The ability to learn is an important life skill. It is a critical skill for participation in all aspects of life, including school, work, and the community. It is a major key to accessing knowledge, gaining independence, and exercising life choices. Many people believe that individuals with moderate disabilities cannot learn how to read. They think that reading is too complicated and requires high levels of language and cognitive ability that individuals with moderate disabilities do not possess. However, research about reading has begun to provide evidence that students with moderate disabilities can be taught reading skills. Five essential components of reading instruction for beginning readers are identified: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension. All of these components are crucial for students to learn in the beginning reading stages, whether the student has a disability or not.