Today, more than ever, literacy agencies nationwide are being called upon to assist adults with low literacy.
Literacy Statistics
- “48 million adults lack basic reading, writing, and math skills beyond a third-grade level” (Literacy Facts, 2023).
- If every adult in the US functioned at or above a 6th-grade reading level, our country would generate an additional 2 trillion dollars in annual income (Literacy Facts, 2023.).
Should Valuable Resources be Used to Improve Literacy in Autistic Adults?
Throughout my autistic son Zech’s school years, we moved often. Each state’s special education experience differed. During Zech’s later high school years, it felt like the education system had given up. Placed in a vocational training program, where he mastered the ins and outs of cleaning toilets, Zech graduated with minimal literacy skills. Our years of maneuvering through the special education system gave me a profound respect for the exceptional educators and ethical agencies we met along the way.
Years later, at age 35, Zech’s lifelong goals of gaining employment, obtaining a driver’s license, and living independently remained unmet. So, while living in Williamsburg, VA, we sought out a literacy program that would help. The Literacy for Life organization welcomed Zech with open arms. Zech completed assessment testing, and we were placed on a waitlist. From our first interaction with Literacy for Life Human Service Coordinator Mary Lynch, Zech and I were respectfully treated with an expectation of literacy success.
Months later, Mary called with the good news that a tutor had volunteered to work with Zech. Karen loves education and compassionately cares about her students. Zech was matched with a tutor who changed his life.
Zech with Tutor Karen
Karen, a retired teacher, bonded with Zech almost immediately. Initially, the tutoring took place individually for one hour twice a week via Zoom. About 12 months in, another student, who had been waiting for a tutor, was keen to join. Zech continued one weekly individual Zoom meeting with Karen, and then the three met in person once a week. After consistently working with Karen from January 2022 till May 2023, during a total of 98.75 tutored (individual and group) hours, Zech’s reading grade level advanced by two years, according to results attained from CASAS Goals Reading Assessments.
Literacy for Life unconditionally accepts anyone into their program as long as the client’s needs are within the scope of service (Literacy, n.d). Literacy for Life will suggest other programs to clients, but only if they perceive the disability as too severe. Literacy for Life programs, exceptional volunteers, and the literacy success of many students are related to the intuitiveness of Mary Lynch.
Shortly after another move, a new search for literacy help began. The Manatee Literacy Council web page boasts a mission to help every adult in Manatee County improve literacy and live independent lives. The council will evaluate individuals over 18 years old who desire improved literacy (Manatee, 2023).
When my son and I arrived for his appointment, Zech was given an assessment test, and after a worker reviewed his answers, we were told he would be placed on a waiting list. However, this time, different challenges persevered. The problem is the Manatee Literacy Council director explained that our volunteers prefer to work with English as A Second Language students. However, a kind worker provided a list of alternative literacy agencies.
How Much Does It Cost to Improve Literacy for an Autistic Adult?
Similar to special education resources, the accessibility of literacy programs varies from state to state. In 2020-2021, Virginia allocated $8 and Florida $105 per eligible adult per year for literacy education (Walderman et al., 2022). When local literacy programs are scarce or the wait list is long, online materials from seasoned educators provide resources.
Free Resources for Autistic Adults Struggling with Literacy
- Beverly Vicker MS, CCC-SLP, offers Advice from Autistic Adults About Literacy Instruction gained from interviews conducted with 12 autistic adults (Vicker, 2007).
- Thomas Gilbert, MA, and Monica Gordan-Pershey, EdD, CCC-SLP, believe Literacy is the Key to Inclusion (Gilbert & Gordan-Pershey, 2022). Gilbert recommends the sight word recognition teaching method (Light & McNaughton, n.d.) The literacyforanyone.com website provides information, teaching curriculum, videos, and more, all at no charge.
It only takes one compassionate agency or individual to change the life of an adult with autism. Today, Zech enjoys gainful employment at a local grocery store. He continues to work on his literacy skills, anticipating that he will accomplish all his goals in the years ahead.
Holly Hedger’s career as an advocate, cheerleader, and mom to Zech spans 37 years. Holly enjoys traveling and received her MBA from Regent University. A 24-year profession in Radiation Therapy has led to new adventures in Bradenton, Florida. To contact Holly, email hedgerholly@yahoo.com.
References
About | Adult literacy services in Williamsburg, VA. (n.d.). Literacy for Life. Retrieved January 31, 2024, from https://www.literacyforlife.org/about-us
Americans with Disabilities Act. (n.d.). DOL. Retrieved January 31, 2024, from https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/disability/ada
Gilbert, T. (2023). LITERACY FOR ANYONE. LiteracyForAnyone. Retrieved January 31, 2024, from https://www.literacyforanyone.com/
Gilbert, T., & Gordon-Pershey, M. (2022, September 2). Literacy: The key to inclusion for adults with intellectual disabilities. ANCOR. Retrieved January 31, 2024, from https://www.ancor.org/connections/literacy-key-inclusion-adults-intellectual-disabilities/
Light, J., & McNaughton, D. (n.d.). Literacy instruction for individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other disabilities. https://aacliteracy.psu.edu/. Retrieved February 5, 2024, from https://aacliteracy.psu.edu/index.php/page/show/id/9/
MANATEE LITERACY COUNCIL. (2023, December 19). Manatee Literacy Council. Retrieved January 31, 2024, from https://manatee-literacy.org/
US Adult Literacy Facts. (2023). ProLiteracy. https://www.proliteracy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-PL-AdultBasicEducation-FactSheet-2467.pdf
US Adult Literacy Facts. (2023, January 15). ProLiteracy. Retrieved January 31, 2024, from https://www.proliteracy.org/resources/adult-literacy-facts/
Vicker, B. (2007). Advice from Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder to Teachers Regarding Literacy Instruction. Indiana Resource Center for Autism. Retrieved February 3, 2024, from https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/articles/advice-from-adults-with-autism-spectrum-disorder-to-teachers-regarding-literacy-instruction.html
Waldman, A., Swaby, A., Clark, A., Santa Cruz, N., & Flynn, K. (2022, December 14). A fifth of American adults struggle to read. Why are we failing to teach them? ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/literacy-adult-education-united-states
