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Ladies and Gentlemen, allow my to introduce myself. My name is Josie. I work at Mencap as a receptionist and campaigner. My job means a lot to me because years ago I found it hard to get a job. Now I am involved in interviews, in training and campaigning, so I have many important roles in Mencap.
December 3, 2017
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It sounds like a cliché, but I've always loved to read. My journey into personhood was guided less by those around me and more by the worlds I inhabited and the people I met on my fictional travels. I wanted to be Matilda for ages. I genuinely thought that if I read more books my brain would become so advanced I’d be able to close my curtains without leaving my bed.
June 23, 2017
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When dealing with the otherness of disability, the Victorians in their shame built huge out-of-sight asylums, and their legacy of “them” and “us” continues to this day. Two hundred years later, technologies offer us an alternative view. The digital age is shattering barriers, and what used to the norm is now being challenged.
May 22, 2017
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I am an educator of educators. I teach others how to be the best teachers. But, I’m also different. I have learning challenges. I found my way and my life’s calling thanks to dedicated educators. As we celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I am reminded of my personal journey. My disabilities could have defined me. But they did not. I do not consider myself dyslexic or learning-disabled. I am Jim. And here’s the story of how I overcame my challenges and the educators who helped me along the way.
February 27, 2017
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Going to university can be a test for anyone, fresh, or not-so-fresh from school. Students are not only expected to adapt to independent study and increased reading loads, but they also have to learn as soon as possible how to “do” the kind of academic writing and academic talk their given field demands. And for those students with dyslexia, this can be particularly challenging.
December 5, 2016
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The more you find out about the history of disability and the associated language used, the more eye-opening it becomes. It wasn't so long ago that 'special' was widely used - a patronising euphemism now best avoided - and we are still left with the remains of so many other words that cast disabilities and impairments in a negative light.
November 22, 2016
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How can you support and encourage summer holiday reading when a child has reading difficulties? If 'reading for pleasure' seems instead like a chore or a battle, then looking to audiobooks can help. The spoken word can provide enjoyment from books that a struggling reader might not find in print. Audiobooks can also help to continue learning and reading development when not at school.
August 2, 2016
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