Episode 9- Literacy, Trauma, and Tech: A Reading Specialist's Perspective with Autumn Caraglio

👤 Guest: Autumn Caraglio, Reading Specialist at ACES Mill Road School, North Haven, CT 📝 Episode Summary: In this episode, Bob Hutchins speaks with Autumn Caraglio, a reading specialist at ACES Mill Road School, where she works with K–8 students facing profound emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges. Autumn brings over a decade of experience in trauma-informed, individualized literacy instruction—and she's not afraid to ask hard questions about what edtech gets right, and where it still falls short. Together, they explore how AI tools—when used thoughtfully—can support students' self-confidence, personalize reading interventions, and remove the social stigma around struggling readers. Autumn shares real-world examples of how tools like speech-to-text, AI-powered feedback systems, and offline prompt engineering help her students learn, express, and grow. She also highlights the danger of relying on "shiny" tools that aren't built for nuance—and how she evaluates which tech tools to bring into her practice. If you've ever wondered what real personalization looks like for students with complex needs, or how AI can quietly empower rather than overwhelm, this episode offers a grounded and deeply human perspective. 🔍 Topics Covered: How trauma-informed reading instruction reshapes traditional literacy models The role of trust, repetition, and relationship-building in reading interventions How AI can enhance offline instruction and reduce screen dependency What to look for—and avoid—in AI-powered literacy tools Why personalization must be relational, not just algorithmic The emotional benefits of private, self-paced AI feedback Ethical concerns and emotional intelligence gaps in edtech How Autumn helps staff adopt and adapt tech with curiosity, not pressure 🧠 Key Quote: "AI should never lead—it should support. Especially when you're teaching kids who've been told they can't." – Autumn Caraglio 📌 Who It's For: Literacy coaches, special educators, administrators, edtech designers, and anyone committed to creating inclusive, compassionate, and future-ready classrooms. 🔗 Resources & Mentions: ACES Mill Road School, CT. AI-powered fluency and IEP goal-writing tools Tools mentioned: ChatGPT, Claude, MagicSchool, Adobe, Canva, HMH Ed Trauma-informed reading practices