Made by Dyslexia
Kate Griggs, herself dyslexic, makes waves in the U.K and beyond by claiming — and demonstrating — that dyslexic thinking is precisely what the world needs to solve the challenges of the future. She explains, “dyslexic minds process information differently,” making them experts at problem-solving, empathy, and communication. She gave a TED talk, built an informative website, MadeByDyslexia, and published This is Dyslexia.
Dyslexia-Friendly Book
The book itself accommodates dyslexia by using lots of white space, as well as large, dyslexia-friendly fonts. Most importantly, you don’t actually need to READ the book!! Griggs sprinkles the book with QR codes, nearly one per page. These codes take you to short videos on MadeByDyslexia.org. The videos cover all the material in the book. You’ll find delightful interviews with well-known dyslexic people such as Keira Knightley, Richard Branson, Princess Beatrice, and Orlando Bloom. You’ll even discover why dyslexic people are actively sought out for training as intelligence agents.
The Goal of This is Dyslexia
Kate Griggs plans to change the world for the better by unleashing the power of dyslexic thinking. To do that, she aims to provide free online dyslexia training for every teacher in the world by 2025. This training would help teachers spot and support dyslexic students. Allowing them to flourish will bring their brilliance to bear on the world’s problems. That’s quite a goal — but then, dyslexic thinkers go for the big picture!
One Teensy Little Complaint
I disagree with only one sentence in This is Dyslexia. In the chapter on dyslexic challenges, on page 82, Griggs states, “Once we’ve learnt to read, dyslexics will still remain slow readers.” While this proves true in many cases, it is certainly NOT true for all dyslexics! Some dyslexic people bypass phonics and even sound altogether and become stunningly fast readers. One excellent example is Dr. Matthew Schneps. He heads the Laboratory for Visual Learning, a joint program of Harvard and the University of Massachusetts at Boston. A lot of people assume that if someone eventually becomes a fast reader, then they weren’t dyslexic after all. This ignores the evidence since these dyslexic fast readers retain their other dyslexic traits, described so well in This is Dyslexia. Also, PET scans show that they use alternative parts of the brain to read.
Important Ideas
I recommend the book if you love to read, especially if you are a teacher. If you prefer video, skip the book and go straight to MadeByDyslexia.org. Either way, Kate Griggs has a crucial message for both dyslexics and educators and an engaging way of communicating that message.
by Yvonna Graham, M.Ed.; www.dyslexiakit.net
@GrahamYvonna