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<DIV>Hello all,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have just received the latest update from the National Institute for
Literacy on its initiative serving adults with learning disabilities. That
update follows below.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thank you to Debi Basu, Program Officer at the Institute, for providing
this information.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Tw Cen MT" size=4 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="14">Rochelle Kenyon, Ed.D.<BR>National Institute for Literacy/LINCS
Online Facilitator<BR>Learning Disabilities Discussion List & Communities of
Practice<BR>Center for Literacy Studies at the University of Tennessee<BR><A
href="mailto:RKenyon721@aol.com">RKenyon721@aol.com</A><BR>321.637.1319 <BR> <BR>To
post a message:<BR><A
href="mailto:Learningdisabilities@nifl.gov">Learningdisabilities@nifl.gov</A>
<BR><BR>To subscribe:<BR><A
href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/learningdisabilitieses">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/learningdisabilities</A>
<BR><BR>To read archived messages:<BR><A
href="http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/learningdisabilities/2008.html">http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/learningdisabilities/2008.html</A></FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Update:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">The
National Institute for Literacy’s initiatives in serving <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">adults
with learning disabilities<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"
align=left><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><FONT
size=3>The National Institute for Literacy is developing a new training program
to increase practitioners’ knowledge of learning disabilities and their ability
to provide effective services to low literacy adults with learning disabilities.
The new training will be launched in 2009. It is based on practitioners’ needs
and requests, an extensive literature review of the research base, and a
comprehensive evaluation of the Institute’s long-standing training known as
<I>Bridges to Practice.</I><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><FONT size=3>The purpose of the
evaluation, which began in the fall of 2006 and is now coming to a conclusion,
was to find out what was working well in the old training, and what could be
changed and improved.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
evaluators interviewed master trainers, observed the training of three cohorts
of new trainers, observed several of those trainers offering training, and
examined the <I>Bridges</I> guidebooks. All of this information is informing the
evaluators’ recommendations to the Institute.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><FONT size=3>The evaluation also
includes a very thorough examination of the research on adults with learning
disabilities, which is further informing the development of the new training
materials.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Since no formal study
has previously been conducted to determine if the 15-year old guidebooks and
contents are appropriate and effective, the Institute felt it was critical to
commission an independent evaluation of all components of the old training and
certificate program to ensure materials are up to date with novel developments
and research based information. Five LD experts are in the final stages of
completing the review, which covers the following topics: assessment; the impact
of LD; accommodations; teaching methods; English language learners; and
transitioning. The literature review will be published and distributed widely
when it is finalized in the next several months. Developing new training
materials, the final activity in the evaluation, will begin once the literature
review is complete.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><FONT size=3>The Institute also
offered two interim training sessions for practitioners to gain valuable
feedback for revisions before the new training is initiated. The sessions took
place in Virginia and Georgia and were each three days long, covering a portion
of the content that will be offered in the new training. The sessions emphasized
information about learning disabilities, including definitions,
self-determination, legal issues, and accommodations, as well as opportunities
to learn and practice training techniques.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><FONT size=3>As the new training
is launched next year, all three Regional Resource Centers will take on new
responsibilities as the primary liaisons between the states and the Institute
concerning the new training.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
Institute believes that the Centers’ strong relationships with the states in
their regions will enable the Institute to offer LD training in a timely,
efficient manner that best responds to states’
needs.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><FONT size=3>The Institute will
send out further updates before the new training is
finalized.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Debi
C. Basu, M.S. Neuroscience</SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
size=3>Program Officer, <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
size=3>Adolescent Literacy and Learning
Disabilities<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
size=3>National Institute for Literacy (NIFL)<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
size=3>1775 I Street, NW, Suite 730<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
size=3>Washington, DC 20006<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
size=3>Phone: (202) 233-2025 / Fax: (202) 233-2050<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT
size=3>Email: debi.basu@nifl.gov<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><A
title=http://www.nifl.gov/ href="http://www.nifl.gov/"><FONT
size=3>www.nifl.gov</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 2pt; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"><o:p> </P>
<DIV> </DIV>
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href="http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/learningdisabilities/2008.html"></A></FONT> </DIV></o:p></SPAN></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="c80cb23f8eaa08c8fec3a9a04030b7dc"><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. <a href="http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025">Try it now</a>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>