Part of the Inclusive Literacy Series: : Part One – Reading | Part Two- Writing

Inclusive Oracy: Finding Voices, Not Just Words

What does it mean to find your voice when your voice might be digital, musical, gestural, or silent? Inclusive oracy isn’t about everyone speaking the same way.

It’s about everyone being heard, and knowing that their words, thoughts, and choices matter. When Rachel Higginson writes about Finding My Voice, she describes the courage, reflection, and self-belief that underpin true communication. When Christian Foley performs spoken word, he reminds us that voice can be rhythm, emotion, and identity.

And in inclusive classrooms, when learners communicate through AAC, eye-gaze, rhythm, or symbol, we see that voice is never limited to speech.

Voice as Connection, Not Performance

For too long, oracy has been seen as performance, the confident speaker at the front of the room. But for many learners, especially those with complex needs or communication differences, the goal is connection, not performance.

Inclusive oracy invites us to listen differently, to recognise meaning in movement, pause, or pattern. It asks us to be translators of intention, not judges of fluency.

Every learner has a voice. Our role is to help them find ways to use it.

When Words Look Different

Oracy and literacy are inseparable. As Jane Farrall reminds us, “Every act of communication is an act of literacy.” So when we talk about speaking, we must also talk about representation, how ideas are symbolised, shaped, and shared.

In an inclusive oracy classroom:

A student might write a poem on their AAC device and perform it alongside peers.

A non-verbal learner might use rhythm instruments or switches to join a story’s pattern.

A pupil with dyslexia might use speech-to-text to dictate a rap and rehearse it with AI feedback.

A sensory learner might “speak” through movement, sound, or light.

Each act builds a bridge between thought and expression, between I think and I can show you what I mean.

From Spoken Word to Shared Meaning

Christian Foley’s approach to spoken word teaches us that voice is power, and that rhythm helps unlock it. When learners feel the beat of language, they begin to feel ownership of it. For some, that rhythm is external, a metronome, a drum, a sound loop; for others, it’s internal, the rhythm of breath and heartbeat.

Practical classroom ideas inspired by Foley’s work:

Collaborative soundscapes: combine AAC, percussion, and speech to tell a collective story.

Echo poems: teacher reads a line; learners respond with a sound, symbol, or rhythm.

AI remix: use tools like Suno or Beethoven to turn written poems into musical spoken-word pieces.

Emotion raps: build vocabulary for feelings, then perform using digital backing tracks.

Every learner participates, not by copying, but by creating meaning in their own way.

The Role of AI: From Support to Amplifier

AI tools can give form to thought, scaffolding the process of finding, shaping, and sharing ideas. Used intentionally, they empower, not replace, human expression.

Here’s how AI can extend inclusive oracy:

Speaker Coach (PowerPoint / Teams): private feedback on pace, tone, and clarity — a safe space to rehearse (see free download below).

Immersive Reader & Dictate: support access, fluency, and self-editing.

Book Creator / Clicker / Co-Writer: combine voice, text, and image to tell stories.

Voiceitt & Grid for iPad: enhance speech and AAC communication.

Suno / Beatoven / Mubert: turn words into music, rhythm, and energy.

AI transforms rehearsal into reflection. It lets learners see and hear their progress — and that is incredibly motivating.

Click on the image to download as a pdf file.

A Framework for Inclusive Oracy

You can build inclusive oracy into any curriculum through four simple phases:

1. Notice – Recognising Voice

Observe every learner’s communication style.
Use video, symbol charts, or staff discussion to identify how they express choice, humour, or intent.

2. Nurture – Building Trust and Confidence

Model curiosity (“I wonder what you think?”) and co-regulation.
Use play, rhythm, and shared storytelling to build safety and belonging.

3. Shape – Structuring Thought

Use sentence frames, visual supports, and AI tools to model structure.
Encourage rehearsal and exploration before “performance.”

4. Share – Making Voices Heard

Celebrate every communication form, digital, spoken, gestural, musical.
Create class “Voice Portfolios” or assemblies where learners share their messages in any mode.

Each phase reflects Rachel Higginson’s emphasis on self-belief, Foley’s rhythm of expression, and your framework’s focus on access, agency, and authenticity.

Real-World Examples

AAC Poetry Club: Learners co-write poems line-by-line using symbol sets, then record them through Book Creator with musical backing.

Sensory Newsroom: Weekly “news broadcast” using switches, recorded clips, and staff narration, building shared meaning and anticipation.

AI Voice Rehearsal Zone: Pupils practise reading or performing to Speaker Coach, reflect on feedback, and share improvements on display boards.

Collaborative Podcasts: Mix voices, AAC output, and background sounds into class podcasts celebrating “Our Week in Words.”

These aren’t extras, they are literacy in action.

Why It Matters

Inclusive oracy is more than talk. It’s belonging, identity, and equity. When we give learners the tools and time to shape their words, we show them that their voices count. We move from doing communication to learners, to communicating with them. And that shift changes everything.

“I have something to say.”
“Someone will listen.”
“My words matter.”

That’s the heart of oracy, and the foundation of literacy for all.

Try This Week

Use Speaker Coach with one learner to rehearse a presentation or poem.

Add rhythm instruments to a story to help non-verbal learners join the narrative.

Record a class “sound poem” blending voices, AAC, and music.

Create a “Voice Wall” celebrating all the ways communication happens.

Work With Me

I offer training, webinars, and consultancy on Inclusive Oracy and Literacy for All Learners, blending creative spoken word approaches, and inclusive communication strategies using AAC and AI.

Together we can help every learner find, form, and share their voice.

I also work with professionals and families to reduce barriers to learning across all areas of development, ensuring every learner can access, engage, and achieve.

Book a FREE Discovery Call to find out we can work together.

📖 Order my book: Teaching Reading to All Learners Including Those with Complex Needs. 20% discount code: 25SME3

Useful Resources

Inclusive Oracy for All

Free Wakelet of Resources

Inclusive Literacy Part Three: Oracy For All