What an inspiring testimony from Cecilia! I can only humbly thank her for this message on our board and hope that her story inspires each of us as PD providers new insight and focus on the "why" of Adult Ed. All the best! Dr. Clark, Texas

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From: professionaldevelopment-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of Taylor, Jackie
Sent: Tue 1/23/2007 12:33 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 

 

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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.

	----------------------------------------------------
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	Professional Development section of the Adult Literacy Education Wiki 
	http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Adult_Literacy_Professional_Development

 

  

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