LITERACY FOR EVERYONE

Land Acknowledgement

We want to acknowledge the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Səlí̓ lwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) First Nations, on whose lands we live, learn, work, and play. We respectfully acknowledge the contributions Indigenous Peoples have, and continue to, make on their territories. We are grateful to be here because it is and has always been a place of learning. As builders of the future, we believe that everyone has the ability to learn.

About this Website

As special needs parents, the topics of ableism and inclusion are close to our hearts. Ever since having a child with disabilities, we have gained a different perspective in life and better understand the experiences, needs, and challenges of people living with disabilities. The content in this website stem from research and findings in everyone's ability to learn, along with our passion and advocacy in leveraging technology to empower individuals in achieving their potential.

Our goals are to explore what "reading and writing" means from an inclusive perspective, provide educators and family members with additional tools, and support all students in their learning journey.

The material on this website is derived from the work of Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver's book, Comprehensive Literacy for All: Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities to Read and Write, from our personal experiences as special needs parents, and from other authors and educators we have had the privilege to come across on our journey.

About the Authors

Joyce Lo

Joyce is a graduate of the Master of Educational Technology program at the University of British Columbia. She is a K-12 educator and also a mother to two boys, one of whom has complex communication needs. Joyce is interested in educating people more about ableism, disability, and the use of technology. She is the co-founder for BC Association for Advancing Communications (BCAAC), a member of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), and an advocate for disabled children. Joyce is passionate to work with children with all abilities. She believes it is important to provide children with opportunities to develop literacy skills, connect and communicate with others, and be able to participate meaningfully in society.

Joe Kwan

Joe is the father of two wonderful boys. His eldest son is minimally-verbal and proficient in using AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) to communicate his thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Joe serves on the Board of a large non-profit organization that promotes community living and inclusion, and is passionate in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within communities. Joe is a lifelong learner and recently completed his third Master’s degree (UBC's Master of Educational Technology Program). He is the co-founder of BC Association for Advancing Communications (BCAAC) and a current member of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC).

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