Books Beyond Words

Who we are

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.