Louisa
Louisa Makolski died suddenly in August 2010, aged 28.
We are working with her family to create a memorial award in her name, to encourage other young people to become involved in training professionals.
If you are interested in contributing or finding out more please contact adam@triangle.org.uk
Below is adapted from the presentation given by Ruth Marchant on Triangle’s behalf at Louisa’s funeral:
In her short life, Louisa Makolski trained and inspired many professionals in their work with children. Born severely disabled with cerebral palsy, Louisa was intellectually very able and communicated through eye pointing on a communication board, and later with an eye gaze computer system. Louisa was born in North London and moved to Sussex with her family. Louisa's parents and brother are very close and her family life was active and fun. Louisa was always full of life and determined to achieve, even though she had such restricted movement. She loved to try everything.
I first met Louisa when she was nine. I was setting up a group of young people aged 11 to 18, to give advice about the way things were done at her school, Chailey Heritage. Louisa came to see me and explained very clearly that even though she was only nine, she was still definitely a young person and so she should be allowed to have a say. We changed the rules, Louisa joined the group and she never looked back.
By the age of 13 Louisa was teaching professionals how to listen to children; at 15, she was a founding member of Triangle’s first consultative group of young people. Triangle is an independent organisation based in Brighton, working across the UK to safeguard all children, particularly very young children and deaf and disabled children. Triangle is unusual because children and young people are fully involved in the way things get done eg in staff recruitment, training and film-making.
Louisa was very much a part of this and went on to work for Triangle as she left school. She developed her own unique ways to teach professionals: she trained more than 1000 doctors, social workers, police officers, lawyers and many others.
Louisa particularly enjoyed training small groups of professionals, getting them confident with communication. Here is an extract from the introduction to one of her sessions:
I say no by looking up and shaking my head. I say yes by looking down and to the right. And I smile by smiling. Please take your time. I don’t mind if you get it wrong, it is more important that you will try.
Here is a typical comment from a participant: Best training I've been on in a long time.
Louisa hated others to get hurt and she worked with a passion to keep children safe. She reached 1000s more people through the films she took part in or helped to make, which have been used to train professionals all over the UK and beyond. Towards the end of her life Louisa also worked with Anna Cadey, a visual artist, to produce photography and film.
Quietly, behind the scenes, Louisa helped many people to think differently about disability, and about communication. People did not forget Louisa. She was open, honest and inspirational. Louisa loved music and everything to do with nature (earth, wind, fire and rain - flowers, birds singing). She especially loved to laugh...
Life was not always easy for Louisa: she swam against many tides, but she did so much with what life gave her.
Louisa is survived by her parents, Wendy and Tony and her brother Chris.
Louisa Makolski, 6th March 1982 to 18th August 2010.
The Louisa Makolski Award
The aim of this award is to inspire disabled young people to become involved in training professionals who work with children.
Who can apply?
This new award is open to young people aged 14 or 15 who:
• Live in the south of England
• Are physically disabled
• Communicate without speech
What does the award consist of?
This award offers a unique opportunity, combining supported research, work experience and financial support. Award winners will spend five days at Triangle learning about Louisa’s work (training, films, writing) and about opportunities to develop their own skills and ideas. They will be provided with all resources, with a fully accessible environment and with skilled communication support. In addition, £500 is available to each award winner to remove barriers to taking part, eg to fund travel or support.
How to contribute
Donations welcome:
Cheques can be made payable to the Louisa Makolski Award and posted c/o Triangle.
If you would like to gift aid your donation or set up a monthly contribution please email adam@triangle.org.uk
