International Journal of Health Sciences and Research Vol.12; Issue: 1; January 2022 Website: www.ijhsr.org Case Study ISSN: 2249-9571 International Journal of Health Sciences and Research (www.ijhsr.org) 99 Vol.12; Issue: 1; January 2022 Teaching Alphabet Recognition and Letter Sound Correspondence Using a 4 Blocks of Literacy Model for Children with Complex Communication Needs (CCN): Illustrated with a Single Case Study Arya Manoharan 1 , Jubil Jose 2 , Sneha Saji 3 1 Lecturer/Speech Language Pathologist; Department of NDS, National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Akkulum, Trivandrum 695017, Kerala, India. 2 Student, 6th Semester BASLP; Department of ASLP, National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Akkulum, Trivandrum 695017, Kerala, India. 3 Student, 6th Semester BASLP; Department of ASLP, National Institute of Speech and Hearing, Akkulum, Trivandrum 695017, Kerala, India. Corresponding Author: Arya Manoharan DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20220114 ABSTRACT There are numerous hurdles to literacy acquisition for students with severe and multiple disabilities, such as intellectual disability, complex communication needs including physical disability and autism. However, there is substantial body of research that suggests that these children can gain literacy skills, develop communication and language with effective literacy education, and with the support of assistive and augmentative alternative communication systems. The study describes an ongoing intervention for teaching alphabet recognition and letter-sound correspondence using the 4 blocks of literacy model with a 5.7 year old girl with multiple disabilities who use augmentative alternative communication systems for communication. Emergent literacy instruction for improving alphabet recognition and letter sound correspondence was taught applying the principles of the 4 blocks “Working with words” and “Shared book reading” over a period of eight months. Improvement noticed in alphabet recognition and letter sound correspondence was investigated. Emergent literacy instruction using 4 blocks of literacy model was proved to be an effective method in gaining the alphabet principles and phonics skills. The study provides insights to the rehabilitation professionals and budding therapists on how to implement emergent literacy instructions and strategies to be considered for children with complex communication needs. Key Words: Emergent Literacy, Complex Communication Needs, Augmentative Alternative Communication, Multiple Disabilities, 4 Blocks of Literacy Model. INTRODUCTION Literacy is recognized as being a foundational skill for all aspects of adult life. Having the ability to read and write in a literate society is considered a highly valued social role which in turn helps in improving the quality of life. Nevertheless, literacy training for individuals with Complex Communication Needs (CCN) is frequently overlooked. Researchers in the field of literacy development suggest that with the acquisition of literacy skills, individuals with CCN can use a variety of communication options, independently produce and share their messages and thereby change attitudinal barriers. Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) is found to be an effective tool to support literacy skills in children with CCN. [1, 2] Without literacy,