Return-Path: <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g8236wX04520; Sun, 1 Sep 2002 23:06:58 -0400 (EDT) Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2002 23:06:58 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <3D72D526.474C81BC@goldfieldaccess.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Archie Willard <millard@goldfieldaccess.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:3762] Literacy Day 2002 X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.7 [en]C-NSCPCD (Win98; U) Status: O Content-Length: 3974 Lines: 73 September is the month when we celebrate literacy in our country and around the world. International Literacy Day will be September 8. I'm thankful that there are people who care that others have literacy problems and want to make things better for those who struggle with literacy. I want to congratulate everyone who has made improvements in their reading and writing this past year. I hope your life has become better and happier because of what you have accomplished. As we think about adult literacy in our country there will always be a need to help adults with their literacy needs. There are too many people in our country who need to be in a literacy program but are not. Many are not there because of fear and they just can't get over the hump to go. There are all kinds of methods of teaching and there is help for adults who want to improve their reading and writing. If we are going to help, first we need to encourage people who need help, then help mend their broken spirits before they can improve their reading and writing. Somehow the hidden spark inside of them that will make them want to have a better life needs to be found and kindled. All the testing and facts are useless without some kind of initial moral support. Health literacy is becoming a big issue today. Health providers and adults with literacy problems should partner and work together to help others to understand about the health literacy problems adult learners face. By working together with the health care providers we can bring new literacy awareness to society. If adult learners are going to keep up with the ever changing health care system we need to learn to better communicate and develop a good relationship with our health care providers. We need to learn about preventive medicine, take control of our own health, understand our own individual health needs, and work with our family doctors. MD’s need to be conscious of and understand that a good number of people who come into their offices each day struggle with reading every day of their lives. If good health care is going to be received, MD’s will have to come down and meet us at our level of understanding. Many adult learners put off going to a medical clinic because of fear of their literacy problems being noticed. Many little medical problems could be taken care of before they become big ones if only the adult learners didn't have that fear and would go early when their problems are still small ones. There needs to be an open and relaxed environment when going into a medical clinic. To all the people with literacy problems: The opportunity to improve your literacy skills should be a gift to you provided by the people of our country. What better way could there be for our country to invest tax dollars than in its own people to have more productive, prosperous, and fulfilling lives. There should be freedom in the way you learn and you should be able to learn the way you feel you can learn best. You need to find your God-given gifts and strengths develop them in the way you feel you can use them the best. Then be open about them and share them with others. Be a critical thinker, think for yourself. Get involved with the process of our government and help open doors for others with literacy problems. Find other adult learners and work together. Because of new thinking about adult literacy in our country it is not what it was a year or two ago. Adult literacy needs new strong leadership and the states need to help the adult literacy field to move forward on the national level. If we as a literacy field can stand strong and work together for the next few years, adult literacy can become stronger. To all: Think about the literacy problems in our country and how you can help make them better. Each person can make a difference. Have a good Literacy Day. Archie Willard Adult Learner -- Archie Willard millard@goldfieldaccess.net URL - http://www.readiowa.org/archiew.html
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