About Illustrating What’s That On Your face

This is a lovely story written by Ashley Ide, Sturge Weber UK raised the funds to pay for the Illustrations and also to pay for the printing of this book Which will be launched at their family day at the end of October.  It has bee a long time in the making, however the final push to get this on the road has been so worthwhile.  I am very pleased with the Illustrations and also the design.  I wanted to tackle the topic of the problem with being different head on using figurative characters.  I tackled the discomfort faced by many children, and adults, when faced with a new audience and their own differences.  Birthmarks can be a difficult problem to cope with because children are, innately curious,but also quick to judge.  This book is about accepting that most people have something which makes them unique in their own way and that being human is accepting this as part of every day life.

“It is thanks to the Sturge Weber UK Charity that, through their funding, I have been able to publish this book and realise my dream.”

Ashley Ide said this but also it reflects how I feel too as this is the first whole book I have illustrated that has legitimately been published.

A bit about the why of “What’s that on your face?”

What’s that on your face? Is a children’s book that dad, Ashley Ide, has written to help children understand what birthmarks are and that it is OK for people to have them.

We are all unique in our own special ways; some people are big, small, round, thin, blind, or just have a different appearance.

“As a parent to my son Ashton, who has a bilateral port wine stain covering roughly 85% of his face, I know what it’s like on a daily basis for my son.  Especially on day trips to new places and when he first attends new places, like a new school, and this is why I chose school as a location in the book.

I feel children are naturally very curious and often just ask “What is that on your face?”  and I feel it’s just lack of education that creates stigma.  We made the effort to educate our son’s school; by encouraging his teachers to talk about differences and birthmarks so that they could explain.  We also taught our son Ashton about Sturge Weber and taught him to explain it to other children and this has been extremely effective.  Ashton has had comments but they mainly happen outside of school by children that do not understand what birthmarks are.

I feel this book would be a very useful tool for parents and teachers to help children with and without birthmarks to understand about differences and realise that not everybody is the same and that making comments can upset people.  This book has a number of main characters that are unique in their own special ways….including a very unique teacher!”

  Ashley Ide

Something About Sturge Weber UK

Sturge Weber UK

Sturge Weber UK is a voluntary support group for families and adults affected by Sturge Weber syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. The Charity was launched in 1990 by Contact a Family (CaF) in London. With the guidance of CaF,  Sturge Weber UK finally became a registered charity in January 1993.

Sturge Weber syndrome

This is a rare disorder of unknown incidence and origin; although present at birth it is NOT thought to be hereditary. Sturge Weber is usually indicated by a birthmark (port wine stain) somewhere on the face, usually involving the eye and forehead, also similar blood vessels on the brain, called an angioma. Those with Sturge Weber often suffer from epilepsy, hemiplegia (a weakness or stiffness affecting one side of the body, similar in appearance to that of a stroke), glaucoma and learning difficulties. Symptoms usually occur in the child`s first year of life.

Membership

There are no charges for those affected by Sturge Weber syndrome, their families, friends, or professionals.

Our Aims

To provide support and information on different aspects of the syndrome and to raise both public and professional awareness of the condition.

To promote medical research into the causes and treatment of this syndrome.

A Family Weekend Conference is organised every eighteen months when doctors and other professionals talk about relevant topics.

A Newsletter is produced bi-annually and information leaflets are available.

For more information contact:-

Sturge Weber UK, Burleigh, 348 Pinhoe Road, Exeter , EX4 8AF   

Tel: 01392 464675    

email: support@sturgeweber.org.uk   

www.sturgeweber.org.uk