Literature plays an important role in every child’s life. It not only helps to get to know the surrounding world and oneself, but also develops important skills. Literature adapted for children with the autism spectrum (ASD) or other developmental disorder can improve reading and writing skills, and also help develop cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Properly selected and adapted fairy tales, picture books, and audio stories help children to better understand the world, contribute to their smoother participation in society and in the environment of an inclusive education.
Children with ASD often have difficulty understanding social rules and signals from others and abstract situations, so literature becomes a valuable tool to help them make sense of the world. Simple stories allow for the development of social and emotional abilities and help to develop skills needed in everyday activities through the characters’ experiences and images.
Literature with a clear structure and a logical sequence of events, with short and clear sentences, is important for children with ASD. Books with pictures and visuals help children understand the content more easily, especially when the text is too complex. Such structured literature gives children a sense of security, helps them predict situations and better understand the world.
Thematic literature, adapted for child’s interests, can become a powerful motivational tool for teaching a wide variety of skills. Not only it encourages reading, but also develops language, communication and focus skills, strengthens the ability to concentrate for a longer period of time. On the other hand properly selected texts and dialogues expand the child’s vocabulary. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that literature is accessible to all children, including those with developmental disorders. It is possible to help children with ASD or other developmental disorders to develop the skills necessary to improve their cognition and social life with the use of various forms of literature, interactive books and adapted stories.