Colleagues,

On the Learning Disabilities discussion list this past week there has  
been a fascinating discussion initiated by Glenn Young. He has  
proposed that it is time to focus on helping adults with learning  
disabilities learn to read -- get meaning from text -- using  
technology, i.e. having computers and hand-held devices read text out  
loud, focusing on getting meaning, not on learning how to decode  
text. The archives of the discussion will be found at
http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/learningdisabilities/2008/date.html

Glenn wants to see his idea piloted and evaluated.  I think that's a  
good idea -- not that I think we should stop teaching reading, but  
that we should help learners get access to information from text,  
especially when learning to read text well may take a very long time,  
or when it might not be possible. Inexpensive electronic text readers  
can help those with learning disabilities get access to the meaning  
of text that might not otherwise be available to them. I think this  
is an issue of social justice.

I wonder what readers on this discussion list think of Glenn's idea.  
For example, should adult basic literacy programs routinely help  
basic literacy learners get access to electronic text readers, as  
they also help them to learn to decode text?

David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net



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