Paddington Co-Screenwriter: Dyslexia Should Not Be a Barrier

The co-screenwriter of the most recent Paddington film has asserted that dyslexia ought not to impede individuals. James Lamont, who co-authored *Paddington In Peru*, the recently launched third installment in the series, lives with dyslexia. He conveyed that with appropriate assistance, young individuals experiencing this learning difficulty are capable of achieving their aspirations. Speaking to BBC London, Mr. Lamont stated, “It’s a different way of learning and once you have those tools, you can learn just as well as anybody else.” He further added, “Once that difference is recognised and supported, they can do anything – they can write movies if they want.” Mr. Lamont, a native of Essex, elaborated, “When I was a kid, I had lots of trouble reading, I had lots of trouble spelling very simple words.” He continued, “And that was something that I dealt with at the time. But as I went on, you realise that those skills don’t stop you being creative or stop you being able to get your ideas across on a page.” He also mentioned, “That is something that I say to a lot of the kids at my children’s school – ‘does a writer need to know how to spell?'” He reiterated, “Dyslexia – it shouldn’t hold you back if you have the correct support.” He further explained, “It’s a different way of learning and once you have those tools, you can learn just as well as anybody else.” Mr. Lamont urged parents who suspect their child may have dyslexia to pursue an assessment and provide assistance for their learning journey. He stated, “I would give them confidence that it is not going to hold them back and it is not going to affect their life in a negative way.” Mr. Lamont disclosed that he benefited from substantial assistance during his childhood, including individualized tuition, which enabled him to adopt an alternative approach to learning. He also mentioned, “Thankfully I have a very helpful writing partner who does most of the proof reading.” The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) reports that dyslexia is a learning difficulty impacting approximately one in 10 individuals in the UK, encompassing both adults and children. Individuals with dyslexia may encounter challenges with reading, writing, or spelling. This condition does not impact intelligence and is neither a disease nor an illness; rather, it is a congenital trait. Charitable organizations, such as the BDA, are available to provide guidance for individuals interested in ascertaining whether they might have dyslexia. For more content, listeners can access the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.