Qualitative stories garnered from six students with mental retardation and published autobiographical and biographical stories by people with disabilities or their parents are used as a "research synthesis" to describe an intimate, caring relationship which is of central importance when constructing a non-traditional approach to literacy that…

Provides a brief history of the use of metaphor and its potential usefulness with children. Describes eight strategies for using metaphors with children, offers a systematic approach for constructing interwoven metaphors for children, supplies a case example, and lists some of the limitations of metaphorical language in counseling. (RJM)

Symbol shelves are tools for developing two-way communication with multihandicapped children who can anticipate events, but who do not respond to speech or sign language. The purpose of symbol shelves is to allow children to be expressive through symbols, to enable them to feel some sense of control, and to serve as a bridge to a more formal…