So this post is going to be able excuses people make about literacy--my meeting with Tamara Martinez made me curious about this issue. Not only do children need literacy help, but adults do as well. In fact, about 44 million adults in the US have been determined illiterate in the English language.
Often adults are overlooked, so here are some signs that indicate adults need help.
- Irritated when filling out forms ("I don't have time to fill this out")
- Walks out when presented with a reading/writing task
- Forms are filled out incorrectly or the same
- Doesn't respond to information via letter (possibly) e-mail
- Asks for direction when they're posted
- Doesn't fill medication prescriptions or properly take medicine
- Has no interest in reading (even important information)
- Uses cash instead of a checking account
Other sayings: "I forgot to bring my glasses", "My handwriting is bad", "I hurt my hand", "I don't do the paperwork in my family"
So why does this happen? (Why don't adults want to get assistance?)
Some adults feel as though they can't get literacy help because they're afraid they're not "smart enough". Some even feel too old to go back to school, and they don't want to re-live high school. Adults shouldn't feel as though they're too busy or their work is too important because learning how to read and write is extremely beneficial--and once they learn, adults won't have to feel "laughed at" anymore.
It is really important to encourage awareness of this issue so that adults that need help receive help, and they should not be ashamed or embarrassed for doing so.
Here's some more information:
Information: http://www.hawaiiliteracy.org/
What to learn more about adult literacy?
In Hawaii: http://www.hawaiiliteracy.org/al/index.html
National Assessment of Adult Literacy: http://nces.ed.gov/naal/
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