Literacy and Children Who Are Blind and Who Have Additional Disabilities—the challenges for teachers and researchers
This paper considers the challenges that confront teachers wishing to develop literacy skills in children with complex needs and the issues which face those wishing to research this area. The article is
based upon work undertaken by the authors in the United Kingdom into the use of the Moon tactile code to provide access to literacy for children who are blind and who have additional disabilities. Moon
has become established as an option for developing the literacy of children who are blind in the UK and it has been estimated that around 100 children are using Moon in their schoolwork. A general overview
of the use of Moon by children in the UK is reported upon in McCall and McLinden (2001) and a full report of the Moon research project and its outcomes can be found in McCall (2000). Here the authors reflect
on some of the challenges that have emerged during their 10 years of investigation in this area. The reflections are presented under four broad headings: "Resourcing Literacy," "Defining the Population,"
"Defining Literacy," and "Evaluating Literacy." Each of these headings represents a cluster of issues that the authors consider that those with an interest in the development of literacy for children with
complex educational needs will need to address.
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 December 2001
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