Chief Investigator: Professor Joanne Arciuli

Funding Amount : $99,988

Recipient: Flinders University

Overview: We know that “learning to read is not a privilege, but a basic and essential human right” (Ontario Human Rights Commission, 2022, p. 2). Literacy is the cornerstone of education and full participation in society, associated with positive outcomes in vocational, health, and social domains. Children with developmental disabilities are underestimated when it comes to learning to read and many receive poor quality literacy instruction. We will empower children with Down Syndrome and their families through online literacy instruction delivered by our trained professionals, with support from parents. This instruction is robust against lockdowns, school closures, and isolation requirements.