Emmajean Quinn

Quinn’s innovative teaching idea, “LiterAACy,” is focused on allowing students who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to communicate and have multiple learning needs, to experience and study literacy skills through multisensory books and magazines. The students, who do not come to school with the same language and literacy experiences as their peers, will have the opportunity to experience books that not only have words but also have the picture symbols they use in them as well. Often times, their experiences have been around medical or therapeutic activities. Many students have had limited experiences or exposure with listening to stories, songs and/or books. To allow all the students to engage in reading one of the adapted books, there would be several versions of the books created including digital versions, simplified text versions, story box versions with tactile props and picture symbol paired with written word versions. This library would allow students with significant disabilities, the capability to freely choose from a variety of books to read, and interact with or listen to beyond the standard one or two within the classroom library.