Product Description

• Early communication and language — the ability to communicate, speak and listen with understanding
• Concepts — understandings, formed through experience, that give meaning to language the child learns
• Skills needed for learning through touch and for reading braille
• Knowledge about written language — including awareness of the ways print and braille are used, knowledge of print and braille conventions, and the relationship of letters and letter-sounds

This handbook contains extensive information on selecting and reading aloud from appropriate books and providing children opportunities to use the tools for writing in braille or print.

Opportunities to develop early literacy skills are important for all children. Although portions of the On the Way to Literacy handbook focus on the future braille reader, a great deal of the information is appropriate for a child who will read print. Approaches and activities are adaptable for older children, for those with additional disabilities, including children who may use another means of communicating, such as a symbol communication system. Appendices list additional sources of information to help readers meet each child’s unique and changing needs.