When we have students with reading comprehension problems, perhaps with hyperlexia, who have difficulty making meaning of what they read, it helps greatly if they care that they don’t get it.  Do they want to know about these characters and what is happening to them?

The first task of the the teacher and paraeducator in trying to help a struggling reader is to engage him or her in the reading. 

Find something that interests the child.

When your struggling reader with autism is allowed to freely choose a book in the classroom library, what does she choose?

Even “fake readers,”  kids who turn the pages, look at the pictures, and recite from memory passages they’ve heard read aloud, will generally return to the same books, or series of books, or subjects (butterflies, horses, ancient Mesopotamia). 

When they are being read to, by the teacher in a read aloud, or by a parent, is there something particular they like to have read to them? 

This can be a way in for some kids, but often the child with autism has receptive language deficits which make it difficult for him or her to follow a story read aloud.

If they simply don’t (yet) relate to books… 

• Do they watch animated movies?  Finding Nemo?  Toy Story?  Ice Age?  Shrek?
• Do they like live action films?  Harry Potter?  Spy Kids?  Spiderman?  High School Musical?
• Are they crazy about TV shows?  ICarly?  Wizards of Waverly Place?  Suite Life of Zack and Cody? 
• What about cartoons on cable?  Pokemon?  Scooby-Doo?  Dora the Explorer?

Finding what interests them is a way into their imaginations.  Whatever gets and holds their attention, whatever the medium (TV, film, cartoon) can be used to transfer their interest and attention to text.  Almost anything produced for kids on film or video is also available in some print form or another.  

Knowing what the child cares about allows you to find high-interest fiction tailored just for him or her, and high-interest fiction may be just what it takes to begin engaging that struggling reader and make them care about the story they are reading.

Related posts:

1. FAQs about anaphoric cuing and reading comprehension
2. Irresistible reading: Stories starring our kids as characters
3. Hearing the story in your head: The role of expressive reading