Students with Disabilities and the PRC
The PRC is intended to promote the joy of reading for every school-aged child. Some students are less able to meet the general guidelines for the Challenge but that should not stop them from being included in the PRC.
The following guidelines are pertinent to students with disabilities or learning difficulties and their participation in the Premier’s Reading Challenge:
The Premier’s Reading Challenge should be inclusive for all students who are willing to take up the challenge to read 12 books. At the teacher’s discretion, students may read more than four books not on the booklist (Reception – Year 6) or more than eight books not on the booklist (Year 7 – 9).
Students with disabilities can read books that are at an appropriate literacy level and/or use texts that have been adapted to meet their individual learning and literacy needs. This includes Braille texts, talking books, e-books, and books on tape, DVD or CD.
Students can read books at an appropriate level for their language proficiency to achieve the Premier’s Reading Challenge for their ‘own choice’ books. The challenge of reading books in other languages may appeal to students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who are learning English as a second language and those involved in First Language Maintenance and Development Programs (e.g. students with special needs, ESL students).
The PRC team wish to support Students with Disabilities to participate in the Challenge. Following are a range of resources that may be of interest to parents, caregivers, teachers and students.
Resources for Students with Disabilities
Reading with Children with Disabilities
Given the challenges students with disabilities face with language, the following links may prove to have information that you will find useful.
erringtonsec.sa.edu.au/parent-info/home-learning/ – Errington Special Education Centre – Useful links about reading (and much more)
sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/disability-and-special-needs/learning-difficulties – Learning difficulties and learning disabilities
raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/school-learning/learning-difficulties/learning-disabilities-signs-and-support – The Australian Parenting Website
ldonline.org/article/5598/ – Helping Children with Learning Disabilities Understand What They Read
dyslexia.yale.edu/resources/parents/what-parents-can-do/ten-things-to-help-your-struggling-reader/ – Ten Things to Help Your Struggling Reader
