Hi all,
 
Thanks to Glenn, Katherine, Beverly, and Carol for their responses.   This 
discussion continues to get more interesting as it proceeds.  I  especially like 
stories of success that our students and consumers  experience.
 
I welcome such success stories.  Please feel free to post your stories  to 
remind us what we are doing well~ and how we can positively impact  lives!
 
Thanks,
 
Rochelle
 
 
 
Rochelle Kenyon
Moderator, NIFL/LINCS Learning Disabilities  Discussion List
Center for Literacy Studies at the University of  Tennessee
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I agree with all of your comments. Based on my past 20 years  in ABE working 
primarily with students with disabilities in a small town, very  few want to 
leave their familiar surroundings, or travel more than 25 miles to  work. I 
think much of that is dues to the fact that they have experienced  successful 
change. Staying with the unknown is better than taking a chance on  experiencing 
the what might be even worse (and in their mind it will be worse).  

First, I feel that it is important for the student to experience success  and 
examine their past successful experiences. The personal interview is a great  
help. I use some of the interview tools developed by N. Payne. I think the 
most  difficult part is convincing the student that it will take time. After all 
I  like everything the microwave way.

Given time and much encouragement,  some students do succeed and find a good 
job. I just want to relate this story  of a student....... Justin, 23 years 
old, LD, attended public school, resource  classes, accommodations--the whole 
nine yards. When he entered 9th grade at age  16, he was encouraged to quit 
school.  He visited me last week to thank me  for helping him. He has earned a 
GED, Early Childhood  Teacher Certificate,  and has a part time job as a teacher 
assistant in EC class. All that was good,  but my greatest joy came from his 
story of his train trip to Atlanta, alone. He  had never traveled anywhere 
alone in his life. He planned the whole trip and is  saving money for his next 
trip. He also wanted to thank me for making him  to take responsibility for his 
own life. His mother passed away this past  year. There were many individuals 
involved in Justin's life, but the most  influential one was the friend who 
insisted that he ride to the community  college with her while she attended 
nursing classes.

Hope this gives those of you some encouragement to  continue on, everyone 
will not succeed....... but some will. Just let them know  you believe in them 
and that you care.


Carol Allen 
Career Readiness Certification Director
Rowan  Cabarrus Community College
704-216-7210 office
704-202-7065  cell









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