Purple parade for Dyslexia awareness

Yesterday below Federation Square, a parade of happy supporters of Dyslexia Awareness Week walked the streets dressed in purple waving purple balloons. I decided dress in purple and support them. With family in tow, we missed the walk as our GSP took us somewhere bizarre! I am such a country girl! I did make it for all the other wonderful happenings. I listened with great interest to the thought- provoking interviews with adults and children who have struggled with sigmas of stupidity through misunderstanding and undiagnosed dyslexia.

I heard how important understanding and resources are to people who struggle with dyslexia and how using the Open Dyslexia font in Celia and Nonna was so needed. Jason Henham, CEO of SPELD Victoria (who provides help and guidance to people with dyslexia and other learning difficulties), thanked me for taking the initiative to include the dyslexic font in a “mainstream” book (Celia and Nonna). I asked him if he knew any mainstream publishers that had adopted the idea and was shocked to hear my book was the first! What a help this will be so so many kids and adults! Hopefully, this will set a president  other publishers will adopt. They are totally supportive of Celia and Nonna and I pray it makes a difference making this first initial step. I wish I could find the person who suggested it in the LinkedIn forum – I’d thank her!

More and more I’m discovering how much we can use our positions to pay it forward in unique ways.

It was wonderful to finally meet the lovely Heidi Gregory from the Melbourne support group. I handed her designs for a logo for them. They are a great support for parents in Melbourne and have an active and very informative Facebook group.They have a new home at Finbar Neighborhood House in Richmond.

Artplay Melbourne: patterns, textures and creative imagery

As a family we enjoyed the day in Melbourne. The event was held next to the community project, Artplay – GO – it is great! It is a collaborative project between artists and children; creative workshops, performances, exhibitions etc. Naturally I was drunk with pattern wine and had to take photos on my phone as we took a walk from the event through Artplay and around Southgate. I kinda wish I had taken my good camera now but I got a few good shots. Here is a taste: