Don's Vision, Don Johnston Ltd.

Don's Vision
I believe that all pupils deserve the opportunities and experiences that foster literacy success. Literacy for every pupil is not my vision alone, but one that I share with every contributor of this Framework. Because I did not read until 15 year old, I understand the disappointment and hardship that accompanies illiteracy. Feeling frustrated and defeated holds pupils back. This blocks pupils from learning. The sad result is that pupils remain below the threshold of success.

You can change that! Some multiply-disabled pupils may never move their age-level reading. But, these pupils can achieve a level of literacy that permits them to participate more productively as a member of society. "No Child Left Behind" means none — and, none includes the pupils that have more profound cognitive and physical disabilities. It is time for educators to raise expectations. It is my life's goal, and the goal of my company, to help educators not only meet those raised expectations, but to exceed them!

The Beginning Literacy Framework is revolutionary because it is the first approach designed to help educators assess emergent reading behaviors while plainly outlining the incremental steps that move these beginning readers forward. A number of literacy experts talk about the invisible line that is crossed by regularly developing pupils when they move from being a non-reader to a reader. It just seems to happen one day, sometimes without any kind of instruction. For our kids though, this doesn't happen as invisibly, or in a single day's time. It can take months and years of experience with printed language — consider this as you're setting pupil goals.

The Beginning Literacy Framework was developed by experts in literacy, experts in teaching multiply-disabled pupils to become readers and experts in learning interventions. It will help you identify appropriate leveled materials and it will help you use BuildAbility to create them. I'm excited about collaborating with these experts, and I'm excited about collaborating with you to eliminate illiteracy in our countries - for all pupils.

Don C. Johnston