Topic: Helping Readers with Special Needs

About Our Expert:
For the past nine years, Cherie Takemoto has served as executive director of PEATC, Virginia's parent support, training and information center. Much of Takemoto's work at PEATC has focused on building partnerships to address the myriad of problems that families of children with disabilities face — especially families without the knowledge or resources it often takes to build a successful life for our most vulnerable children. "The key to success for children with disabilities is partnerships between parents, schools and communities." Takemoto says.

Question 1:
I'm a second grade teacher. I recently had a child transfer to my class who is still struggling to learn the alphabet. Do you have some suggestions of activities to include him in our regular reading lessons?
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Question 2:
Hello, I am a parent of third grader who struggles with reading. She loves art and science, but isn't as motivated to read. Do you have any ideas on how I might use her strengths in art and science to help her in reading?
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Question 3:
My first grade son's birthday is coming up and I was wondering if you might suggest some fun materials/items that might support him in reading? His teachers say he is a little behind.
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Question 4:
Hi!
I'm wondering if you can suggest helpful hints on how to get my second grade son to better enjoy reading. He's quite a bit behind the rest of his class without any apparent "need" (as far as his school teachers are concerned) for extra help, and his other subject areas are fine...so far. It's been a vicious circle that has led to his inferior reading skills — first, he'd much rather play than read, so he doesn't read often enough; second, because he doesn't read often enough, he struggles; third, because he struggles, he doesn't like to read — and the cycle starts all over. I've tried pleading, praising, awarding, punishing...he hates to read.

He starts 3rd grade next year, and I'm very concerned that his inferior reading skills will hinder the rest of his subjects. Also, my concerns do not seem to be important to the teachers that I've voiced them too; I get "He's fine." Any helpful hints on how to get my point across more firmly and make something cooperative happen between my son, his school, and me? I believe that my son is more than capable of developing better skills — so long as we can get to work on it now — I just haven't found a way to entice him. I would appreciate any hints you may give.
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Question 5:
Hello Cherie,
I have a question related to web-based outreach for people with special needs. I worked at the U. S. Postal Service, making their Intranet web content accessible to the visually impaired. Does RIF or PEATC have any special outreach programs that could be augmented by making such resources available to the visually impaired over the Internet? I'm asking because I'd like to work making web content compliant with section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I have experience in this area, and would find making such a contribution fulfilling.
Thanks for reading,
George
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