“The video is excellent! The content is well organized and presented with effective demonstrations with delightful learners who represented both genders and a range in age. I especially enjoyed the new games demonstrated. The presenters were very impressive and professional–Eleanor Stewart was wonderful–so poised, articulate, and lovely. I am eager to share information about this video with literacy programs that use the method, as well as others who are interested.
Congratulations on a job well done! I know how much work it was to put it all together. It is a very professional production. Thank you so much! I really appreciate this excellent presentation on the reading program that is so near and dear to me.”
- Patricia Oelwein, M.Ed. Special Education Consultant and author of Teaching Reading to Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Parents and Teachers and with Leslie Broun, Literacy Skill Development for Students with Special Learning Needs.
“Ever since I heard Leslie Broun talk at the DSRF I have been convinced that this way of teaching reading to our children with DS and other DD is the way to go. It ticks all the boxes that instinctively I have known work… is easy to do and cost effective. It engages the student with the passions we know they all have and as shown,can be such fun.I love the movement that goes with the learning… kinesthetic all the way, from moving the cards to the games.We know from the research how important this is for the learning of individuals with DS. I love the games, the clear and concise explanation by Eleanor and the staff and best of all the hard work and great reading skills shown by the students. I am looking forward to telling people about the video and continuing to tell them about the books.The video I think will encourage people by showing the ease with which the program can be done. They then can take from the great ideas shown, can read the book(s) and use their creative imaginations to ensure that their child or students have such great success in what I personally believe is the greatest life skill we need to be teaching successfully and over the lifespan… literacy!!!”
- Barbara Laird, B.Ed. Special Education Consultant, Beyond the Box Basics and 2009 winner of the Canadian National Inclusive Education award from the Canadian Association for Community Living and the British Columbia Association for Community Living in recognition of her dedication to the education system.
“This method could be tried with other learners who have language challenges; ie. refugees with no education in their own language and school leavers who have not learned to read.”
- Susan Cathcart, Coordinator, Literacy Now Burnaby