Visual Reading – special education

Visual Reading-special Education is an extremely comprehensive and extensive app designed to support reading for young learners with autism spectrum disorders and associated learning difficulties. The application uses Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) principles to engage children in reading. 

The Visual Reading program primarily uses three learning methods with a fourth being introduced in 2019; The first is the Global Method, this includes the presentation of the whole word to children and relies on his or her visual perception and the ability to remember visual information, a useful strategy for visual learners. Secondly, Analytic & Synthetic phonic methods are used; There are two main types of phonics: synthetic phonics and analytic phonics. The difference between them is substantial enough to affect the gains in literacy that young readers make. With analytic phonics, learners are taught to recognise whole words and later break down the words into units of sound. Synthetic phonics involves the teaching of sounds first often before children are introduced to formal book reading.

The instructional learning design of Errorless Learning is also used; Errorless learning has been found to be effective in helping memory-impaired people learn more effectively. The reason for the method's effectiveness is that, while those with sufficient memory function can remember mistakes and learn from them, those with memory impairment may have difficulty remembering not only which methods work, but may strengthen incorrect responses over correct responses, such as via emotional stimuli. This is part of the underlying theory used in Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) widely used in the education of young learners with autism.  The developers are currently looking at Derived Stimulus Relations learning and will have lessons available at some stage during 2019. 

The first thing that struck me about Visual Reading is its comprehensive analytical capabilities. Valuable analytical options are generally absent from many ABA styled applications, not the case for Visual Reading. The initial set-up allows you to tailor the session for the young learner you are working with by inputting data such as how sensitive they are to task failure, reaction time to visual events and how motivating different incentives are. This allows for informed progress monitoring throughout the program.  I would advise teachers to really get to know Visual Reading before using with your students. This app does take time to understand but the developers have created an excellent guide within their website with comprehensive instructions. Clearly, they have used evidence-based research and given a lot of consideration into its purpose and design. 

Once you have completed the set-up process you are presented with an extensive lesson map which shows you the depth of the program. The Visual Reading program is not a game but an educational tool and should be treated as such. I would advise that the app should be used by the teacher alongside the learner only. 

Once you have read the excellent guidance provided you need to consider the learning in which you seek to target. Each lesson addresses learning needs using the reading strategies mentioned above. Two-part lessons are included; Learning and testing which allow you to hold accurate records for the individuals you teach. The ABA settings include options to use adapted behavioral functions to use that support individual ABA programs that the learner may be following. If your learners are following an ABA program, I would advise that you inform their tutor about the app and update them on any progress. 

Visual Reading is probably the most extensive reading program I have seen that supports children with autism. You can even create your own lessons should you wish; however, the program is so large you may never need to do this, a useful feature, nonetheless. 

The activities included are presented on a user-friendly interface that is distraction free. You can see that the developers have put a lot of consideration into this when designing the program. The program is free from background music, also a good choice when taking into account its target audience. Over 900 nouns, verbs and numbers are used in the program covering 6 categories; Home and Garden (nouns), Human (nouns), Nature (nouns), Education (nouns), Food-drink (nouns), Activities (verbs) and numbers. 

Visual Reading is probably the most useful reading program app out there. Although designed primarily for young learners with autism, this app can used with everyone. The monitoring features are second to none and provide you with excellent progress updates and reports that consider emotional states before and after sessions. The developers have created a program that truly considers learning difficulties and how they affect reading development. Visual Reading should be the go-to app for all Special educators. Well done team!

You can download Visual Reading – special education on your Android devices from the Google Play Store.