On Behalf Of John Ward

 

I would like to respond to why people needing help in reading don't
attend school.  One major reason is fear.  Fear that people in the
school will not understand why you're so much different than they are.
There are the disabilities of learning how to read.  I also feel the way
that some people are brought up.  As being a young person living with
two parents that were alcoholics, my dad worked, my mum was never
around, always in a bar room.  Trying to raise four brothers and two
sisters when I was 8 and 9 years old.  My younger siblings were more
important to me than school at that time.  Also, always fearing when the
cops came knocking at the door, knowing that they were here to take us
away from our parents and that it was my responsibility to hide and
protect them from the cops.  As I grew up and winging it with a sense
that I didn't really need the help until I was involved in an accident
that took a life.  At that time I also didn't really have anything to
live for - I tried to commit suicide several different times, realizing
there was nothing out there for me.  I went to doctors and counselors.
I went to vocational rehab and she gave me the idea to go back to
school.  It gave me reasons to live and to show my sons that their
father could accomplish something by putting his mind to it.  So I
suggest you work with vocational rehab people to get those people who
are ready for a change in their life in the door of the classroom.  I
also think you should allow people into the classroom to come to visit
to check out how adult education works.  It doesn't mean you have to
join, but to see if you would feel comfortable there.  Make sure the
learning time is welcoming and can get the fear to go away.

 

John Ward

ABE Student

Windham Adult Education

Windham, ME 

 

 

 

Lisa Robertson

ABE Coordinator

 

 

________________________________

From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Taylor,
Jackie
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 1:33 PM
To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 774] Re: Hard to reach people
withlowliteracy skills

 

Dear Cece,

I did not wish to let another moment go by without thanking you for your
insightful message. I commend you for your successes, and for using
those successes to help others who face similar challenges. You
certainly demonstrate leadership even now on our Professional
Development List, by reminding us of the reasons why we stay with the
struggle. We certainly can and do make a difference every day, as you
continue to demonstrate.

 

Thank you for that. Best wishes, Jackie

 

Jackie Taylor, Adult Literacy Professional Development List Moderator,
jataylor at utk.edu 

 

________________________________

From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of cece
tilsley
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 3:32 PM
To: The Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 769] Re: Hard to reach people with
lowliteracy skills

 

Hi All,

 

I was a low level reader and I would like you all to know how afraid we
are to come in and get help. We know we need help it's not just we think
that we don't and we are okay, I can't understand how any one can think
that? I think fear is what holds a lot of us back. We put on this front
that all is okay and life is good but we know in our heart we are not
okay at all. We pray no one finds out about our secret of not being able
to read books, street signs,menus, show marquees and so on. If we can do
mate it's a challenge just to add or subtract. There are so many of us
who have tried to make our lives better for our families and ourselves
don't you all think it starts in first grade ? I was left behind from
the start but, I didn't know it until I got much older. I guess they
called me slow that what happened to me? I really not sure. I am not
slow but, I am dyslexic and never got the extra few minutes it would
have take to help me. I went for help when I was 50 years old it was
very hard to fine the help I needed. I think you need to focus on how
hard it is to fine help. I had to make six or eight calls before I found
help, a lot of people will just give up it's hard to fine the help we
need. 

I am now 64 years old I have two adult children now. I started at 50
years old learning how to read better and learn math too, I worked full
time and lots of over time too, it took me about ten years to get my
G.E.D. and now I am helping others like myself. I tutor in reading, math
and computers. The students come no matter what the weather is or how
much snow we have. I have health problems for the pass years but I only
cancel classes when it's a lot of snow or it's way below zero. The
student they would come it's me I can't make it at those times. 

I know this is not much to go by, I just wanted to let you all know it's
hard to fine help and we are really afraid to look for it to for fear we
can't learn too. 

 

Thank You 

Cecelia (Cece) Tilsley 

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hill, IL 

Lendoak at aol.com wrote:

	Dear David Rosen,

	 

	Of course there are many reasons for people not enrolling in
literacy training programs to improve their reading and language skills.
One factor that is sometimes overlooked is the perception of those with
limited literacy skills.  

	 

	The 1993 NAAL survey reported that many people with very low
literacy skills perceived that they have quite adequate literacy skills.
So, "what's to improve?"

	 

	Although we've both been volunteer tutors for a number of years,
we don't have much experience in trying to change such perceptions in
order to recruit new students.  We suspect that perhaps a personal
benefits approach might work. We wonder how others may have implemented
such an approach.  

	 

	Len and Ceci Doak

	Patient Learning Assoc. Inc.

	----------------------------------------------------
	National Institute for Literacy
	Adult Literacy Professional Development mailing list
	ProfessionalDevelopment at nifl.gov
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http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Adult_Literacy_Professional_Devel
opment

 

  

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