I am so excited to bring you this special issue on literacy. With the growing emphasis on addressing pre-literacy and literacy for all infants, children, and youth, occupational therapists need to carefully consider how they can support this initiative. The various articles and columns in this issue will not only provide an overview regarding the domain and role of occupational therapy in regards to literacy, but will also introduce you to frameworks for intervention and ways to talk with other stakeholders about our role.
As Jean Polichino discusses in her column, historically occupational therapy has addressed handwriting, but there is a lot more to literacy. Dr. Frolek-Clark’s introduction will give you an overview of literacy and considerations for occupational therapy. Several articles share how we can use technology to support literacy performance in the classroom, others discuss the role of occupational therapy to address reading development. Case study illustrations will help you consider how you may apply some of the concepts and information presented in your practice. There also are strategies for addressing pre-literacy with infants and toddlers through activities that introduce them to books and words and help them attend to letters, words, and pictures.
It is my hope and the hope of these authors that this issue will stimulate conversations among pediatric occupational therapists and other stakeholders regarding the domain and process of occupational therapy in addressing literacy development and literacy performance in the home, school and community. Additionally, we hope that you will carefully examine your practice and consider how you may apply the concepts presented in the various columns and articles in this issue.
The need to fully collaborate with families and teams to address pre-literacy and literacy (reading and writing) skills needs to be attended to by all occupational therapists working in early intervention and schools. From skill development and acquisition to accommodations and adaptations, we are valuable members of the team and need to make sure our voices are heard.