2026 TASH Conference

In recent years, research has emerged in support of structured literacy, which involves systemic, explicit, and cumulative instruction in the components of reading. While some children will learn to read proficiently with mere exposure to literature, many children need direct instruction that breaks down the steps in reading in order to become proficient in literacy. While structured literacy programs are expanding access to literacy in many classrooms, some barriers remain. Literacy curricula, most of which is designed with typically developing students or students with learning disabilities in mind, remains inaccessible for many students with additional needs. Too often, educators wrongly assume that students with more significant disabilities are incapable of literacy. This assumption becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, as these students are denied access to quality reading instruction and adapted literacy resources. However, given the right set of tools and creative instruction, many students defy these low expectations and show that they are capable of literacy (Erickson & Koppenhaver, 2020). Visual Phonics is a strategy that can be used to support all students who are struggling with early literacy skills. In this system, each phoneme is paired with a unique hand gesture, providing an additional way for students to distinguish phonemes and connect phonemes to graphemes. The system was originally designed for Deaf students, allowing them to match graphemes with gestures representing spoken sounds. However, Visual Phonics can also support hearing students as they learn to read. The gestures add an additional kinesthetic element to help solidify the connections between letters and sounds, while providing a way for students with communication needs to participate nonverbally during literacy instruction. Because Visual Phonics is applicable for so many students, it can be used either as an intervention for struggling readers or added to the general education phonics curriculum to make instruction more effective and accessible for a wider range of students. Visual Phonics can support a wide range of students, including those with limited hearing, nonspeaking students who use AAC, and students with other extensive support needs, making it a way to broaden access to high-quality literacy instruction in inclusive classrooms.