Latest news with #TeachUsToo
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
TV star and campaigner who 'changed countless lives' dies aged 19
An "inspirational campaigner" for the rights of non-verbal children has died at the age 19, his family has Bryan, from Chippenham, Wiltshire, was born with severe cerebral palsy and failing kidneys. Unable to walk, hold a pen or communicate verbally, he was taught to read at the age of seven, communicating with his eyes using a special board covered with letters. During his lifetime, he starred in CBBC's My Life: Locked In Boy documentary and authored several books.A spokesperson for Jonathan's charity, Teach Us Too, said: "Jonathan was a remarkable young man whose voice and vision changed countless lives." Classed as having Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD), his first school placed him on a sensory curriculum - which meant he was not being taught to read or his mother took him out of school and taught him using an alphabet then started campaigning for every non-verbal child to be taught to read and write. "Disabled children with communication issues are not being taught in special schools. They are being babysat," he previously petition, created in 2016, calling on the government to reform the special needs curriculum, so that all disabled children had the opportunity to access literacy, has more than 875,000 his campaigning for better educational opportunities for non-verbal children, he received the prestigious Diana Legacy award in 2017. 'He showed the world what is possible' He released his first book, Eye Can Write in 2018, in which he spoke about how he learned to read and the profound difference it made to his proceeds went to Jonathan's charity, Teach Us also communicated regularly through his blog, Eye Can Talk, with his final post appearing in December 2024, where he spoke of being accepted onto the Creative Writing course at Bath Spa University. Teach Us Too, paid further tribute to Mr Bryan, saying he was an "inspiration"."We are deeply saddened by the death of our founder."His courage, insight, and determination challenged perceptions and championed the rights of children who are too often overlooked."He showed the world what is possible when we presume competence and truly listen. As those who loved him and continue his vision, we are honoured to carry his light forward," a spokesperson said.
Sky News
12-03-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Non-verbal teenager who wrote a book with his eyes says he's 'voice of the voiceless'
A teenager with severe cerebral palsy who wrote a book using his eyes has urged teachers not to underestimate their pupils. When Jonathan Bryan started school he was given the label PMLD, which stands for profound and multiple learning disabilities. It meant he was placed on a sensory curriculum - essentially early years education - but his mother took him out of school and taught him to read and write using an alphabet board. Mr Bryan told The UK Tonight With Sarah-Jane Mee he has become a "voice of the voiceless" over 10 years of campaigning to prevent people with complex needs and who are non-verbal from being overlooked. The 19-year-old is now a published author and is studying creative writing at the University of Bath. Asked if the school system was underestimating children with PMLD, he said the mistake was in thinking "it's something that's diagnosed" when it is "just an educational label given to children who look like me - usually in a wheelchair, with little or no means of communication". "Our cognition isn't tested before we get the label, but we are treated like we all have a profound intellectual disability," he said. "We're not taught to read or write because it's assumed we'll never learn. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. We don't learn because we aren't taught." He said "people look at us and make assumptions about our capacity to learn". "When you don't speak out loud, people assume your intellect is the same as a pre-verbal toddler. Because we don't speak, it's easier to ignore us. It's why I speak up about this as a voice for the voiceless." After a decade of campaigning, Mr Bryan said there is "still a long way to go". "Until the government expects this cohort to be taught literacy, it's down to individuals and schools to raise their expectations," he said. ' Please don't underestimate your pupils' Asked what his life would have been like if his mother had not taught him to read and write using an alphabet board, he said: "I'd rather not think about it. I'd be left to my own thoughts and unable to communicate everything I can now. It's difficult imagining how lonely and boring that would be." Mr Bryan had a message for those who might underestimate people with similar needs. "If you are a teacher watching this, please don't underestimate your pupils," he said. "Anyone else, please remember, non-speaking is not the same as non-thinking." He encouraged people who are non-speaking and "have a story of how you learnt to read and write" to contact the charity he founded, Teach Us Too. A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We are determined to break down the barriers to opportunity to ensure all young people with SEND, like Jonathan, can achieve and thrive. This includes making sure every child has a strong foundation in reading and writing as part of our Plan for Change. "The system we've inherited has been failing to meet the needs of children and families for far too long and we are determined to improve inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, making sure special schools cater to children with the most complex needs."
