National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Accessible Reading Approaches for Students with
Disabilities
Christopher Johnstone
Ann Clapper
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Goals of Session
PWBAT:
• Explain modalities
• Match Standards with themes
• Use knowledge of modalities in the teaching process
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Research StudyDetermined themes in states’ reading and language arts standards and examined variation in standards across grades and possibilities for alternative means of accessing print
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Findings
1. There are common themes in standards across states
2. These themes extend far beyond the acquisition of specific decoding skills
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Themes: State Academic Content Standards Define
Reading As: Acquisition of specific skills
Knowledge of elements or conventions in language
Interactive, thinking activity
Problem-solving tool
Catalyst for personal growth
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Examples of Specific Skills Standards (Theme 1)
• Phonemic Knowledge
• Word Recognition
• Fluency
• Literal Comprehension
• Non-phonemic Skills
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Examples of Conventions Standards (Theme 2)
• Literary Elements
• Expository Elements
• Language Conventions
• Context
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Examples of Interactive/Thinking Standards (Theme 3)
• Inferential Comprehension• Critical Analysis• Higher Order Thinking• Thinking About Reading Strategies• Reflect upon Literature• Relate to Real Life• Compare• Question• Respond
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Examples of Problem Solving Tools (Theme 4)
• Mine Information
• Organize Information
• Problem Solve
• Follow Directions
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Examples of Catalyst for Personal Growth Standards (Theme 5)
• Diverse Purposes
• Personal Growth
• Vocabulary Development
• Socialization
• Reflection: Self
• Reflection: Culture
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
What does this mean for students with disabilities?
Some students are unable to read standard print (because of blindness, visual impairment, learning disability, physical disability, concentration disability, or health impairment)
Many standards can be met by alternative routes or modalities
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Assumptions that standards can only be met via visual interaction with
print…• Have serious implications for students with
challenged ability to access print, creating barriers to learning and educational growth
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Minnesota’s Reading and Literature Strands
A. Word Recognition, Analysis, and Fluency
B. Vocabulary Expansion
C. Comprehension
D. Literature
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Alternative Ways (Modalities) to Interact
with Print Visual (look at print)
Tactile (Braille)
Auditory (listen to reader or tape)
Multi-sensory (screen reader)
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Challenge to Educators
Clarify standards to be measured – and whether alternative ways of interacting with print are consistent with those standards.
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Intersection of Modalities and Theme 1 (Specific Skills)
Visual Mode
Tactile
Mode
Auditory
Mode
Multi-Modal
Phonemic Knowledge
X X
Word Recognition
X X
Fluency X X
Literal Comprehension
X X X X
Non-phonemic skills
X X X X
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Intersection of Modalities and Theme 2 (Conventions in Language and Print)
Visual Mode
Tactile
Mode
Auditory
Mode
Multi-Modal
Literary Elements
X X X X
Expository Elements
X X X X
Language Conventions
X X X X
Context X X X X
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Intersection of Modalities and Theme 3 (Interactive/Thinking Activity)
Visual Mode
Tactile
Mode
Auditory
Mode
Multi-Modal
Inferential Comprehension
X X X X
Critical Analysis X X X X
Higher Order Thinking
X X X X
Think About Reading
X X X X
Reflect Upon Literature
X X X X
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Intersection of Modalities and Theme 3 (Interactive/Thinking Activity)
Visual Mode
Tactile
Mode
Auditory
Mode
Multi-Modal
Relate to Real Life
X X X X
Compare X X X X
Question X X X X
Respond X X X X
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Intersection of Modalities and Theme 4 (Problem-Solving Tool)
Visual Mode
Tactile
Mode
Auditory
Mode
Multi-Modal
Mine Information
X X X X
Organize Information
X X X X
Problem Solve
X X X X
Follow Directions
X X X X
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Intersection of Modalities and Theme 5(Catalyst for Personal Growth)
Visual Mode
Tactile
Mode
Auditory
Mode
Multi-Modal
Read for Diverse Purposes
X X X X
Personal Growth
X X X X
Vocabulary Development
X X X X
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Intersection of Modalities and Theme 5 (Catalyst for Personal Growth)
Visual Mode
Tactile
Mode
Auditory
Mode
Multi-Modal
Socialization into Literary Communities
X X X X
Reflection: Self
X X X X
Reflection: Culture
X X X X
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
Activities
• Case studies provide an approach to studying how we might approach a real educational issue.
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
National Accessible Reading Assessment Projects (NARAP)
Collaborative of DARA
and PARA projects
Conducting research and
development on accessible reading assessment