How to Teach Adults With Disabilities to Read Signs

Adults with disabilities demonstrate a wide variety of reading skills. While some adults may not fluently read all material, they can find value and meaning in learning to interpret survival signs found in the community. Survival signs include informational, warning and safety signs that can be found indoors or outdoors. Learning to read signs requires memorizing words and pictures. Teaching signs can be done by using a combination of flashcards and real-life instruction in the community. Helping adults with disabilities to read and understand such signs keeps them safe and actively involved in their neighborhoods.

Things You'll Need

  • Set of survival sign flashcards
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine what signs have meaning to the individual. Talk to the person who is learning the signs and make a list of the most important ones.

    • 2

      Choose 5 to 10 signs to begin memorizing first.

    • 3

      Use flashcards to introduce and memorize the signs. Discuss the meaning of each word, symbol and colors used. Talk about where each sign may be located.

    • 4

      Visit facilities frequently used by the individual and locate the signs that were introduced.

    • 5

      Observe other people using the signs in each establishment. Discuss why the signs are located in each place and their purpose. Note the words, symbols, and colors on the signs.

    • 6

      Generalize the signs with the individual. Some signs have the same meaning, but are pictured another way in different locations. For example, men's and women's restroom signs may be displayed with different colors, symbols or wording in each location.

    • 7

      Introduce 5 to 10 new signs after the individual is confident using the first set of signs.

    • 8

      Repeat previous steps as needed until all survival signs are reasonably memorized.

EduJourney © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved