Jonathan Clode, comics writer and former care manager, tells us about leaving his day job to focus on building a new website, dedicated to stories about the British care system. “Anyone working in comics will know that making a living out of it is hard, and that most of us will need a day job to keep the lights on. For me that job was learning disability support services in Cardiff. It was the best job I could ever hope for and genuinely inspired me. Over time I became a manager, with hopes of making lives better and helping people who had spent… Read More
Books Beyond Words
Lucy Bergonzi is an illustrator with a background in community arts, and has extensive experience in arts and project work in the voluntary and community sectors. Here she describes the process of producing the book ‘A Day at the Beach’, published by Books Beyond Words in April 2016, which she illustrated and co-authored with groups of adults with learning disabilities. In 2015 I started illustrating for the publisher Books Beyond Words, who produce books for adults who have learning disabilities. Telling stories through pictures, without the use of words, the books support empowerment and inclusion for people who don’t… Read More
Sonia’s Feeling Sad (Books Beyond Words)
awaiting GM review Amazon blurb: ‘In the Books Beyond Words series the stories are told through pictures only. They are for adults with learning (intellectual) disabilities, but are useful for anyone with communication difficulties. Sonia is a young woman with learning disabilities. She is very sad and avoids her friends and family. At home, she unhappily retires to bed. Sonia’s GP (family doctor) says that she is depressed and suggests that she see a therapist. Regular visits to the therapist help Sonia to feel better, and we see that she starts to enjoy life again. There is text at the… Read More
Ron’s Feeling Blue (Books Beyond Words) [Paperback]
Awaiting GM review Amazon blurb: ‘In the Books Beyond Words series the stories are told through pictures only. They are for adults with learning (intellectual) disabilities, but are useful for anyone with communication difficulties. Ron, a young man with learning disabilities, has lost interest in the things he usually enjoys – even eating and watching television. He doesn’t want to see his friends or take part in any activities. He stays in bed and gets angry when his friends try to talk to him and bring him food. His GP (family doctor) visits and diagnoses Ron with depression. Ron sees… Read More