Team IC Works
Carl has been working with IC Works since (date tbc) to co-produce high-quality Easy Read documents.
In addition to his work for IC Works, since 2018 he has volunteered with the NCH&C Learning Disabilities team at Kelling Hospital in North Norfolk
“I like the feeling that I am helping people get their voice heard about the care they have had from NCH&C. I can understand what it feels like to be the person on the other end of the telephone and how important it is to make the questions understandable”
“Volunteering makes me happy and has helped me become more confident with people and on the telephone. Damien and Sally support me really well and help me with any questions or concerns I have. My Volunteer coordinator Wendy helped me get started and help me feel comfortable and confident about my volunteering role.
Matthew Moon - Expert by Experience
Ajini Goldwyn - Expert by Experience
IAjini Goldwyn is a vibrant and imaginative member of our team, bringing enthusiasm, creativity, and determination to all her work.
With a rich background in advocacy and outreach, Ajini contributed significantly to Harrow MENCAP’s "Speak Up Now" initiative, focusing on healthcare, employability, and boosting confidence to enter the workforce. She has also created engaging content for YouTube and completed a course with Scope to enhance her employment prospects.
Her first paid employment is with IC Works, where she continues to thrive in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Ajini has a history of working with children, particularly in arts and crafts, and is passionate about bead art, a hobby she has cherished since childhood. She is also a fluent Tamil speaker,
Ajini is a sympathetic and dedicated volunteer with solid mentoring experience, helping individuals with disabilities to build their confidence.
Ian Christie - Director
Director Ian has freelanced since 2003 and has always created content that’s accessible to all, including websites, marketing material and information.
He worked in front-line social housing in Bethnal Green, East London, for many years. Then, when he worked for Islington Council as a User Involvement Officer, he first encountered Easy Read. He used his burgeoning Easy Read skills to promote a User Experience project that he helped to set up to check and improve services for people with a learning disability in the borough.
Not long after this project he started to get more Easy Read commissions from Islington Council and NHS Islington. Setting up the first Easy Read Documents website (this is the third iteration) in the mid-aughties kickstarted this whole Easy Read shebang!
You could describe Ian as an eternal indie kid, He’s a John Peel Session veteran, played a couple of gigs for (Oasis manager) Alan McGhee at his famous Living Room gigs, and his band Khartomb’s only single, Swahili Lullaby/Teekon Warriors, originally released in 1983, was re-released in July 2024.
“An easy read expert is somebody who uses their life experience to make information accessible for people with learning disabilities and autism. I have been working as an easy read expert for IC works since 2021 and it has been a really good experience.
When I worked at Harrow Mencap as an Office Assistant I saw they used easy read and it helped me to understand their information. The job application form was easy to read, which helped me to apply, and this made me want to get involved professionally to make more information accessible. I have also worked at Harrow Civic Centre as an Office Assistant and on the reception of an NHS hospital.
When I was studying IT at college, I found the textbooks very confusing and overwhelming. I think colleges should make textbooks available in different formats so that everyone has a fair chance of gaining skills and qualifications.
My favourite part about working at IC works is that I get paid. When I got my first salary I got emotional because I achieved my dream of finding a paid job.”
“Easy Read experts are people who can look at a document that is hard to understand and make it into easy read so that anyone who reads it will say ‘WOW this is so easy to read!’
Easy Read gives people information in a way they can understand and makes sure people are included even people with learning difficulties.
I like being an Easy Read read expert because I get to help people like me and make a difference.
I have been working with IC WORKS since 2020 and I love every bit of it. The team I work with are amazing and we are all so different but we make one good team because we all learn and grow together.
It was very hard for me to find work after I left college because I do not have many qualifications. I got turned away from job after job I applied for and it made me get very down but IC WORKS does not care about grades. Being an Easy Read expert is not something you learn in school it comes from my real life experience. This is my first paid job and the perfect job for me. My voice matters.
My advice for anybody who wants to make their own Easy Read is make sure to work properly with people who have different accessibility difficulties. You must hear different opinions to get it right and make sure experts are involved from the beginning.
Do not just ask us to check your work because this is not including us properly.”
Carl Bygrave - Expert by Experience
Shaun Webster MBE - Expert by Experience
Shaun Webster MBE is a passionate advocate and public speaker, dedicated to making the world more accessible for individuals with learning disabilities. Drawing from his own experiences, Shaun speaks from the heart, aiming to break down barriers and promote inclusivity in the UK and internationally.
With extensive advocacy work, Shaun has made significant contributions through lectures, public speaking, and various advocacy groups. He has addressed diverse topics such as mental health, sexuality, health inequality, education, employment, and partnership working across health and social care.
Shaun's innovative approach to technology allowed him to tap into the digital world, ensuring his voice is heard and understood. He is featured in the book "Made Possible" and has produced short films and articles to further spread his message.
Here’s an interview with Shaun published in The Guardian, June 2020.
At IC Works, Shaun values the friendships and peer support within the team. He appreciates being listened to, respected, and the opportunity to learn new skills. Shaun is committed to genuine co-production, ensuring that their efforts go beyond just ticking a box.
Matthew Moon is a dedicated advocate and public speaker with a focus on autism awareness and inclusion.
Since 2018, Matthew has been actively involved with Sunderland People First, where he now serves as a director. His work centres on improving engagement, building trust, and fostering partnerships across various sectors of society.
Matthew’s journey began with Autism in Mind, delivering self-awareness training and hosting drop-in sessions within the autistic community. His passion for self-advocacy led him to participate in numerous conferences and public speaking events, including those for Learning Disability England and Inclusion North.
Matthew is committed to challenging preconceptions about autism, emphasising the vast diversity within the spectrum: “When you meet one person with autism, you meet one person with autism.”