Adapted Books for Autism and Special Education
In the world of education, making educational materials accessible and engaging for special education students at different levels can be a struggle. But there is a great way to support new skills that don’t necessarily require traditional books and cover basic concepts that can also be adapted to more complex ones.
This powerful tool I’m referring to is adapted books.
Adapted books are great for many different types of learners.
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These specially designed resources simplify reading at various skill levels and also cater to a wide range of special needs. They make core curriculum subjects more accessible and enjoyable for learners with autism spectrum disorders.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into all things adapted books and show you exactly why we think using these resources in your classroom are a must!
What are Adapted Books?
Adapted books are specially crafted educational materials designed to support diverse learners, particularly those with cognitive or developmental challenges such as autism.
They are books that focus on a specific skill and are made to be interactive. They have tactile pieces for the students to use.
On each page, the students have to move a piece, so it requires a higher level of active engagement for your students to learn. This engagement keeps students on track with learning targets, helps maintain attention, and is a great way for students to both follow interests, and explore new learning concepts.
They are characterized by:
Simplified Reading
Adapted books use simplified language and visual supports to make complex curriculum content more understandable for students with autism. This accessibility is crucial in ensuring that all learners have equitable access to educational material. Students with special needs require enhanced literacy skills instruction and these books provide that.
Support for Various Learners
They are versatile in their application, catering not only to students with autism but also to those with other learning disabilities or difficulties. The adaptability of these materials allows teachers to use them across different settings and with diverse populations. If you have a student with expressive language concerns, or even social skills deficits, adapted books can help.
Multifaceted Learning Opportunities
Beyond improving reading skills, adapted books can target a wide array of educational objectives such as vocabulary building, reading comprehension, math skills, social studies, life skills, and even science topics! They serve as comprehensive tools that can cover a bunch of curriculum targets.
Tactile or Hands-On Elements
Many adapted books incorporate tactile elements such as textured pages, moveable parts, and interactive elements. These hands-on elements not only enhance engagement, but also cater to the sensory needs often associated with autism. Of course, you do have the option to use digital versions, as well which can be equally beneficial in many ways.
Why Do Adapted Books Work So Well with Students with Autism?
Adapted books are a valuable resource and particularly effective for students with autism for some key reasons:
Visual Support
Visual learning is often a strength for children with autism. Adapted books capitalize on this skill by using visual cues like pictures, symbols, or color coding to reinforce concepts and aid comprehension.
Repetitive Structure
Many adaptive books employ a repetitive or predictable structure, which helps provide a sense of familiarity and reduces anxiety for students with autism. This predictability can enhance learning outcomes by creating a structured environment in an interactive way.
Hands-On Interaction
The interactive nature of adapted books encourages active participation through the learning materials. Students can physically manipulate elements within the book, which not only reinforces learning but also addresses sensory needs and promotes engagement.
Targeted Skills and Interests
Adapted books can be customized to target specific skills or align with the interests of individual students. This personalization not only enhances motivation with what can be a tough population, but also ensures that learning is relevant and meaningful to the student. Typical books of high interest may be too high of reading materials for a student and adaptive books can help bridge the gap.
Promotes Independence
By providing clear, accessible content and interactive features, adapted books promote independence in learning. Students can work through the material at their own pace and build confidence in their abilities. They gain academic skills, fine motor skills, and more as they interact with these books. We want to foster a love of books in our general and special education classrooms, these books are the perfect way to do so!
Language and Vocabulary Development
Adapted books are effective tools for building vocabulary and developing language skills for students with different learning styles. The visual supports and contextualized learning opportunities help students with autism grasp new words and concepts more easily.
With so many important reasons to use these resources in your classroom, it’s kind of a no-brainer! They offer tons of various supports and are easy to put together. Plus, they can be used year after year with your students.
So, how can you implement these books in your classroom?
Using Themed Adapted Books
Adapted books come in various themes, which can be tailored to suit the interests of students. Some common themes we love to use are:
Sports
Books centered around sports activities and athletes can engage students who have a real interest in athletics. These books may incorporate sports-related vocabulary, rules, and team dynamics. While these aren’t necessarily lesson plans for social skills, they absolutely reinforce the skills you’re already teaching students!
Holidays
Holiday-themed adapted books emphasize seasonal celebrations and cultural events. They give us the opportunity to introduce students to traditions, symbols, and historical contexts associated with different holidays throughout the year.
Animals
Books showcasing animals are a lot of fun and high interest for many students with autism. These books may explore animal habitats, behaviors, and characteristics, fostering both science knowledge and empathy. Check out some ocean animals here!
Seasonal
Books that reflect the changing seasons offer opportunities to discuss seasonal changes, weather patterns, and specific seasonal activities. They help students understand the cyclical nature of time and environment.
Using Skill-Specific Adapted Books
In addition to themed books, adapted materials can target specific educational skills:
Core Vocabulary
These books focus on essential words and phrases that are fundamental to communication skills and understanding. They often use repetitive structures to reinforce vocabulary retention. These resources are a must have for building language development.
Science
Science-themed adapted books explore various scientific concepts such as biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science. They may incorporate experiments, observations, and explanations in a simplified format without too much information. Check out science ones here.
Math
Math-focused adapted books help students practice numerical concepts, operations, and problem-solving strategies. They can include activities that encourage counting, sorting, and basic math skills. Here are math ones!
Of course, these list of skills don’t stop here. You can use concepts like social emotional learning and social skills within your adapted books. The possibilities are endless!
Adapted Books for Small Groups
Adapted books are invaluable tools for small group instruction, offering several advantages:
Facilitates Group Interaction
In small groups, each student can have their own copy of the adapted book, allowing for individualized attention and interaction. They can be used as everyday activities, as well as early intervention targets.
Supports Differentiation
Adapted books are available at various levels of complexity, making them suitable for mixed-level groups. Educators can tailor the material to meet the specific needs and abilities of each student.
Progress Monitoring
While students engage with the adapted book, educators can monitor their progress, provide support as needed, and assess comprehension and skill development.
Adapted Books for Independent Work
For students with autism, independent work using adapted books serves multiple purposes:
Reinforcement of Skills
Adapted books reinforce skills learned in class, providing opportunities for students to practice independently and apply what they’ve learned.
Generalization of Skills
By using adapted books independently, students can generalize their skills to new contexts and settings, promoting deeper understanding and mastery.B
Builds Confidence
Successfully completing tasks independently with adapted books boosts students’ confidence and fosters a sense of pride.
Where Can I Find Adapted Books?
I have created hundreds of adapted books for my students and have made them all available in my TpT store.
Here’s a quick list of some resources to get your started!
Core Vocabulary Adapted Book Bundle (Over 40 words!)
There are sooo many more interactive adapted books in my store that you can find here. If you want to cover it in your classroom, I’m sure I’ve created it for my own students, so peak around and find that perfect adapted book that will make your lesson accessible and engaging for your students with special needs.
Adapted books are powerful educational tools that enhance learning experiences for students with autism. They simplify content, provide visual supports, and incorporate hands-on elements.
These books make curriculum more accessible and engaging for students with autism and general learning difficulties.
Whether used in small groups, independently, or to target specific skills and interests, adapted books cater to the diverse needs of learners with autism, promoting independence, motivation, and academic success.
As educators continue to innovate and customize these resources, adapted books will continue to remain a cornerstone of inclusive education practices for students with autism and beyond.
By using the resources listed in this blog post, you’re providing your students a way to engage with the curriculum like their peers are doing. Whether you teach elementary school, middle school, math, english language arts, or social studies, adapted books can be a huge asset to your classroom.
