Creativity & Dyslexia: Dyslexia Awareness Week event with Sally Gardner and Tom McLaughlin

Children’s authors Tom McLaughlin and Sally Gardner explore dyslexia

Children’s authors Tom McLaughlin and Sally Gardner explore dyslexia, its links with creativity and how it impacts on their ideas and their writing. Dr Kate Saunders will interview the authors and discuss why they feel dyslexia should be seen as a gift rather than a disability, how we can all support and encourage reluctant readers and how parents and teachers can identify and support dyslexic children early on. Join us for this special Dyslexia Awareness Week event with the BDA to celebrate the achievements of two brilliant dyslexic authors and encourage children to embrace their creative side.

Ten per cent of the population is estimated to be dyslexic, four per cent severely so. Many people with dyslexia, whether adults or children, are unable to fulfil their potential as a large percentage of the population don't understand what dyslexia is and how to support those with it. The vision of the BDA is to create a dyslexia friendly society that listens to and supports people with dyslexia.

Dyslexia Awareness Week runs from November 3 to November 9 2014 and is an annual event that aims at not just raising awareness, but also showcasing the amazing achievements that people with dyslexia have made. www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

Tom McLaughlin is an author and illustrator. He works primarily in publishing and animation design. He’s written several and illustrated several picture books, including The Diabolical Mr Tiddles and The Story Machine and has just finished his first kids’ novel, The Accidental Prime Minister which is out next year. Clients Bloomsbury, Puffin, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Oxford University Press as well as Disney and Nick Toons. He lives in Devon and can often be found drinking tea. www.tommclaughlin.co.uk

Sally Gardner is an award-winning novelist from London. Her books have been translated into 22 languages and have sold more than one million copies in the UK. Her novel, ‘Maggot Moon’ (Hot Key Books 2012), won both the Costa Children’s Book Prize and the Carnegie Medal 2013. Her historical novel for older readers, I, Coriander, won the Smarties Children's Book Prize in 2005. She has also written and illustrated picture books including The Fairy Catalogue, The Glass Heart, The Book of Princesses and Playtime Rhymes. Sally Gardner continues to be an avid spokesperson for dyslexia, working to change the way it is perceived by society. She is dyslexic and argues that it is not a disability, but a gift.www.sallygardner.net

Dr Kate Saunders is the Chief Executive Officer of the British Dyslexia Association. Kate has over 25 years of experience in the field of dyslexia and special educational needs, having worked as a Senior Specific Learning Difficulties/Dyslexia Advisory Teacher, Special Educational Needs Coordinator, chartered psychologist and lecturer. Kate has a Ph.D. in Education. She is co-author of 'How Dyslexics Learn', published by PATOSS (the Professional Association of Teachers of Students with SpLD) and co-editor of the British Dyslexia Association’s ‘Dyslexia Friendly Schools Good Practice Guide’.

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