{{short description|British social entrepreneur}} {{For|the American yoga instructor|Guru Jagat}} {{Multiple issues| {{BLP sources|date=January 2026}} {{Update|date=January 2026}} }} {{Infobox person | name = <big>'''Kate Griggs'''</big> | image = | birth_place =Somerset, England | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Social entrepreneur }} alt=Kate Griggs, Founder of charity, Made By Dyslexia |thumb|Kate Griggs, Founder of charity, Made By Dyslexia '''Kate Griggs''' is a British social entrepreneur, author<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Griggs |first=Kate |url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/468549/this-is-dyslexia-by-griggs-kate/9781785045646 |title=This Is Dyslexia |date=2024-10-03 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Griggs |first=Kate |title=Xtraordinary People |date= |publisher=DK Children |year=2025 |isbn=978-0241705124 |location=England |publication-date=27 March 2025 |language=English}}</ref>, campaigner and founder of the charity, Made By Dyslexia. She is the author of the books, This Is Dyslexia<ref name=":0" /> and Xtraordinary People<ref name=":1" />, the host of the podcast Lessons In Dyslexic Thinking<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spotify – Web Player |url=https://open.spotify.com/show/4VlTVlCR7cMy9zl6Pq1fB2 |access-date=2026-05-18 |website=Spotify |language=en}}</ref> and the Executive Producer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Griggs |first=Kate |title=What is dyslexia? |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8975301/?ref_=ttfc_fcr_4_4 |access-date=2026-05-18 |website=www.imdb.com}}</ref> of the short film, "What Is Dyslexia?. Griggs has also produced and presented training programmes for education with Microsoft Learn<ref>{{Cite web |last=petermcgahey |title=Dyslexia training, in partnership with Made By Dyslexia - Training |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/paths/dyslexia-training/ |access-date=2026-05-18 |website=learn.microsoft.com |language=en-us}}</ref> and The Open University<ref>{{Cite web |title=OLCreate: DyslexicU University of Dyslexic Thinking – At Work {{!}} OLCreate |url=https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/course/index.php?categoryid=1656 |access-date=2026-05-18 |website=www.open.edu}}</ref> and the workplace in partnership with LinkedIn Learning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dyslexics are the future - Empowering Dyslexic Thinking at Work Video Tutorial {{!}} LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com |url=https://www.linkedin.com/learning/empowering-dyslexic-thinking-at-work/richard-branson-invites-you-to-empower-dyslexic-thinking |access-date=2026-05-18 |website=LinkedIn |language=en}}</ref>
==Biography==
Griggs is dyslexic<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Griggs |first=Kate |date=2 June 2025 |title=I Hated School Then Teachers Made An Observation That Changed My Life |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/schools-spot-dyslexia-signs-children_uk_6838636ee4b0e2e0f9a1d152/ |website=Huffington Post}}</ref> and has spoken publicly about her experiences as a dyslexic<ref name=":2" /> and as the mother of two dyslexic sons<ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-12-13 |title=A plea for extraordinary children |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6170173.stm |access-date=2026-05-18 |language=en-GB}}</ref>. She founded Made By Dyslexia with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding of the strengths and challenges of dyslexia in schools, workplaces and homes<ref name=":2" />.
Made By Dyslexia is supported by a number of well known dyslexics, including Richard Branson, Jamie Oliver, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.
Griggs stood unsuccessfully against the Education Secretary Ruth Kelly in the 2005 general election, coming last with 74 votes.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4469925.stm |title=UK | UK Politics | Election 2005 | Dyslexia party challenges Kelly |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-04-23 |access-date=2011-10-15}}</ref><ref name=electoralcalculus2005>{{cite web|title=Election Data 2005|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}</ref>
From 2005, Griggs worked with the government, including giving evidence to the Education Select Committee SEN Review, "Rose Review on Reading", the "Rose Review on Dyslexia" and the 2020 Personalised Learning Review. She has also written for the Commons/Lords House Magazine, Conservatives Crossbow magazine and is regularly featured in national newspapers<ref name="guardian1">{{cite web|last=Lipsett|first= Anthea |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/jan/14/dyslexia-mp-prisons |title=MP under fire for questioning existence of dyslexia | Education |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2009-01-14 |accessdate=2011-10-15}}</ref> and television appearances including GMTV, BBC1, ''BBC Breakfast'', ''Newsnight'', Channel 4, Sky and ''5 News''.
In 2006, BBC1 produced a one-hour documentary about her work in a South London "sink" school,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6170173.stm |title=UK | Magazine | A plea for extraordinary children |publisher=BBC News |date=2006-12-13 |access-date=2011-10-15}}</ref> working with 11-year-olds who had failed their SATS and gone off the rails.
In April 2007 Griggs was awarded the SMK Social Inclusion Award presented in Downing Street by Gordon Brown, patron of [http://www.smk.org.uk/ SMK], the awards charity. In May 2007 the DCSF funded Xtraordinary People's "No to Failure" project which demonstrated the need for effective support for children with dyslexia in UK schools. Their report, released in 2008, found 55% of children failing SATS to be at risk of dyslexia.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}} In September 2008, Griggs spoke at the Conservative Party Conference, highlighting the educational needs of dyslexics.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}}
==Xtraordinary People==
In 2004, Griggs formed Xtraordinary People.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xtraordinarypeople.com |title=The dyslexia website from |publisher=Xtraordinary People |accessdate=2011-10-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808161715/http://www.xtraordinarypeople.com/ |archivedate=2011-08-08 }}</ref> XP is a charitable initiative supported by famous dyslexics and leading dyslexia charities alike. Its main aim is to reframe the way people think about dyslexia, highlighting dyslexic children's talents and strengths. Xtraordinary People has been instrumental in reforming the education system, specifically campaigning for teachers to be trained to recognise and support dyslexic children's abilities and difficulties.
In March 2007, Xtraordinary People's "No to Failure" report<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xtraordinarypeople.com/news/15/Groundbreaking-Report/ |title=Dyslexia news including dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and dyscalculia |publisher=Xtraordinarypeople.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-15}}</ref> revealed that 55% of children who fail their Standard Assessment Tests (SATS) are at risk of dyslexia or specific learning difficulties (SpLD).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7295719.stm |title=UK | Dyslexia link to school failures |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-03-14 |access-date=2011-10-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7290000/newsid_7295700/7295740.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&ms3=22&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=2 |title=Player - Dyslexia link to pupil failure |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-03-14 |access-date=2011-10-15}}</ref>
In May 2008, Xtraordinary People released the "Spelling it Out" report highlighting the cost to the nation of not dealing with dyslexia. It found that £1.8bn is wasted each year that Government fails to ensure schools meet the needs of dyslexic children.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/delay-in-helping-dyslexic-pupils-costs-16318bn-a-year-829311.html |title=Delay in helping dyslexic pupils 'costs £1.8bn a year' - Education News |first=Sarah|last=Cassidy|newspaper=The Independent |date=2008-05-16 |accessdate=2011-10-15}}</ref>
Xtraordinary People called for the Government to follow the example of independent schools by investing in tried and tested dyslexia specialists, as research indicates dyslexia and Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) is one of the biggest reasons for educational failure in this country, affecting as many as one in five children. In 2008 the Government announced that Sir Jim Rose would undertake a review into how dyslexic children are being supported in schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xtraordinarypeople.com/news/28/victory/ |title=Dyslexia news including dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and dyscalculia |publisher=Xtraordinarypeople.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-15}}</ref> The report was published in June 2009 and supported the need for early identification of dyslexia and intervention by dyslexia specialists. The Government accepted the review's findings and allocated £10 million on a national program to provide 4000 dyslexia specialist teachers. They estimate one teacher to every 5 schools.
==Awards==
In April 2007 Griggs was awarded the ‘SMK Social Inclusion Award’ presented in Downing Street by Gordon Brown, patron of [http://www.smk.org.uk/ SMK], the awards charity
==Media==
In the 2005 Party Elections, Griggs stood against then Education Secretary Ruth Kelly to focus the Government's attention on how schools were failing dyslexics. The resulting media attention made a significant difference to Griggs’ campaign, affording her the opportunity to speak out on behalf of dyslexic children and their parents.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/offdiary/story/0,,1475412,00.html |title=Off diary | Society Guardian |publisher=SocietyGuardian.co.uk |date= |access-date=2011-10-15}}</ref>
In 2005, Griggs appeared on GMTV to challenge Professor Julian Elliott about his claims that dyslexia was a myth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/education/2009/jan/Is-Dyslexia-a-Myth-British-Politician-One-of-Many-Who-Say-Yes.html |title=Is Dyslexia a Myth? British Politician One of Many Who Say Yes |publisher=Findingdulcinea.com |date= |accessdate=2011-10-15 |archive-date=2011-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002201721/http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/education/2009/jan/Is-Dyslexia-a-Myth-British-Politician-One-of-Many-Who-Say-Yes.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2006, BBC1 produced a one-hour documentary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/real_story/6175933.stm |title=Programmes | Real Story | Tackling the challenge of dyslexia |publisher=BBC News |date=2006-12-13 |access-date=2011-10-15}}</ref> about her work in a South London "sink" school, working with 11-year-olds who had failed their SATS and gone off the rails. After support from the charity, all children made dramatic progress.
In January 2007, Griggs was quoted in ''The Times'' in an article about funding for Special Needs Children. In November 2007, Griggs was quoted in ''The Times'' in an article claiming that research showed that Entrepreneurs in Britain are twice as likely to be dyslexic as the general population, but are much less likely than their American counterparts In March 2008, Griggs was quoted in ''The Times'' in an article discussing the fact that half of children who fail key school tests are likely to have dyslexia or other learning difficulties.
In January 2009, Griggs was quoted in ''The Times'' and ''The Guardian'', when Graham Stringer, the Labour MP for Manchester Blackley, wrote in his column for Manchester Confidential magazine: “Dyslexia is a cruel fiction, it is no more real than the 19th-century scientific construction of ‘the aether’ to explain how light travels through a vacuum.”<ref name="guardian1"/>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Griggs, Kate}} Category:Living people Category:People from Somerset Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Dyslexia