A girl uses a calculator on a tablet.

Overview

Literacy Foundations

Literacy begins with an understanding of one’s world, including people, the environment, and daily activities. Providing children with meaningful hands-on experiences helps to develop basic concepts and contributes to independence, as well as to quality of life.

  • Literacy is more than just reading and writing.
  • Communication and literacy are interconnected.
  • Literacy-rich environments support learning.

Explore our community

Parents & Families

Get started here with questions about literacy and your child.

Educators

Browse lessons, activities, and resources for students of all ages and abilities.

About Paths to Literacy

Learn about the history and team behind Paths to Literacy.

Student talking to a teacher

Perkins Academy

The Perkins CVI Certificate

Build your expertise in the leading cause of childhood blindness, Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment, with The Perkins CVI Certificate Program.

Learn about the impact of CVI, how to use The Perkins CVI Protocol to assess students, and equip yourself with the intervention strategies and instructional planning practices used in classrooms at Perkins School for the Blind and by Perkins-trained teachers all over the world.

The 4-course certificate program starts in January 2025.

Featured collections

Explore a few of our collections of specialized resources

Voices from the Literacy community.

Dr. Yue-Ting Siu TVI and Assistant Professor at San Francisco State University

“In preparing new teachers of blind and low vision students, including those with additional disabilities, Paths to Literacy contributes critical resources for teacher preparation. The incredible amount of information related to braille, literacy experiences, and how to ensure a meaningful classroom for any aged student with significant support needs are essential resources that enrich our academic materials.”

Community of Practice

Paths to Literacy is a Community of Practice for all who are interested in literacy for children and youth with visual impairments, deafblindess or multiple disabilities. We welcome contributions from the field and believe that ideas from practitioners and families are the backbone of the site.