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Who are Beyond Words?
Beyond Words empowers people with learning disabilities through pictures. Everyone knows pictures can be more powerful than words. Being able to ‘read’ the things we see is how we know a green light means go, or that a smile means someone is happy to see us. Our word-free books and stories transform lives, giving people with additional communications needs the tools to share and understand their feelings and the world around them, as well as participate in decisions about their lives.
We work with people with lived experience to co-create word-free picture stories that help people understand and communicate their feelings, learn about new experiences and tell their own stories. We set up Book Clubs that give people with learning disabilities a space to have fun, make friends and socialise. Our books help children and young people to develop their emotional intelligence, vocabulary and talk about their feelings in schools through our Open Book Project.
Our work is used in a range of different settings including health and social care, education and the community. Read below to find out more about each of these settings.
Stories for Health and Social Care
Improving health care for patients with learning disabilities and/or autism
Good communication is at the heart of safe, effective and compassionate health care.
You want your doctor or social worker to be a good listener. Our stories told in pictures will help them explain things to you. Just as importantly our stories will help you to ask questions and be reassured that the professional understands your wishes and concerns. Professionals need to practice their listening skills. Our books will help them to listen to you.
It’s too easy for a professional to assume that you won’t understand. It’s called ‘diagnostic overshadowing’ and it applies whether you have an illness like depression or whether you have heart disease. It’s when the health or care professional thinks that your worries, or your pain are due to your learning disability or because you’re an autistic person.
Time listening to each other will help you to make your own decisions.
Using Books Beyond Words in clinical interactions:
builds understanding and trust between patient and practitioner;
reduces anxiety;
empowers people to be more involved in decision-making and to manage their own health;
improves health care outcomes and reduces health inequalities.
are just as important whether you are physically ill or have mental health issues.
Empowering people to shape the support you give.
Using Books Beyond Words in life planning and social care
Focuses on the things that are important to each person, your likes and dislikes, experiences you’ve had and how these things make you feel. All these things matter!
You can choose a life event or experience to explore: moving house, making friends and having relationships, keeping safe and healthy and finding a job or volunteering, as well as more difficult things like bereavement, abuse and end of life.
Taking the time to listen and understand a person will help social care professionals provide the support each person’s need to live the life they choose.
Stories for Schools
Introducing word-free stories into the classroom can support pupils across various areas of the curriculum in both mainstream and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) settings.
Books Beyond Words are simple, accessible and flexible teaching resources, proven to engage children and support attainment whilst also developing their emotional wellbeing and resilience.
"This is my go to resource. There just isn't another resource available on the market that is age appropriate and covers the sensitive issues and social issues that you need that extra prompt for. This opens discussions immediately." - Leigh Blakeman; Tutor
The Open Book Community
SEMH resources tried and tested by teachers
Social, Emotional and Mental Health is compulsory learning for all children with an EHCP. We’re working to give teachers the tools they need to engage pupils in the curriculum and support difficult conversations.
Stories for Communities
We know that sharing stories brings us together.
That’s why we’ve set up Book Clubs in libraries, cafés and other community spaces around the UK. We are currently creating 300 new Book Clubs for free through our Book Club in a Box Project.
Beyond Words Book Clubs are somewhere to socialise with friends whilst exploring, through stories, subjects and ideas that affect our lives. They build members’ confidence, provide a way to connect with others in the local community and have fun.
A living manifesto for a better life for people with learning disabilities
Beyond Words is founded on the belief that people with learning disabilities and autism should be active and valued members of their community and have their voices heard.
The BELONG manifesto, launched by Beyond Words and Access All Areas, is a call to action for more inclusive communities everywhere.
Recommended resources
Get equipped with our recommended tools and training.
“They seemed... designed to be open to interpretation”
Support worker Russell Clark talks about using Books Beyond Words