The ability to read promotes academic success and serves as an essential prerequisite skill for many postsecondary opportunities. However, developing proficient reading skills is particularly difficult for many individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Reading is an important life skill for all individuals,…

In the past 2 decades, researchers (often working closely with parents, teachers, and other school staff members) have conducted studies that have substantially increased understanding how to effectively teach children and adolescents with intellectual disability (ID) to read. This research focus has been fueled by increased societal expectations…

Reviews of the research on literacy for students with moderate intellectual disability indicated that sight-word instruction continues to be their primary mode of reading instruction. Reported in this article are data supporting the Sight-Word Component of the larger Integrated Literacy Curriculum for Students with Moderate to Severe Intellectual…

The following insights into the reading skills of 312 participants in adult basic and secondary education programs are based on a principal components analysis of reading components' contributions to variance in reading comprehension. Overall, 75% of variance was explained by four composite variables representing word skills, language…

The authors reviewed studies on teaching reading comprehension to students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with a focus on text (academic reading) comprehension and sight word (functional) comprehension. Eleven of 754 studies met the inclusion criteria: participants with ASD, published in English in a peer-reviewed journal, and use of an…

Two special needs adults with speech disorders were taught to read functional vocabulary and short phrases/sentences with strategies involving listening, demonstration of community contexts, word meaning drills, beginning sound identification and shaping, prompting, correct pronunciation, and teacher encouragement. Large increases in correct word…

Discusses practical strategies reading teachers may employ in dealing with state-mandated minimal reading requirements. Includes cautions and suggestions for dealing with test limitations. (TJ)

The study of reading in restricted contexts ultimately short changes children. The continuous proliferation of research data results in teacher training courses that are overloaded with marginally relevant material. A vast number of "teachable skills" are isolated, and well-meaning publishers produce sophisticated but unnecessary materials;…

Reviews Laura Zirbes' long career with particular emphasis on her theories of progressive reading instruction. Suggests that she is a neglected but important figure in modern education. Examines the implications of Zirbes' work for contemporary progressive education. (DR)

Reports a series of experiments on the difficulty of reading and following instructions and describes activities used to help children who were poor readers learn to read instructions for specific purposes. (GT)

Presented is a discussion--based upon a small-scale survey of the reading needs of adults--of the importance of teaching reading to the learning disabled and those with less severe learning and reading difficulties. (DLS)

Describes the kinds of reading needs foreign students meet in college and in situations in daily life; offers practical teaching tips, such as providing instruction in word analysis, sentence structure analysis, study skills, skimming and scanning, and critical reading. (MKM)

Tips for helping children develop skills in reading directories, timetables, maps, signs, newspapers, credit forms, and consumer information. (SJL)

Suggestions from readers include a list of 144 practical things to read, and ways to use sustained silent reading in the secondary school classroom. (MKM)

Children who fail to become fluent readers by the end of the primary grades are likely to achieve below same-age peers throughout their school careers. With growing use of curriculum-based measures (CBMs), it is easier to identify those students who are achieving below same-age peers. Moreover, a process of conducting individualized assessment and…