Reading Comprehension

The Importance of Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension has been considered one of “the most important academic skills learned in school” (7; 8;12). To be able to read and understand written text broadens learning opportunities and improves communication. Furthermore, understanding written text is essential for functioning in society (7;12). For example, for students on the autism spectrum, being able to comprehend written text allows them to access the community and learn valuable independent living skills such as buying food from a supermarket, ordering food from McDonalds or understanding a bus/train timetable to access public transportation (12). Finally, research suggests that reading comprehension is critical for gaining employment (8).