Odyssey Now

The first book to make literature accessible to people with learning disabilities, “Odyssey Now” is a dramatization of the story of Odysseus through a variety of interactive games for developing communication skills and as a means of implementing a multi-sensory approach. It is designed particularly to include people who have profound, severe or multiple learning disabilites, but it can be used or adapted for any group of adults and children who have communication problems. Suitable for use in schools, colleges, social education centres or the home, it can also be used in mixed ability groups and to promote integration between groups with special needs and non-disabled people. Each interactive game includes: suggestions for suitable music, pictures, colours and other resources to accompany the game; a storyline; guidelines for staff members; a summary of the purpose of the game and suggestions for adapting the game for people with visual impairments. Included with the games are advice on organizing such a programme, suggestions for record-keeping and tips for adapting the games.

Author Biography

Nicola Grove is an English teacher turned speech and language therapist, who works with children and adults who have learning disabilities. She currently lectures at the Department of Language and Communication Science, City University. Keith Park is a teacher of pupils with multi-sensory impairments. He works for SENSE, the National Deaf-Blind Rubella Association, in Greenwich and Lewisham. He uses storytelling and drama extensively in his work. Nicola and Keith also co-authored Social Cognition Through Drama and Literature for People with Learning Disabilities