Reading Adapted Texts of Young Adult Fiction and Reading Motivation of Pupils With Speech and Language Disorders

Nika Vizjak Puškar holds a PhD in Literary Studies. She is employed at the Center for Hearing and Speech Maribor (Slovenia) as a teacher of Slovene language and literature. In her work, she engages with deaf and hard-of-hearing students, students with speech and language impairments, as well as students with autism spectrum disorders. Her research focuses on reading and literacy among primary school students. In her doctoral dissertation, she examined the adaptation of literary texts into more accessible formats for students with speech and language impairments. She also serves as an expert collaborator at the Faculty of Education, University of Maribor.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: nika.vizjak-puskar@csgm.si

Tina Vršnik Perše is a PhD of Educational Sciences, employed in the Department of Basic Pedagogical Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Maribor, Slovenia as Associate Professor. The main fields of her research are the inclusion of children with special needs and professional development of teachers. As a project manager and researcher she has participated in several international comparative evaluation studies, basic and applied research projects and national evaluation studies. Currently she is a Vice-Dean for Quality Development the Faculty of Education of the University of Maribor and member of Management Board of the University of Maribor.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: tina.vrsnik@um.si

Dragica Haramija, PhD, is a full professor of Slovene literature at the University of Maribor; she lectures children's and young adult literature at the Faculty of Education and Faculty of Arts. Her basic field of work is children's and young adult literature (theories of genre and literary history). She is also involved in research on reading literacy and easy-to-read materials (easy reading). She has published 7 monographs, around 70 scientific articles and more than 20 chapters in scientific monographs. In 2023, she was awarded the University of Maribor Prize for outstanding success, achievements and merits in scientific research and education.

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: dragica.haramija@um.si