group of American designers want to change this famous icon of disability.

Seen on toilet doors, parking bays and practically every public building in the developed world, the International Symbol of Access has been in circulation since 1969. But now a group calling itself the Accessible Icon Project want to give the design a more 21st Century, even paralympic, feel.

The new icon is based on the old one but shows the figure leaning forward, actively pushing the wheelchair – more David Weir than Ironside.

The group’s website is critical of the old icon: “Its arms and legs are drawn like mechanical parts, its posture is unnaturally erect, and its entire look is one that makes the chair, not the person, important and visible.”

Artist Sara Hendron, a lecturer at Rhode Island School Of Design, USA, is one of those behind the project. She says the new icon started as a piece of “guerrilla art” on the campus of Gordon College near Boston, where she and collaborator Brian Glenney adapted existing access signs by overlaying a transparent sticker of a new active wheelchair user so old and new could both be seen.

The designers wanted to get people thinking.

Hendron says the new symbol is “a metaphor for self-direction and self determination,” and believes the old one has become politically invisible. She thinks that other similar public information symbols are more dynamic than the classic wheelchair sign and are pictured actively engaging with the world.

“If you go to a national park which says you can have a swim, a picnic or fish there, you’ll see all these 2D icons that are indicating with very animated gestures all that stuff you can do with your body.”

There’s been interest in the new icon from around the world, from in Italy to India and South America.

“We’re eagerly watching New York City who have said they’re going to implement it but are presently at the red tape stage,” says Hendron. “And in the meantime we’ve heard from other towns as well and scores of individual organisations and institutions.”

We have been working hard on our facilities here at Kensmyth and can genuinely now welcome visitors of all ages and abilities.

Take a look at our new video and the gorgeous Mitch Corner!

Well I did say we have been exceptionally busy this season. The events are such fun and so enjoyed, best way of introducing Alpaca on the planet!

The marquees look fantastic and this dawn photo is super!

we had to get them down in a hurry in the past few days though due to high winds – on our little hill in the Cotswolds!

back soon with more updates of life on our Alpaca Farm!

Autumn is such an amazing time for colours. I love it and the frost, the crunch underfoot and the Alpaca frosty steaming breath in the mornings.

In the summer I saw a plant – goodness knows what it is so please enlighten me – and I thought of the coming Autumn colours being so vibrant and how the stunning Alpaca fleece and yarn blends in. So I took some thought provoking photos to share with you later in the year – that time is now – see what you think!

now put this fleece hand bouquet into the flowers … stunning!

enjoy the week end its going to be sunny!

We are soo busy with the first frost and getting all the work done, once more apologies for absence of blogs. I have a new washing machine, I need a new poover and its go go go whilst the weather is not too bad.

cria weighing and adult weighing took up most of this week end so we can keep a firm eye on weights over winter.

meantime, I promised some shots of the Kensmyth Events and clothes modelled and sold, sold sold!

well last week was manic and this week has started with a race for machines to be fixed or breaking down!

After Newbury we scanned then another event last week end.

meantime, I will catch up on blogs soon… here is a photo when I had assistance scanning on every count!

Now can I have a picture please?

I have been trying to capture some of our alpaca in the “bus shelter” additions to the mobile field shelters we have in each field… it has taken a long time because they are so friendly, when I approach they get up!

Anyway, by taking it from the orchard I finally managed this sneaky shot. They do so love chewing the cud in the shade it provides!

Alpaca, although from hotter climes originally, still desperately need shade in hot temperatures, especially the black alpaca. Failure to provide adequate shade can cause Hyperthermia, especially in young cria who – when overheating dehydrate very quickly; often fatally.

Adequate shade is required at all times, not just summer as we used to know it but in this Indian Summer too!

Wow, September is almost gone. This week was manic following Newbury with two events on, scanning and an Event today at a Private School – more on that another day.

Meantime I have received a moan about the lack of Muscovy photos on the blog!

Here are some of the Muscovy enjoying the freedom of the grass in the orchard as usual but….

hidden out of sight on the above photo – is their trusty guardian Spirit!

Well we have been busy here at Kensmyth in the dark and wee hours of the night busy creating our new unique product

– with hubby and son here to look after the Alpaca at home…

NEWBURY SHOW 2014 was the venue for the exciting product launch.

The product utilises the natural Alpaca Fleece and although easily copied, Kensmyth are the first Alpaca Stud to launch a complete kit like this using Natural Alpaca Fibre.

You can make “your own Alpaca picture” or your own Alpaca natural fleece necklace.

They flew off the stand!

We even had Help for Heroes visit the stand… not to mention  LLama lovely Judge Vicky. Fantastic!

well we did say we had some exciting new products to launch and there is more and more to come!!

Another blog without pictures, apologies but they will be worth waiting for.

our new product was launched today and met with great success I am happy to say.

very busy week end and week ahead with scanning – fingers crossed always but such a relief to be able to do it yourself on site.

pictures soon – promise!

meantime – can someone help the weathermen out? Apparently they all have access to the same satellite information.

just take a look at www.accuweather.com …

versus www.weather.co.uk and see what you think!!

perhaps someone should tell them????