Skill Characteristics - Intellectual Disabilities

"Literacy is more than learning to read, write and spell proficiently. It is learning to enjoy words and stories when someone else is reading them. It is learning to love books and all the worlds that can be opened by books. It is a way of achieving social closeness through sharing literacy experiences with friends or classmates. It is finding out about the way things are in places we have never visited or in places that have never existed. If we understand that literacy is all of these things and more, we can also understand that everyone can achieve some degree of literacy if given opportunities and exposure...The notions that children (and adults) are too physically, too cognitively or too communicatively disabled to benefit from experiences with written language are not supported by current emergent literacy research!"²⁹

According to SARC (Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres), there are significant benefits to learners with intellectual disabilities when they are enrolled in literacy programs:

• Learners see the positive impact improving their literacy skills has made to their lives. They feel extremely positive about being in literacy programs.
• People with intellectual/developmental disabilities are more readily accepted by their peers when they are literate.
• Increased competency in literacy is linked with increased expectations and opportunities for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
• Critical thinking skills can be improved through building literacy skills. Adults with developmental disabilities are better able to become effective self-advocates and active citizens.
• Employment possibilities increase with improved literacy skills. However, obtaining employment may not be possible or easy for all with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Boosting literacy skills and self-esteem do make community living easier and potentially more successful.³⁰