The Problem

Limited literacy skills pose a serious problem in Ontario, where two adults in every five lack the reading and writing skills they need to successfully handle everyday literacy tasks. Increased daily exposure to varied written information is experienced in the community and at work, requiring individuals to improve literacy skills.

Literacy Levels for Canadians

Those Ontarians who lack literacy skills are clearly disadvantaged. Studies have established a solid relationship beween low literacy skills and:

Low income
Poor health
Poor social integration
High unemployment rates

At work, illiteracy costs Canadian business about $4 billion each year, as illiteracy is also highly correlated to:

Higher rates of absenteeism
Higher accident rates
More customer complaints
Lower profit

The Mission

The Adult Basic Literacy Program is dedicated to its Mission Statement:

To provide individuals with the skills to become more independent and functional within the community
To provide excellence in the delivery of service by staff and trained volunteers, in a fashion exemplifying compassion, respect, and encouragement
To provide community members with an opportunity to become equal and responsible citizens, through enhancing their reading, writing and numeracy abilities

The Adult Basic Literacy Program connects trained volunteer tutors with individual clients and supports the tutor-student matches in their learning partnerships.

The one-to-one match is a unique environment for adult learning. It offers the client a low-risk entry point into the network of local upgrading opportunities while guaranteeing a high degree of privacy. These issuses are very important to adults with minimal literacy skills because they tend to suffer from low self-esteem.

The program also offers an informal "small group" learning enviroment.

The Results

Since students of the program become interested in literacy training for various reasons, the results of their efforts are likewise diverse. Student outcomes resulting from improved literacy skills may include:

Increased independence in undertaking daily tasks (e.g., reading mail, writing cheques, completing forms)
Preparatory upgrading for further education and training
Basic skills upgrading enabling workers to cope with workplace changes
Increased confidence, self-esteem and self-management skills
Community interaction (joining clubs and choosing to volunteer)

"Reading and writing are tools which empower people"

One-On-One Tutoring

Students who want their own tutor:

A tutor and student would meet on a one-to-one basis for two hours per week. They would meet at a time and place that would be suited to both.

Students are matched with a trained volunteer tutor. The student will compare his/her current abilities with what he/she would like to be able to do, and the tutor will work with the student to reach those goals. This option provides students with scheduling flexibility and privacy.

Literacy Bridging

Students who want to learn in a small group:

There are 5 to 10 students in a group. Thr group meets with an instructor two hours per week on Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The Literacy/Computer Small Group:

The literacy/computer small group is for those students who would like to improve reading and writing skills while learning to use the computer. Learning takes place in a small group with an instructor. Topics include: computer basics, typing a letter, making a cover letter, and resume writing. Classes are on Monday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Internet/Literacy Small Group:

The literacy/internet small group is for those who would like to improve their reading and writing skills while learning to use the internet. Learning takes place in a small group with an instructor. Topics include: internet basics, composing an e-mail message, "surfing the net", reading and spelling. Classes are on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Literacy/Employment Group

The Literacy/Employment workshop is for those who would like to focus on employment and workplace literacy. Learning takes place in a small group with an instructor. Topics include writing cover letters and resumes, reading and writing memos and filling out workplace forms. Classes are on Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.