DisC Proudly Supports: RASP Books & An Anthology of Dyslexic Writing

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[Image: Famous People with Dyslexia]

 

Different Is Cool is very excited that our original Patron of Cool, Margaret Atwood, has turned us on to a most worthwhile cause, RASP Books, an art commissioning organisation specialising in dyslexic artists’ books.

RASP has been publishing books by dyslexic artists since 2005, as part of a wider campaign to aid understanding and knowledge about dyslexia.

It is now well established that there have been many prominent literary figures thought to be dyslexic. Yet, little attention has been given to their texts’ potential for demonstrating creativity.

RASP is the first publishing initiative to specialize in dyslexic writers. Their mission is to (re)discover and promote writers who write differently, and raise awareness of dyslexia as a difference.

 

FORGOTTEN LETTERS – An Anthology of Dyslexic Writing

Census figures suggest that ten percent (10%) of the population are dyslexic;  yet many storytellers are told that they and their work must fit into traditionally defined categories in order to find an audience.  By establishing a new dyslexic genre with this one-of-a-kind anthology, we are stating that there is a demand for stories that explore dyslexia as a difference.

The anthology will include, and bring together for the first time outstanding writers, including but not limited to: Billy Childish (co-founder of the Stuckism Art Movement); Andrew Solomon (winner of the 2001 National Book Award and finalist for the 2002 Pulitzer Prize); Thomas West (author of Thinking Like Einstein and In the Mind’s Eye); Sally Gardner, (winner of the 2005 Nestlé Children’s Book Prize Gold Award and,  shortlisted for the British Children’s Book of the Year in 2006); Philip Schultz (winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry); and Benjamin Zephaniah (included in The Times list of Britain’s top 50 post-war writers in 2008).

Who is it for?

In the words of one of RASP’s wonderful supporters:

What greater gift could I give the dyslexic students I teach than a book of poetry written by dyslexic authors?  Dyslexic kids need heroes, and they need to read stories written by people like them.  For every student I have taught in 24 years and every dyslexic teacher I have mentored, I am happy to be a part of this project.

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*This is really cool, right?  So how can we at Different Is Cool help? *


RASP is looking for sponsorship to print Forgotten Letters

They are only asking for the money to finance the design and printing of it. $7,000. Nothing more. ALL proceeds from the book will be used to fund future publications which will promote writers who write differently, and raise awareness of dyslexia. Funding will enable RASP to cover the basic costs of design, copyediting, printing, purchasing an ISBN and distribution.

 

PLEASE give whatever you can – there are rewards that RASP offers to all donor levels…click here for all the awesome details: Forgotten Letters Campaign

 

And please pass the word along – I know that there is a silent population of dyslexic people who wish that more people understood and appreciated their special difference.


For more info on Dyslexia, please see: 37 Common Characteristics of Dyslexia