Dear Stu,
Sylvia Ashton Warner's book Teacher might be helpful. She uses a very simple method of getting a word from a child-a word that is about their lives. Then she writes this word on a card . Each day she asks for one word and reviews past cards. Pictures can go with these words. The child gets to play with these cards by themselves and with the teacher. Stories may come from these. Words are usually vivid perhaps emotional, perhaps nouns that a child interacts with every day. The intent is to link reading and language to actual experiences happening in a child's life.
I have used this with children with learning disabilities. With your children beginning with a picture or photo of the word may set up the climate for reading the word. Parents may be able to work with you on this.
Good luck,
Jeanette