Xtraordinary People

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The News section of the website aims to provide an area where relevant articles that are about, or have impact on, issues regarding Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD and Dyscalculia).

Government News

Xtraordinary People founder, dyslexia campaigning mum Kate Griggs tipped by Gordon Brown to change the education system

In April, the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown gave a glimpse of the campaigners that would be likely to generate future headlines. At a reception in Downing Street, he announced the names of leading grassroots and professional campaigners who are tipped to bring about future social change.

Campaigning mum, Kate Griggs was presented with the Social Inclusion Award, sponsored by Shelter. Kate began a national campaign to secure better teaching support in schools nationwide for dyslexic children after she had to remove her own son from a local school because it was failing to meet his needs when he was diagnosed with dyslexia.

Kate wants to see all teachers properly trained so that they can support dyslexic children. She also wants to empower parents to demand their children's right to a proper education and to ask schools what to do about dyslexia. She used the controversy over Ruth Kelly's decision to place her child in a private school to cater for his special needs as a focus for her campaign on the Government's wider provision for dyslexic children.

Dyslexic herself, Kate has founded a charity Xtraordinary People (XP) that is based on the premise that dyslexia should not hold children back, and that a number of celebrities from all walks of life are dyslexic and have gone on to achieve great things.

The reception announced the winners of awards created by The Sheila McKechnie Foundation - a charity backed by patrons Gordon Brown, Prime Minister and former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jon Snow and Lord Geoffrey Howe that was formed in 2005 to 'fast track' the most talented of future campaigners.

The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, Patron of the Foundation, said:

"A healthy democracy needs campaigners to hold politicians like myself to account. What we have traditionally lacked in this country is a source of support for campaigners so they can learn the skills to break into the political system and make it respond to the issues of greatest public concern.

I am also delighted that the Foundation is not only focused on equipping campaigners in the United Kingdom but is seeking to support those who are championing the needs of people in the developed world - people who lack a voice on decisions about whether their children can go to school or whether their families can have proper health care.

Sheila McKechnie's work in life is a continuing inspiration to the next generation of campaigners, who hopefully are going to be as passionate, and committed, and successful as Sheila was."

Kate Griggs said: "Every child has the right to an education yet NUT research found less than 9% of teachers feel confident they can teach dyslexic children. A staggering 20% of children leave school unable to read and write - many of these will be dyslexic. Only when Government ensure that our teachers are equipped with the skills to teach dyslexic children will we have an education system that gives every child the skills to succeed"

For information:

Anna Gibson / Xanthe Giles

The Outside Organisation

020 7436 3633

anna.gibson@outside-org.co.uk

xanthe.giles@outside-org.co.uk

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