"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?"

My short, before-coffee answer is "YES!"

People with disabilities need accommodations, right?  We have the technology, right?  It's time we start using technology in the positive for the good of everyone.  Illiteracy is far more expensive than technology.

As far as your assessment question earlier, David, (on the "assessment" list) I am curious to hear the answers. Vocabulary tests and skills assessments probably would not have change that much.  The method for delivering the curriculum would be changing.


Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt
www.luxuriouschoices.net 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David J. Rosen 
  To: Women and Literacy Discussion List The Poverty Race ; The Technology and Literacy Discussion List 
  Cc: Glenn Young 
  Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2008 9:45 AM
  Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 1982] Access to text, a social justice issue


  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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