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Building Wings

Readtopia is a comprehensive literacy and reading curriculum for special education that helps students with significant cognitive disabilities and extensive support needs learn to read, write, communicate, and engage with grade-level content. Built on evidence-based literacy practices and aligned with the Science of Reading, Readtopia supports teachers, district leaders, and IEP teams in delivering systematic, accessible reading instruction for all learners.

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A Comprehensive Literacy Curriculum for Special Education Learners with Extensive Support Needs

Special education leaders and educators are under increasing pressure to:

 

  • Implement Science of Reading aligned literacy instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities and extensive support needs

  • Provide comprehensive literacy instruction, including phonics, reading, writing, communication, and comprehension

  • Deliver grade-level, age-respectful, and culturally relevant content that engages adolescent and adult learners

  • Support diverse learner needs without creating multiple curricula or overwhelming teachers with preparation demands

  • Ensure consistency across teachers, speech-language pathologists, paraprofessionals, and IEP teams

  • Demonstrate measurable literacy growth while balancing limited staffing, time, and resources

 

Readtopia was designed to address these challenges through a comprehensive literacy curriculum built specifically for special education learners with significant cognitive disabilities and extensive support needs.

Unlike programs adapted from general education curricula, Readtopia was intentionally designed from the ground up to support comprehensive literacy instruction for learners with significant cognitive disabilities and extensive support needs.

Applying the Science of Reading in Special Education Classrooms

Research continues to affirm that all learners can become readers and writers. Yet many educators are challenged to translate evidence-based literacy practices and Science of Reading principles into daily instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities and extensive support needs. They need more than theory. They need a practical, comprehensive literacy curriculum designed specifically for special education classrooms.

Readtopia is a comprehensive literacy curriculum for students in grades 3 through adult with significant cognitive disabilities, autism, intellectual disabilities, and other extensive support needs. Designed for self-contained and inclusive classrooms, transition programs, and adult learning environments, Readtopia provides systematic instruction in phonics, reading, writing, communication, and comprehension through age-respectful, engaging content.

Built on the research foundation of Comprehensive Literacy for All, Readtopia translates evidence-based literacy instruction into daily instructional routines that educators can implement with confidence. Rather than focusing solely on literacy exposure, Readtopia supports comprehensive literacy instruction that helps learners develop meaningful reading, writing, communication, and comprehension skills.

To support implementation, Building Wings offers the official Comprehensive Literacy for All Book Study Guide, written by Dr. Karen Erickson, co-author of Comprehensive Literacy for All. The guide helps educators, literacy teams, and district leaders deepen their understanding of comprehensive literacy instruction and apply research-based practices in classrooms serving learners with significant cognitive disabilities and extensive support needs.

 

Download your copy here: https://teach.buildingwings.com/official-comprehensive-literacy-for-all-book-study.

 

Through thematic units, differentiated supports, and research-based instructional practices, Readtopia helps schools deliver consistent literacy instruction across teachers, speech-language pathologists, paraprofessionals, and IEP teams while supporting measurable literacy growth for all learners.

Time-Saving Teacher Support

Explicit Guides and Differentiated Resources in Readtopia

Readtopia includes an explicit Teacher’s Guide for each of its 30+ thematic units, along with systematic alphabet knowledge and spelling-based phonics lessons. These guides provide detailed instructional sequences, making lesson planning for teams, new educators and substitute teachers a breeze. Educators no longer need to spend hours creating differentiated materials to meet the diverse needs of their students—Readtopia does it for you.

Educators receive onboarding support, access to a dedicated curriculum specialist, recorded teaching tutorials, free webinars and a Literacy Instruction Resource Center.

Why Districts Chose Readtopia for Special Education Literacy Instruction

Comprehensive Literacy Instruction

Built specifically for students with significant cognitive disabilities and extensive support needs, Readtopia provides comprehensive literacy instruction across phonics, reading, writing, communication, and comprehension. Students develop foundational literacy skills while

engaging with grade-level academic content aligned to state standards.

Systematic Phonics and Decodable Reading

Readtopia combines explicit, systematic phonics instruction with engaging decodable texts designed for older learners. Rather than relying solely on isolated phonics activities, students apply newly acquired skills through meaningful reading experiences that support decoding, fluency, comprehension, and confidence. Integrated decodable books and literacy routines help educators implement Science of Reading aligned instruction in special education classrooms.

Age-Respectful Adapted Literature

Many literacy materials for struggling readers are

written for young children. Readtopia’s adapted literature provides age-respectful, engaging content that allows adolescent and adult learners to develop literacy skills without sacrificing dignity, relevance, or access to rich academic topics.

Built-In Differentiation

Readtopia includes differentiated instructional supports, scaffolded materials, and multiple access points designed to meet diverse learner needs. Educators can provide individualized instruction without creating multiple curricula or spending hours adapting materials.

Thematic Units That Connect Learning

More than 30 thematic units integrate literacy with science, social studies, and other content areas, helping students build background knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension while maintaining high levels of

engagement throughout the school year.

Support for the Entire Educational Team

Comprehensive teacher guides, instructional resources, and implementation supports help teachers, speech-language pathologists, paraprofessionals, administrators, and IEP teams deliver consistent literacy instruction across classrooms and learning environments.

Designed for Special Education From the Ground Up

Many literacy programs have been adapted for special education. Readtopia was intentionally designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities and extensive support needs. Grounded in the research of Comprehensive Literacy for All and aligned with the Science of Reading, Readtopia helps schools move beyond literacy exposure to comprehensive literacy instruction that leads to meaningful reading, writing, communication, and comprehension outcomes.

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Click on any of the areas below to explore samples and further details.

Incorporated Literacy Research

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Systematic Phonics
Instruction

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Differentiated
Instruction Materials

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Teacher Guides &
Supports

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Thematic Units

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Progress Monitoring

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Multimodal Learning

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Life Skills

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Astronaut in space reaching upward with floating number tiles 1–10 and the title 'Learning Numbers' above, on a starry background (educational poster by Building Wings).

Integrated Math

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Readtopia Pricing

Individual
Educator

$925 USD/year
(per educator)

Homeschool/Parents: If you’d like to bring Readtopia into your home, call us at
847-238-8889 for a discounted license.
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School District or Organization
5-50% Savings
Discounts are available for districts/facilities with multiple licenses or who select multi-year options.
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Contact us for Customized Solutions

Want to Explore More? Contact Us or view detailed information about a few of the 30+ thematic units educators can select from:

NASA Scientist Featured in New Readtopia Thematic Unit

Anchored by “Diana Trujillo: A Space Scientist”, Building Wings has launched a new Readtopia thematic unit called Making Dreams Come True.

Author Name: Building Wings

Categories: Articles, Readtopia

Tags: Readtopia

Date: July 28, 2022

Read Blog

Readtopia Thematic Unit: Social Justice: All Means All, anchored by Rolling Warrior

A leveled adaptation of Judith Heumann’s memoir anchors a Readtopia writing curriculum unit centered on disability rights.

Author Name: Building Wings

Categories: Articles, Curriculum, Readtopia

Tags: Readtopia

Date: April 7, 2023

Read Blog

Readtopia Thematic Unit: Exploring Space – Neil deGrasse Tyson: Stargazer

Introducing a new Readtopia unit anchored in stories of space exploration as part of comprehensive literacy instruction.

Author Name: Building Wings

Categories: Articles, Readtopia

Tags: Readtopia

Date: August 1, 2023

Read Blog

FAQs

Yes. Readtopia is a science of reading-aligned curriculum by combining structured literacy components such as phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and language comprehension with meaningful, accessible content for diverse learners. Internally, Readtopia is positioned around explicit, systematic decoding instruction along with background knowledge and vocabulary embedded across units.

Readtopia is designed for students in special education settings across upper elementary, middle school, high school, and transition programs. It is especially helpful for learners with intellectual disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities, language-based disabilities, and students who need accessible, adapted, and engaging literacy instruction.

Yes. Readtopia is designed to support AAC users and students with complex communication needs. Lessons provide opportunities for students to respond, participate, build vocabulary, engage with text, and communicate ideas in ways that match their access needs. Readtopia also reflects collaboration and alignment with respected AAC and communication-support partners, including Project Core, LessonPix, and PCR-Saltillo, helping teachers create more accessible literacy experiences for students who communicate in different ways.

Yes. Readtopia was made for students who need foundational literacy instruction but deserve more than babyish books, random worksheets, or isolated drills. It gives older learners accessible, age-respectful reading, writing, communication, and comprehension experiences that meet them where they are without lowering expectations for who they can become.

Readtopia is different because it does not settle for watered-down content, disconnected skill practice, or materials that talk down to students. Readtopia combines age-respectful literature, structured literacy, comprehension, writing, communication, experiential learning, and background knowledge so students with significant disabilities can engage in real reading and real thinking. It is literacy access, not just literacy exposure.

Readtopia gives special education teachers as well as related service providers what they are usually forced to create on their own: age-respectful texts, structured literacy instruction, writing, communication, vocabulary, comprehension, and background knowledge in one connected curriculum. Teachers do not have to water down general education materials or stitch together disconnected activities. Readtopia is built for complex learners from the start.

Readtopia supports reading, writing communication, vocabulary, comprehension, background knowledge, phonics, decoding, shared reading, independent reading, and discussion. The goal is not just isolated skill practice. It is comprehensive literacy instruction that helps students make meaning, communicate ideas, and grow as readers and writers.

Incorporated Literacy Research

Readtopia incorporates the research from Dr. Karen Erickson, Dr. David Koppenhaver, Jones, Clark, Reutzel, findings from the National Early Literacy Panel and many others, and incorporates their findings into daily instructional routines that educators can use to confidently provide comprehensive literacy instruction based on the science of reading. Current research by others including Dr. Lisa Davidson provides evidence of the effectiveness of the Readtopia curriculum. Download or view a Readtopia White Paper Summary to view the research citations for this curriculum.

Systematic Phonics Instruction with Decodable Books for All Learners

Build foundational reading skills with a structured, research-based phonics program designed for emergent, transitional, and diverse learners – including students who are nonspeaking or use AAC.

 

Whether you’re teaching in whole group, small group, or individualized settings, this approach ensures every student has access to meaningful literacy instruction – no prior knowledge required.

Learning Letters

Foundational Phonics: Letter-Sound Awareness

 

Students begin by developing letter recognition and understanding the relationship between letters and sounds.

 

  • Builds phonemic awareness and letter-sound correspondence

  • Supports emergent readers and early communicators

  • Prepares students to engage with early decodable texts

Learning Letters Plus

Developing Phonics Skills: Blends, Digraphs, and Word Building

 

Students expand their phonics knowledge and begin decoding more complex patterns.

 

  • Introduces blends, digraphs, and high-frequency words

  • Strengthens word building and decoding skills

  • Includes decodable reading opportunities to build fluency and confidence.

Learning Words

Applied Phonics: Decoding and Spelling Words

 

Students apply their skills to read and spell single-syllable words with increasing independence.

 

  • Focuses on decoding and encoding (spelling)

  • Uses decodable books and connected text for real reading practice

  • Supports transitional readers in building accuracy and fluency

Differentiated Instruction Materials

Readtopia provides educators with multiple levels of instructional materials to differentiate instruction for a wide-range of learning levels in the same classroom or learning space. These can be used for individual, small group or large group instruction.

Also included are a quick-to-administer Readtopia Placement Tool to match learners with just-right materials. Unlike some curriculua that sell materials by grade band, Readtopia includes all levels of all materials to meet the widest range of student and educator needs.

Shown here is an excerpt of Fantastic Facts Progression from Tuskegee Airmen.

Teacher Guides & Supports

We have been told that our Teacher’s Guides are the best in the business. Each of our 30+ thematic units includes an explicit guide. Each guide averages 150-200 pages and offers:

  • teacher tips
  • the whys and hows of starting a unit, building background knowledge, introducing differentiated text sets in graphic novels, using anchor, read apply when providing information text, use of predictable chart writing, phonics instruction and integrated math lessons

Thematic Units

30+ thematic units written for upper elementary, middle, school, high school and transition /adult programs, including multiple all emergent units. Each unit is anchored in an adapted and age-respectful graphic novel written at multiple levels with rich-media and explicit lesson plans for 6-8+ weeks of classroom instruction.

Progress Monitoring

Readtopia includes formative and cumulative assessments to enable educators to share data with students, parents and IEP Team members and also to differentiate instruction for learners.

Multimodal Learning

Readtopia is the ONLY literacy curriculum that carefully creates engaging videos that tie directly to the thematic unit being taught. Included with the videos are lessons that actively engage students in a whole group lesson (Emergent through Conventional levels working together) in building world knowledge and creating accurate mental models to support reading comprehension with.

Educators also receive a variety of resources to make instruction memorable and engage students using a variety of sensory experiences. Included are communication supports such as a 48-word core vocabulary board and specially created fringe vocabulary boards, graphic novels with custom age-respectful illustrations, classroom posters, vocabulary cards, character cards and lessons that actively engage learners.

Life Skills

At all unit levels, Readtopia integrates basic life skills alongside the academic skills we teach. This approach guides students in making text-to-self connections and renders the teaching of academic content more functional. At the Middle School/High School+ levels, the Readtopia Functional Life Skills Framework was created to explicitly link Readtopia unit Anchor Lessons with three major life domains:

  • Daily Living Skills,
  • Self-Determination and Interpersonal Skills
  • Employment Skills.

Each domain is broken down into Competencies and Sub-Competencies, as outlined in “Life Centered Education: The Teacher’s Guide,” a product of the Council for Exceptional Children.

Integrated Math

Explore how Readtopia brings math to life through the same engaging, story-based instruction students experience in literacy.

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Karen A. Erickson, Ph.D.​

Karen A. Erickson, Ph.D. is Director of the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill. Her focus is on understanding the best ways to assess and teach reading and writing to children with the most severe disabilities. As a special education teacher, Dr. Erickson has worked to support students with a range of disabilities in a variety of classroom settings, particularly students who do not use speech as their primary means of communication.

Website: https://www.med.unc.edu/ahs/clds

Author Profile: https://products.brookespublishing.com/cw_Contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=110&Name=Karen+Erickson,Ph.D.​

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