Although your child may not be talking yet, may have limited speech and/or may be using AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) such as signs, pictures or a device, that does not mean that they can not learn to read. Effective reading instruction for children who are pre-verbal includes the same literacy building blocks as children who are verbal, with some modifications in how the children demonstrate acquisition of the skills. Important literacy building blocks include phonological awareness, sound-letter correspondence, and vocabulary.
Differences for Pre-Verbal Children
Detailed information about teaching pre-verbal children and children using AAC to read, along with videos of children learning a variety of reading skills, can be found here. In summary, modifications to reading programs that help such children learn to read include:
