A hugely valuable resource containing lots of information and practical advice on how to implement the teaching of literacy for students with significant disabilities.

Grounded in the belief that all students can learn to read and write print, this book is a thorough yet practical guide for teaching students with significant disabilities. It explains how to provide comprehensive literacy instruction addressing these students' needs, whether they are emergent readers and writers or students acquiring conventional literacy skills. General and special educators, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals will find concise research synopses and theoretical frameworks, practical lesson formats, guidance on incorporating assessment and using assistive technology, and more.

This site provides information about comprehensive literacy instruction with a focus on students with complex communication needs and significant disabilities. The aim of the site is to provide information and resources which will help in your classrooms.

The Center’s mission is to promote literacy and communication for individuals of all ages with disabilities. It is the belief of the CLDS that disabilities are only one of many factors that influence an individuals ability to learn to read and write and to use print throughout their life and across their living environments. All individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, have the right to an opportunity to learn to read and write in order to increase and enhance their educational opportunities, vocational success, communicative competence, self-empowerment capabilities, and independence.

The primary goals of Project Core are two-fold:

1. Empower teachers and classroom professionals to deliver access to a Universal Core vocabulary and communication instruction during the naturally occurring academic and daily routines of the school day.

2. Improve the academic achievement of students with significant cognitive disabilities as evidenced by gains in their communication and literacy skills, and ultimately in their end-of-year assessments.

An interesting paper discussing the importance and practical aspects of teaching literacy to students with significant disabilities and AAC users.

David Koppenhaver’s Literacy & Disability website.

Research and evidence from The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

The purpose of this web site is to provide information and strategies for teachers who want to learn more about literacy and communication instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Designed for teachers in Alberta but invaluable to all.

A website full of free books and resources to use with emergent readers with significant disabilities of all ages

A tool to provide access to literacy materials for students with multiple disabilities, including those with cortical or cerebral visual impairments (CVI).

Ideas for immersive sensory storytelling