by Cassandra Stafford, MS, SLP/L, ATP (speech-language pathologist and assistive technology professional); NWACS board member

reading time: 3 minutes

The views expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of NWACS. No endorsement by NWACS is implied regarding any device, manufacturer, resource, or strategy mentioned.

All means all. What do we mean by that? ‘All means all’ means that every person, no matter how disabled, has the right to the opportunity to learn. Has the right to appropriate instruction designed to their needs. ‘All means all’ means that we do everything we can to provide effective instruction and opportunities for learning. 

We have no way of knowing for sure who will be able to learn what (and to what extent). I do not ever want to be the obstacle holding someone back from their full potential. They have the right to the opportunity to learn. They have the right to accessible and appropriate instruction.

A friend and colleague shared a story with me about an AAC user she supported. He was highly motivated to learn to read and write. He worked hard for many years trying to learn. While he was frustrated that he never achieved the skill level he wanted, he did learn and make progress. He learned enough to express himself through poetry he wrote. He didn’t have perfect spelling or write full, grammatically correct sentences. But he had the power to express himself through the written word!

Another AAC user my friend supported was similar in many ways to the gentleman in the previous story. Both diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Both in power wheelchairs. Both needed daily care support. Both nonspeaking, full-time AAC users. Both used high-tech AAC devices (even used similar devices). This second gentleman writes and shares presentations for his own small business. He was able to progress further in his literacy journey. 

No one would have been able to predict the outcomes for either gentleman. And both deserved the opportunity to learn to read and write. Both benefited from the opportunity to learn to read and write.

This year, NWACS is delving into the Literacy Bill of Rights as part of our theme for 2024: AAC and Literacy. Literacy right #6 is the right to have teachers and other service providers who are knowledgeable about literacy instruction methods and principles.

• Methods include but are not limited to instruction, assessment, and the technologies required to make literacy accessible to individuals with disabilities.

• Principles include, but are not limited to, the beliefs that literacy is learned across places and time, and no person is too disabled to benefit from literacy learning opportunities.

Providers who are knowledgeable about literacy instruction. What do we need to know to be knowledgeable about literacy instruction? The good news is that we have decades of evidence from multiple disciplines to inform our instruction!

Disability doesn’t change what a learner needs to be taught.

The WHAT of literacy instruction is the same for all learners, including those with diverse needs. It is in the HOW that we modify to accommodate the needs of disabled learners. Modify our instruction and/or modify how disabled learners show their understanding and skills.

In the next two posts, we will take a look at the science of reading and writing. This compilation of research and evidence outlines what we currently know about how people best learn to read and write. This information serves as our guideposts as we take on the important work of providing literacy instruction for all.

The Science of Reading is for Everyone

The Science of Writing is for Everyone

AAC and Literacy resources

Ready to take next steps? NWACS has a collection of information and resources related to literacy development and instruction for complex communicators and AAC users! Dive in and start exploring here!

We all play a role in supporting literacy development! What is one step you can take to level up your support?

Related posts:

Literacy Bill of Rights #1: The Rights to an Opportunity to Learn to Read and Write

Using Shared Reading to Support Literacy Right #3

Let’s Talk AAC: Using Shared Writing to Support Literacy Development