Chantal’s interjection later in the book, once Jonathan has taken over the story, is deeply moving. He is now nine years old, and has reached the point where he can communicate independently. I would urge all who work with non verbally communicating children to read this book and be inspired by it to find ways to help them find their voices. The book is rich with Jonathan’s friendships, his family, his delight in life and his Christian faith. It is eye-opening and joyful. Jonathan is wiser than his years; his voice is courageous, determined and deeply kind. In part, the book is a testament also to his mother’s patience and steady convictions in her son’s abilities. I devoured the book and it’s one of my favourites from last year – I recommend it to everyone as a unique and important story, beautifully written. Buy it immediately. Teach Us Too – Jonathan’s charity

Through your autobiography, “Eye Can Write” you have given a voice to the voiceless with a beauty of rhetoric and a command of vocabulary that inspires and uplifts the soul. And through your campaign “Teach Us Too” you are championing the greatest literary education for every child with the same irrepressible determination that embodies your whole life story. The story was broadly linear - articulating Johnathan's experience of the life events outlined by his mother in the Intro. The final chapter focuses on his charity work and impact in the education sector, which is so inspiring. Hearing how he felt when he met Michael Morpugo (who wrote the Foreword for the book) brought me to tears. On the other hand, “His eyelids lifted slowly, as if reluctantly allowing access to the secrets hidden in his gaze,” paints a vivid image of a guarded individual.

Introducing Jonathan Bryan

His eyes were like shards of ice, a piercing blue that seemed to cut through the dim light of the interrogation room. The legal action resulting from the car accident is briefly referenced. Jonathan prefers to focus on how he and his family have used the compensation to improve his quality of life. He particularly details the importance of his care team. He describes the nurses and carers with love and deep gratitude. They are clearly indispensable to the smooth running of the Bryan family life. Born with severe cerebral palsy, incapable of controlling his movements, it was assumed that Jonathan had very little brain activity. However, his mother, Chantal, always believed that he was more alert than the doctors told her, and she persevered with teaching him the alphabet and basic words until they hit upon a system where he could learn to 'write' using an alphabet board and eye movements.

Jonathan’s book has the potential to change mindsets. To challenge the norm. How many other children and adults are trapped in a system that disregards and dismisses the disabled their rights. Why should only the likes of Stephen Hawkins have centre stage when Jonathan Bryan has lived in his silent world since he was born. Of course, one of the wonderful things about being a Christian is that I am part of God’s worldwide family of believers. And this family has been enormously important to me – in fact, without the prayers and support of the church family I don’t think I would have a story to tell at all. But if we are truly accepted as members of the body of Christ then true inclusion needs to go deeper than accessibility: it needs also to value our gifts and go beyond seeing us as people who should be supported to people who have a valuable role in the church.For example, eyes that “gleam like polished stones catching the midday sun” could portray a character in a state of clarity or revelation. via Facebook i read an article about you just now and consequently was very interested to visit your blog. I have just read some of your writings and am really touched and amazed by you as a person and the beauty in your language and depth in your faith. You are such a beautiful testimony for some very essential truths in the christian faith, that i am quite awed and thankful to have been led to your blog! I find it humbling to read such trusting and immensely positive writings about your relationship with Christ and your life and parallel obviously having tremendous challenges each day and certainly knowing (more than most people) what real suffering is all about. THANKYOU for sharing your life and especially your faith with the world. God certainly has amazing ways and i find it immensely touching and encouraging to see through your testimony, how Jesus can indeed be all we need if we cling to Him. Beautiful! Jesus light is certainly radiating through you! May God bless you and your family richly!

Accessories become an extension of the character, revealing their choices, desires, or insecurities. 19. A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: Artistic Imagery Faith, family and friends – these three sum up all that is most important to me. Central to my life is my faith in Jesus and knowing that this life is not the end, spending time with others as we journey through the Christian life together is one of the highlights of my week. Enveloped in the love of my family, home is my sanctuary and my joy with my two younger sisters and our dog. At 17 years old my friends and I like very similar things – playing pool, aeroplanes, music and baking. Sharing banter in the corridor at school is also a favourite pastime. Even having found out I am 12 some people still talk to me in what I call ‘special’ – a slow, loud, exaggerated, high-pitched voice, which I find excruciatingly patronising.The experience of Jonathan and his mother was strikingly similar to the experience of our wonderful client Sophie. My colleague, Claudia Hillemand, worked with Sophie’s family to secure an adequate educational plan. Claudia has outlined Sophie’s journey here. Jonathan’s description of his time in the garden with Jesus shows me that Jesus is never constrained by theological beliefs and nor does Jesus abide by doctrinal rules – Jesus is YaHWeH and Jesus is never restricted by human traditions or human prejudices. Jonathan’s account also highlights what the church in the UK has long forgotten or perhaps never knew – and that is the concept of family salvation. With eyelids acting as gatekeepers and eyelashes as intricate curtains, your description gains a theatrical quality. 12. Icy Stares and Fiery Glances: Temperature Imagery I found this book moving and powerful. Children’s author Michael Morpurgo wrote the foreword, and Jonathan has founded a charity called “Teach Us Too” pleading for all children regardless of their “label” to be taught to read and write. A significant proportion of the profits from his book will go to that charity. The world now has access to the inside of Jonathan’s twelve-year-old brain, and we are better for it. Highly intelligent and with a poet’s soul, his perspective on life and faith as told in his new memoir, Eye Can Write, is unique and beautiful.