Teaching Literacy to Students with Significant Disabilities: Strategies for the K-12 Inclusive Classroom

Teaching Literacy to Students with Significant Disabilities: Strategies for the K-12 Inclusive Classroom by June Downing (2005) offers tips and practical strategies to provide meaningful literacy experiences to students with multiple disabilities.  Each section includes key concepts, a summary, and frequently asked questions.

Table of Contents:

1. Literacy and a Free Appropriate Public Education
   • Key Concepts
   • What is Literacy?
   • Literacy and Federal Mandates in Education
   • Barriers to Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Disabilities
     • Attitudinal Barriers
     • Low Expectations
     • Limited Opportunities
     • Limited Means of Accessing Literacy
     • Limted Time
     • The Age Factor
   • Literacy and Quality-of-Life Issues
     • Self-Esteem
     • Self-Determination
     • Independence
     • Information Gathering
     • Organization
     • Learning
     • Entertainment
   • Why Teach Reading to Students with Severe Disabilities? 

2. Literacy and Communication
   • Key Concepts
   • The Relationship Between Communication and Literacy
   • Building Relationships
     • Reading Together
     • The Benefits of Play Interactions
   • Emergent Literacy for Students of All Ages
   • Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices
   • Building Shared Experiences for Literacy Development
     • Documentation of Shared Experiences
       • Drawings
       • Photograph Books
       • Tactile Books
   • Summary
   • Frequently Asked Questions

3. Planning Literacy Activities
   • ​Key Concepts
   • General Considerations
     • Literacy Rich Environments
   • Benefits of Learning in a General Education Classroom
     • Access to the Core Curriculum
     • Not Just Physical Presence
   • Identifying Literacy Goals
     • What are the Literacy Goals of the Individual and the Family?
     • Determining Present Literacy Skills
       • Analyzing the Environment and the Need for Literacy Skills
   • Identifying When Literacy Skills Can Be Taught Throughout the Day
     • Creating Literacy-Learning Opportunities for All Ages
   • Developing Literacy Materials for Individual Students
     • Age Appropriateness
     • Individual Considerations
       • Physical Considerations
       • Visual Considerations
       • Cultural Considerations
     • Interesting Materials
     • High Quality
     • Assistive Technology
       • Computer Access
   • Summary
   • Frequently Asked Questions

4. Teaching Literacy Skills
5. Evaluating Progress: Next Steps
6. The Future for Literacy Access and Instruction