Additional Resources on the Literacy Curriculum

For more information about the literacy curriculum

• Visit AAC at Penn State for News; as well as for resources, presentations, and on-going updates on literacy.
  
  
•  Free instructional modules are available
•  Literacy Intervention for Learners with Complex Communication Needs
•  Literacy and AAC: Letter-Sound Correspondences

• Free webcasts are available:
  • Maximizing the literacy skills of individuals who require AAC by Janice Light and David McNaughton.
  • Improving literacy outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and limited speech by Janice Light and David McNaughton.
• Visit DynaVox Mayer-Johnson, Inc. for the full curriculum including instructional materials:
  • Accessible Literacy Learning (ALL):  Evidence-based reading instruction for learners with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other disabilities by Janice Light and David McNaughton (2009).

See below for Recent Publications and Presentations.

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The ALL Curriculum

• Assessment techniques
• Instructional goals, procedures, materials, and data collection forms to teach
  • Sound blending
  • Phoneme segmentation
  • Letter-sound correspondences
  • Decoding
  • Shared book reading
  • Sight word recognition
  • Reading sentences and simple stories
  • Reading comprehension
• Research evidence of the effectiveness
• Case examples
• Trouble shooting procedures
• Next steps in literacy instruction

The ALL curriculum is available in two formats

• Print version
• Software version (coming soon) 

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Additional information on literacy and learners with complex communication needs

For general information on literacy and learners who have complex communication needs:

• Click for a downloadable PDF of references on literacy and AAC.

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Recent Publications and Presentations

Light, J. & McNaughton, D. (2012). Literacy intervention for individuals with complex communication needs. In D. Beukelman & P. Mirenda (Eds.) Augmentative and alternative communication: Supporting children and adults with complex communication needs. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

Light, J. (2012, March).  Improving Literacy Outcomes for Students with Complex Communication Needs.  Presentation at Pennsylvania Department of Education Annual Conference, Hershey, PA.  [Handout]

Light, J. & McNaughton, D. (2009). Meeting the demands of the curriculum for conventional and advanced readers and writers who require AAC. In G. Soto & C. Zangari (Eds.), Practically speaking: Language, literacy, and academic development for students with AAC needs. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Co.(Link)

Light, J. & McNaughton, D. (November, 2010). Evidence-based literacy intervention for individuals with autism. Presenation at the American Speech and Hearing Association, Phildelphia, PA. (Handout)

Light, J., McNaughton, D., Weyer, M., & Karg, L. (2008). Evidence-based literacy instruction for individuals who require augmentative and alternative communication: A case study of a student with multiple disabilities. Seminars in Speech and Language, 29, 120-32.(Abstract)

McNaughton, D. & Light, J. (September, 2009). Literacy program produces exciting results for children who struggle with speech. Exceptional Parent - OnLine  (Article).

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