Literacy is one area where kids on the autism spectrum usually struggle. Even if they are wonderful readers, the other skills: comprehension, analysis and generalization of themes, rarely develop. The Center for Engaging Autism is dedicated to addressing this issue since we all know how pivotal literacy is to academic and lifelong success. Attend one of our innovative parent workshops on how you can develop the literacy skills your child on the spectrum needs to be successful. Research shows us that when addressed early, before reading even begins, these skills can be developed. Keep watching this blog as we post the latest research, strategies and curriculum to promote literacy in children of all abilities!
February 1, 2013 at 1:26 am
The workshops will show how parents can actually improve future literacy outcomes through shared book reading which is fun for both parents and children.
March 3, 2013 at 4:52 am
I believe that as soon as we start reading with very very young children-just as we start the labeling activities in baby books (this is a fork)- we could say a bit more -(and we use it for eating)-to avoid things from getting encoded in isolation.
(this is rain-it helps the flowers grow…)-not just how things look but also what they can do.
The key may be in ever so gently using everyday opportunities to expand skills and add an element of comprehension, linking it to previous knowledge and creating more generalizeable information that makes sense.
When dealing with people and social situations-it is probably just as important to explain that when a person leaves it is customary to say goodbye than to teach the actual waving/saying goodbye.
And when someone is upset in a movie-explain why.
And when we as parents get upset-also explain
I think in the long run that can help our kids start drawing their own conclusions-and then they’ll ask us themselves (and it will be totally self generated :-), ) to PLEASE stop explaining
For school age children, many of the regular/non autism specific reading tools that help with inferencing and with general reading comprehension can be used I think.
March 3, 2013 at 11:17 pm
You would really like attending one of our Literacy workshops. Very soon, we’ll have them open to the public. There we explore how books are powerful tools for social engagement, and also how we can combine the latest research on literacy and autism to fully support kids on the spectrum in their emerging literacy skills. It’s all very exciting!