How to Teach the Developmentally Disabled to Read
Reading is a quality that helps an individual get through life. There are several levels at which a person can be developmentally disabled so the challenge of teaching them to read could prove to be very difficult. It is important to learn some specific techniques to help in the process.
Items Needed:
- Flash cards
- Books
- Understand the level at which the person is developmentally delayed. The more you understand about their delay then the better you can teach them to read. You may have access to the person’s learning file if you are a teacher or work in the school.
- Start teaching the person to read by introducing them to books. A person must gain interest in reading before anyone can teach them to read. Read every day to the person you are teaching and watch them slowly gain interest.
- Allow the person to read the story to you. Although the developmentally delayed person may not know how to read yet, you can still allow him or her to tell you stories.
- Slowly add new vocabulary in with the reading. Flash cards are an excellent tool to use while you are teaching anyone to read. The person can look at a picture and associate the picture with a word. You can make your own flashcards or purchase them from a store.
- Start with easy-to-read books. Many books can be evaluated by levels. This means if your student can only read at a certain level, then they should start with those books. As the person gets better with reading you can introduce harder books into the teaching session.
- Add phonics into your learning sessions as well. Some students learn well with phonics and others learn with flashcards while learning to read. Teach each developmentally delayed person in a way that will help them grow as an individual.