When Aaron Harvey graduated Year 12 in 2023, he was awarded the top Modified SACE (South Australian Certificate of Education) Award by his school for effort and attitude, and was one of the first Indigenous students with a disability to sit on the Australian Council for Student Voice.
What’s equally impressive is that this 18-year-old Para Hills High School student read his way through over 70 books in his senior year through the Indigenous Reading Project’s Reading for Life program, at a stage when many students struggle to complete prescribed texts.
He may be an award-winning graduate, but Aaron lights up when talking about the books he likes to read and how he’s accessed them through the Indigenous Reading Project’s E-Reading Program.
Aaron connects with Reading for Life
The Indigenous Reading Project aims to overhaul the accessibility and appeal of reading for young Indigenous students. Its Reading for Life program has been pivotal in the sustained reading success of students like Aaron. Being enrolled in Reading for Life is recognition that he thrived in the E-Reading Program, engaging emotionally with reading and incorporating it into his daily life.
And many years on from when he started out on his reading journey, Aaron’s connection is nothing short of inspiring.
“I read in the car, my room, the lounge room, and at school in literacy classes. And I read before and after school too. I really like to read everywhere,” says Aaron.
“My favourites are books on sports, like the Eddie Betts biography. I love books on science and health issues because I’ve spent a lot of time in hospital, and I’d like to work in the medical field someday. I also love funny books like Specky Magee, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and other jokes books because they make me laugh.”
Checking out the next e-book and tracking his own progress has become a key driver for this enthusiastic Indigenous student.
“Each time I finish a book, I just want to read more. I say, ‘What’s Next?’ and start searching the tablet for other books.”
E-reader becomes vital teaching support
“It’s been such a rewarding program for Aaron,” says Nikki Alder, Para Hills High School’s Inclusion Hub Senior School coordinator.
Nikki became a convert of the program once she saw how impactful it was, and how reliable and useful the technology was for Aaron to access books.
“I’ve been teaching Aaron since Year 8, and he was previously withdrawn when it came to communicating with others. I can see how this incremental build-up of reading confidence has influenced his vocabulary, he can elaborate better on issues, has greater communication confidence and engagement in conversations. There’s definitely been a growth in his use of new words, and he shares what he’s been reading with us, and book reviews with his peers.”
Nikki appreciated the IRP team’s support in sourcing new titles that would appeal to Aaron’s reading preferences. “It’s the perfect tool to help Aaron take charge of his reading and enabled him to be more involved with his choices, and progress.”
“But it’s also had a big impact on the way he puts himself forward for opportunities too. Aaron’s a quiet achiever. He’s not one to search for complements, but he’s certainly aware that what he’s done is impressive.”
Aaron’ s been accessing books with the IRP since 2019, but before signing up with the free E-Reading Program he wasn’t that much a reader. His Year 9 Learning Team recognised that reading books through the Lenovo tablet might just cut through and present reading in a new way to him. Four years on, and Aaron’s end of year assessment reports tracked annual progress in literacy and his attitude to learning. The Reading for Life Engagement Team were also able to liaise with Nikki to ensure Aaron’s reading interests were catered to in the IRP library.
“We had a good discussion about developing a list of books that would suit Aaron’s interest, and we facilitated the downloads of new titles. IRP’s support team have been so helpful in setting Aaron up, and accessing books that connect with his passions and abilities as he moves forward.’
‘While we have a library at our school, that independent encouragement to read through a personal device is invaluable. There’s the appeal of accessing books via technology, and it’s at no cost to the student’s family or the schools plus they can access books in their own time – it’s a fantastic program to show a young person they’re worthy of support and that reading is valued.”
Aaron had initially been motivated by the appeal of owning his own tablet through the program.
“When I first got the tablet, I was really interested in reaching a level where I could keep the tablet if I read a certain number of books.”
But the then 15-year-old soon realised that he enjoyed the process of self-selection and accessibility to books – logging in to read wherever he was and searching for more challenging texts.
“I now prefer reading on technology then reading hard copy books. And on the tablet, they source books that are really interesting to me, and there are sections where I can look for more books that I like. I’ve remembered that I do like books.”
E-reader supports reading with a disability
Aaron’s mum Shirley Abbott had ensured books were a part of Aaron’s life in infancy when he was born prematurely.
“I read board books and lift the flap books – we read Poppy Cat and Yummy Yucky over and over again. We both have great memories of those books. But it’s really good seeing him become so motivated as an independent reader in his teenage years. Whereas previously it was just us and his teachers encouraging him to read, the tablet has helped him take charge of his own reading preferences and seek out books he most likes.”
Living with a disability has called for tailored strategies during Aaron’s education. The e-reader merges perfectly into connecting students with disabilities with reading. Shirley noticed that the IRP tablet has been an important tool to assist focussed learning around Aaron’s disability.
“Even though he’s not dyslexic, he found that altering the tablet to dyslexic font also helped him persist with reading and focus better,”
The e-readers’ simple dashboard layouts appealed to a curious Aaron who experimented with how his reading could be presented. Sora’s Open Dyslexic Font makes text easier to read.
“It’s just easier to read it all and I can read faster too. I couldn’t believe it when we got an email saying that I was so good at reading that I was going to get a new upgraded tablet,” says Aaron.
“The tablet has a great list of books. I looked through the category areas like science and picked the ones that I thought were interesting. I always find something I love to read.”
And while Aaron’s pretty modest about the reading pile he’s worked through in his final high school year, he does concede that “My mum’s probably pretty proud. And I guess I feel good about myself because everyone can see that I’ve worked really hard and have new words I can use too.”
Reading opens doors for Indigenous students
It’s apparent that everyone around him can see how much Aaron has accomplished.
His school principal successfully nominated him for a student role on the Australian Council for Student Voice federal initiative, and to complete year 12 he undertook a transition course towards a Certificate 2 in Hospitality involving work experience role at Glenelg’s Watermark restaurant.
“I’m pretty excited about finishing high school and would like to work in the medical field one day. But for now, I’ve got a good boss at where I’m doing work experience and I’m learning lots there too.”
While he’s graduating from Year 12 in 2023, Aaron’s reading journey can continue though his personal tablet and an active library subscription through the Reading for Life program. And he’s eager to encourage students behind him to try the IRP reading experience too.
“I’d tell them to give it a go. They can look back at all of the books they’ve read and know that it’s worthwhile.”
The Indigenous Reading Project wants to help more kids like Aaron read. Our programs help Indigenous children improve their literacy skills and embed reading as a lifelong habit. To support our work, donate here.