Did You Know...
- Books and early literacy activities are among the best tools to support children with additional needs in learning language.
- Autistic children may not learn to read by following the same developmental patterns as neurotypical children and may benefit from adaptations to traditional reading programmes.
- Autistic children often present with a language delay in the early years, so reading programs need to focus on meaningful comprehension from the start.
- Traditional reading programs assume the ability to use spoken language, which can exclude non-speaking students unless adaptations are made to accommodate their needs.
Why This Workshop?
Many autistic children show an early interest in books and letters. Some enjoy activities such as matching letters, singing the alphabet song, and looking at printed words. My son, Sebastian, was no exception. From a young age, he was fascinated with letters and even spoke some letter names as his first words!
However, despite their initial interest in books and letters, between 50 to 80% of autistic children demonstrate early signs of reading difficulties once they start school.
Having supported many children, including my son, in developing early literacy skills and fostering their love of books, I want to share this information to help introduce early literacy skills successfully to autistic children.
In This Live Online 90-Minute Workshop, You Will:
- Understand the reading profile of autistic children.
- Prepare your child to become a reader.
- Discover how to promote language development alongside reading instruction.
- Gain practical tips and strategies to introduce early literacy skills successfully.
This Workshop Is For:
- Parents of autistic children who show an interest in books, letters and matching activities.
- Teachers of autistic children from 4 to 8 years of age who are struggling to learn reading in school.
- Early years educators who work with young autistic children showing a great interest in letters, numbers and matching activities.
- Early intervention professionals who want to gain a better understanding of how autistic children learn to read.
(For group bookings, please email [email protected])
3 Reasons For Introducing Early Literacy Activities
- Because we can teach language as we teach reading.
Early literacy skills can effectively promote language development, improve vocabulary, and even enhance conversational skills for many autistic children who struggle with language comprehension and expression, which can significantly impact their reading ability. - Literacy opens a world of opportunities in school and life.
Learning to read is a fundamental skill that opens up a world of opportunities for our children, both in school and in life. Poor literacy skills can create significant barriers to inclusion and adaptive functioning. While some children may become skilled readers, others may require ongoing support in reading. Regardless of the individual child's reading ability, it's essential to provide all children with additional needs with the opportunity to learn to read.
Autistic children are typically taught reading using the same programs as their neurotypical peers, but they may not learn to read by following the same developmental patterns as neurotypical children. Therefore, it's crucial for teachers and parents to understand how children with autism learn to read so that they can provide the right tools and support to help each child reach their full potential. - Good pre-literacy skills in the early years predict good literacy skills later in life.
Good pre-literacy skills in the early years strongly predict good literacy skills later in life. Research shows that 88% of children who struggle with reading at six years of age continue to experience difficulties with reading at 12 unless they receive early identification and adequate support. By offering pre-reading interventions, such as those you will learn in this workshop, during the early years, we can help children build a strong foundation for good literacy skills later in life, increasing their chances of academic success and overall well-being.
In this workshop, you will learn:
- How autistic children learn to read.
- How to prepare your child or student to become a reader.
- How to teach reading to teach language.
- How to get started with sight words.
- How to teach high-frequency words to autistic children.
- How to teach phonics to children with auditory processing difficulties.
- How to promote reading comprehension from the start.
Why Is This So Important To Me?
As an educational consultant and early intervention specialist, I have spent over 20 years supporting children with additional needs, their families, and teachers. During this time, I have seen the profound impact that reading can have on language development, and I have successfully introduced literacy skills to many children, including my autistic son.
In this workshop, I will share my knowledge and experience in teaching reading to autistic children. With small adaptations and additional resources, you can open up the opportunity for your child to become a confident reader.
I firmly believe that introducing reading at a young age can be a powerful tool in supporting language development for autistic children. If you have any questions about this workshop, please do not hesitate to contact me.
