Comprehensive Literacy for All Book Study - Register Closed for 2023-2024!

• Discover 10 success factors for helping students with significant disabilities become literate
• Teach emergent readers and writers skillfully, with evidence-based strategies for shared and independent reading, early writing instruction, and alphabetic and phonological awareness
• Help students acquire conventional literacy skills, with adaptable strategies for teaching reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing, decoding, and spelling
• Organize and deliver comprehensive literacy instruction in a variety of settings, both inside and outside of school
• Use assistive technology effectively to support reading, writing, and communication
• Engage and motivate students and make literacy instruction meaningful to their everyday lives

This book study will be coordinated by Elisa Wern.  Elisa Wern is an Occupational Therapist, with a Master’s Degree in Special Education, and a RESNA Certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) with over 20 years of experience in pediatric therapy. She presents at a variety of state and national conferences including regional trainings, CEC, PATINS A2E, and ATIA, OTAP/ECHO TIES Project, and AAC in the Cloud. She is the Local Assistive Technology Specialist for Alachua County Schools in Gainesville, Florida, where she coordinates AT services for the district and serves as the Lead Occupational Therapist. In her spare work time, she has a private practice, AT & OT Consulting and Coaching, supporting students and families primarily through teletherapy evaluations, consultations, and interventions. She coordinates the International book study on Comprehensive Literacy for All online presently.

Who is Eligible to Participate?

Up to 35 people may participate in this book study.  Individuals who may participate include:

• Special Education Teachers
• General Education Teachers
• Early Childhood Teachers / Early Interventionists
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Occupational Therapists / Occupational Therapist Assistants
• Physical Therapists / Physical Therapist Assistants
• Assistive Technology Specialists
• Special Education Directors
• Coaches / Facilitators
• Others who work with children/students receiving special education services.

What will AAC Literacy Book Study Participants Be Expected to Do?

• Attend monthly meetings to discuss the chapter of the book.
• Read the assigned chapters in advance of each monthly meeting.
• Optional - Participate in the online discussions and access resources in Canvas between monthly meetings.
• Make an action plan of next steps based on what is learned from the book. 

What Benefits and Resources will AAC Literacy Book Study Participants Receive?

• The first 20 Nebraskan registrants will receive a free copy of the Comprehensive Literacy for All: Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities to Read and Write by Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver.
• Participants will have opportunities to dive into the content of the book and network with each other about the content of the book.
• Recognition as a completer of the 2023-2024 AAC Literacy Book Study through digital badging, letters to administrators, press releases, social media, and certificates.

When will the AAC Literacy Book Study Activities Occur?

The AAC Literacy Book Study group will meet monthly via Zoom.  Opportunities to access resources and asynchronous discussion will be available via Canvas.  The first meeting will be in Mid-September.  The remaining meetings will be set by the Book Study Lead and the members of the book study.  

How do I Register?

Registration for the AAC Literacy Book Study is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Registration is closed for the 2023-2024 Book Study.