The Direct Access Reading Technique was originally developed for deaf child to learn words in order to develop reading skills and comprehension. The following links provide more information on this technique.
Information on the DART method:
DART Overview - A description of the basics of DART and how to implement it with your students.
Neuropsychological Bases of Reading Disabilities (UN Paper) The theoretical origins of the DART method
Taylor's DART Pictures - Examples of pictures created for words by a 8 year old (some pictures drawn by Mommy at Taylor's direction).
DART Paper- Paper by Zenhausern and Rosenberg on the history, application and results of the Direct Access Reading Program
Resources for using the DART Method:
DART Worksheet - a worksheet maker that personalizes a list of up to 15 words on a worksheet that asks the student to illustrate the word, write a dictionary definition, and use the word in 2 original sentences.
Alphabet Stories - a series of personalized stories in which the reader goes on a field trip to find things that begin with the letters of the alphabet to make a Pictionary.
Pictionary- a project maker that personalizes the pages of a Pictionary for any letters of the alphabet.
Alphabet Games - The A Game ... The B Game ... The C Game ... The D Game ... The E Game ... each game allows the student to practice the matching the words in the Alphabet stories to their pictures.
Alphawords - A game in which the student matches 10 randomly-chosen words from a set of 30 words to the picture for each word.
Ramwords - A game in which the student choose the correct word for the given picture based on the beginning sound of the word.