Site of the Day: A Chance to Read

Part of PBS's Reading Rockets series, "A Chance to Read" focuses on children with disabilities, and the programs and parents who have found innovative ways to help them learn to read.

The half-hour documentary, which starts airing in some parts of the U.S. today and in other areas through the end of September, spotlights a program for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Minnesota; a teacher in New Mexico who works with "twice exceptional" students who are both gifted and learning disabled; a Texas program for children with cognitive disabilities; and another Texan, fourth-grader Ethan Ligon (pictured), who is learning to read Braille. Also featured is Dr. Christopher Lee, head of the Alternative Media Access Center at the University of Georgia, whose championing of assistive technology is informed by his own struggles as a child and adult with learning disabilities.

From the site, you can read more about "A Chance to Read"; find out when it will be broadcast in your area; watch it on your computer instead; read a transcript of the show; find recommended resources for more information; and read a Q&A with the parents of the show's host, actress Molly Ringwald.

I watched the show over the weekend with my 17-year-old daughter, who regularly proclaims that she hates reading. Although she said afterward that none of the segments really applied to her personal situation, judging by the way she was glued to the screen, I think it was empowering for her to see that she is not the only young person in the world who struggles or has ever struggled with reading. In a world where Harry Potter mania breaks out regularly, I think it can feel that way. If you have a reluctant reader, visit the site and watch the show for some inspiration, both for you and your child.