Appropriate research is key to helping dyslexia

It’s hard to describe how good Qona Rankin’s letter made me feel (DW 1 November), principally because she understands that dyslexia affects more than spelling – and includes the studio situation. It’s especially important to understand that many of our students fail to operate at their full capacity if they are taught in a sequential way because they are holistic and intuitive thinkers.

I’d like to reinforce her point about research. Because being dyslexic can make people insecure, few artists and designers fight back when entirely inappropriate research methodologies are thrust upon them drawn from the field of the social sciences and the humanities. It’s not only that there are established discourses which can be drawn from traditional practice – witness Sir Joshua Reynolds discourses – but artists and designers need to argue in favour of research strategies which make use of their holistic, visual and spatial abilities.

Jane Graves

Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design

London WCl