Using Technology to Support Balanced Literacy for Students with Significant Disabilities

This article provides a framework for designing balanced literacy instruction for individuals with significant needs. A balanced literacy approach consists of instruction in word work, reading, and writing. It is critical to realize that balanced literacy ties closely to communication. The authors promote utilizing a before, during, and after instructional framework for thinking about instructional activities to provide comprehensive exposure and promote generalization of literacy skills. Literacy skills support students in gaining access to academic curriculum, greater participation in the community, fuller social relationships, and more independent living. The authors discuss strategies for incorporating a variety of technological tools into the daily literacy instruction. Examples and resources are presented throughout the article to provide practical solutions. (Contains 2 tables and 8 figures.)