About the Course 

Learn how to make reading and writing accessible for students with complex communication needs and physical disabilities. This course offers practical, research-based strategies from the book Comprehensive Literacy for All: Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities to Read and Write.  Low & high tech tools to support emergent readers and writers are explored—including alternative pencils, eye gaze boards, and AAC.  Aligned with K–2 ELA standards, it’s perfect for educators, paras, and families ready to help every student find their voice.

About Us

At the Special Education Technology Center (SETC), we’re a team of educators, SLPs, and OTs who believe every student can be a reader and writer—with the right tools, strategies and instruction. We created this course because we’re passionate about helping students with disabilities access literacy in ways that work for them. Through training, coaching, and our AT lending library, we partner with families and schools to reduce barriers and make learning meaningful, inclusive, and empowering for all.

Course Curriculum

8 Chapters · 55 Lessons

  1. 1

    Course Introduction

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome & Overview of the Course

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Course Navigation Tips & Clock Hour Information

  2. 2

    Universal Tools and Strategies

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter One: Introduction & Learning Objectives

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Foundational Techniques for Students with Complex Communication Needs

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Universal Tools for Literacy Instruction

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Universal Strategies: Wait Time, Honoring Autonomy & Teaching Inner Voice

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Universal Strategies: PAS, Listening for Words & Sounds, Literacy Menus

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Universal Strategies: AAC & Comprehension and Vocabulary, Identifying First Letter & Sounds

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Universal Strategies: Syllable Work, Scaffolding Instruction

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Universal Strategies: Explicit Instruction

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Student Engagement & Teaching vs. Testing

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Resources: Universal Tools & Strategies

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Personal Reflection Opportunity

  3. 3

    ASHA CEUs & CLOCK HOURS ONLY: Universal Strategies Assignment Options-CHOOSE ONE

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      ASHA CEUs & CLOCK HOURS ONLY: Universal Strategies Assignment Options

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Universal Strategies: Assignment Option A

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Universal Strategies: Assignment Option B

  4. 4

    Alphabet Knowledge & Phonological Awareness

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter 2: Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Explicit Instruction on Alphabet Knowledge & Phonological Awareness

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Teaching vs. Testing: A Critical Distinction

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Recognizing and Writing Letters

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Resources for Teaching Alphabet Knowledge and Phonemic Awareness

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Cycle Approach to Letter Knowledge & Phonological Awareness: Cycles 1-3

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Cycle Approach to Letter Knowledge & Phonological Awareness: Cycles 4-6

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Cycle Approach to Letter Knowledge & Phonological Awareness: Resource Tools

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Additional Materials & Strategies

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Related Common Core English Language Arts Standards K-2nd Grade

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      ASHA CEUs & CLOCK HOURS ONLY -Chapter 2 Quiz: Alphabet Knowledge & Phonological Awareness

  5. 5

    Emergent Reading

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter 3: Emergent Reading: Building the Foundation for All Learners

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Shared Reading: Engaging Emergent Readers through Interaction

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Self-Selected Reading – Empowering Student Choice in Literacy

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Re-Reading – Building Comprehension Through Repetition

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Building Background Knowledge with Anchor, Read, Apply

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Developing Emergent Literacy Skills

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Related Common Core English Language Arts Standards K-2nd Grade

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      ASHA CEUs & CLOCK HOURS ONLY - Chapter 3 Quiz: Emergent Reading

  6. 6

    Emergent Writing – Unlocking Expression for All Learners

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter 4: Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Introduction to Emergent Writing

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Predictable Path Toward Writing

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Using an Alternative Pencil for Writing

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Using Low-Tech Eye Gaze Boards for Writing

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Spelling on High Tech - Keyboards & Phonetic Keyboards

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Celebrating Student Writing

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Writing Implementation Ideas

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Pairing Writing With Picture Reference

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Predictable Chart Writing

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Emergent Writing Goals

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Personal Reflection Opportunity

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Related Common Core English Language Arts Standards K-2nd Grade

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      ASHA CEUs & CLOCK HOURS ONLY - Chapter 4 Quiz - Emergent Writers

  7. 7

    ASHA CEUs & CLOCK HOURS ONLY - Final Quiz & Assignment

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      ASHA CEUs & CLOCK HOURS ONLY - Informal Assessment

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Assignment 1/1 (ASHA CEUs & Clock Hour Only)

  8. 8

    Appendix: Resources and Research

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter One: Resources & Research

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Two: Resources & Research

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Three: Resources & Research

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Chapter Four: Resources & Research

Ready to make literacy possible for every student? Enroll now!

Begin Unlocking Literacy for All Learners Today!

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