Reach Out and Read Different Stories: Developmental Differences and Reading Aloud
Apr 1, 2021
Dr. Monica Altman, a leading pediatrician at Tufts, and award-winning author Sally J. Pla explore the transformative power of reading for children with developmental differences. They discuss practical strategies for adapting stories for sensory impairments and how reading fosters deeper family connections. Sally shares her insights on authentically portraying neurodiverse characters and emphasizes the importance of balance in representation. Together, they highlight the significance of empathy and understanding in both storytelling and nurturing young readers.
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Start Early And Build On Strengths
- Start reading early and use shared reading to build attachment, language, motor skills, and cognition.
- Tailor interactions to a child's strengths and deficits to support long-term development.
Adapt Books To Sensory Needs
- Use tactile or visual adaptations when sensory or sensory loss limits access to print, like Velcro shapes or finger-tracking for future braille readers.
- Pointing, eye contact, sign language, and lip-reading help children with hearing differences engage with stories.
Modeling Reading To Overcome Parental Literacy Fears
- Dr. Altman described a father who said he and his wife had learning disabilities and never read to their language-delayed son.
- She modeled storytelling from pictures and the child sat entranced, giving the parents confidence to begin reading without reading the words.
