| Mini-Grant Program 1996 |
Background
A growing need among literacy providers is to address the issue of learning disabilities in adult learners. Research indicates that 60% of adults in literacy programs have learning disabilities. Volunteer tutors often lack the skills to help these learners. The tutoring experience in these cases becomes frustrating for both tutors and learners when the learner does not achieve his/her reading and writing goals. Project Read Better was created to address this need in the County of Los Angeles Public Library's Literacy Program.
Collaborating Partners and Agencies
Orton Dyslexia Society, LA Branch donated set of videos.
Jim McAdam presented several workshops on the Help You Spell program
Ventura County Library Literacy Program Coordinator Pat Flanigan provided technical assistance
on the Wilson Reading System.
Antelope Valley Literacy Council and San Fernando Literacy Council sent representatives to
trainings and seminars.
College of the Canyons referred college students (dyslexic adult learners) to library for tutoring.
Camp Cisquito, a nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, sent staff to trainings. Staff are presently setting up a program to tutor residents at the camp.
Ramona Hall, a licensed Educational Psychologist, presented a workshop on learning disabilities.
Mariaemma Pelullo-Willis, Educational Therapist, provided technical assistance on the Wilson Reading System and presented several workshops training tutors with the System.
Mary Pagliaro, Antelope Valley United Way, provided helpful information.
Mental Health Association Antelope Valley attended workshops.
Baldwin Park State Literacy Resource Center helped to organize a Help You Spell workshop at the El Monte Adult School.
Library Literacy Programs from Baldwin Park, La Verne, Walnut, Carson, Compton, Paramount, Huntington Park, and City Terrace sent tutors to the Help You Spell workshop.
Housing Developments in Carmelitos, Nueva Maravilla, Harbor Hills, South provided sites and their Literacy Staff attended trainings.
Description of the Project
Project Read Better is a collaborative pilot project designed to train tutors and staff in new teaching methods to provide special services to adult new readers with learning disabilities. This collaborative pilot project selected specific methodology and provided appropriate training for tutors and staff in the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys.
| Project Budget | ||||
| Source | SLRC | Library | In-Kind | Total |
| Salaries | $ 4,000 | $ 8,500 | $ 3,000 | $15,000 |
| Operation | $10,000 | $ 500 | $10,500 | |
| Indirect | $ 1,000 | $ 700 | $ 1,700 | |
| Total | $15,000 | $ 9,700 | $ 3,000 | $26,200 |
This grant made a huge difference. It provided us with the opportunity to explore the issue of learning disabilities with adult learners, to train more staff than was originally planned and to expand the model project in other areas of Los Angeles County. This project addresses a large, previously unmet need in the community. Articles in two local newspapers alone generated over 100 responses to the project in the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys. This further confirmed the importance of and need for this project.
Success of the Project
We experienced many successes. The four most important successes were:
1. Implemented an assessment and placement tool for adult learners which reveals learning disability problems with reading and writing. Results of the assessment places learners into the following programs: Laubach/Help You Spell, Wilson Reading System, or Orton/Texas Scottish Rite Video Instruction Program
2. Designed and implemented a new 12 hour tutor training workshop addressing the issues of learning disabilities. The workshop is called Dyslexia: Working One-On-One with Adults and incorporates three methods, Laubach, Help You Spell, and the Wilson Reading System.
3. Trained staff with the new assessment tool and as tutor trainers for the new training.
4. Expanded the training model beyond the programs in the Antelope Valley.
Personal Anecdotes
"I like the program. I can now sound out words. I've noticed a difference at work."
Adult Learner using the Texas Scottish Rite Tapes
"I enjoy working with adult students with this program. The multi-sensory techniques seem to help students better. I've learned spelling rules from this program!"
Tutor using the Texas Scottish Rite Tapes
"The Wilson Reading System is what I've been searching for to help my student."
Tutor using the Wilson Reading System
"My student wanted to improve his spelling and the usual methods of teaching were not helping him. We started using the Help You Spell Program and it worked The program has helped my student's self-esteem."
Tutor using the Help You Spell Program