If someone has difficulty with reading, writing, numbers or computers, it’s not hard to imagine how that might affect their job opportunities. This has never been truer than in today’s workplace.
In the past people with weaker literacy skills were still often able to make a good wage in more labour-oriented jobs. But that has changed. Deb Calderon is coordinator of the Community Adult Literacy and Learning (CALL) program, which provides one-to-one tutoring for adults in Powell River.
“Trades that traditionally did not require much in the way of literacy skills now have higher standards just to get your foot in the door,” she says. “When employees have good literacy skills it helps to keep workplace environments safer, and it benefits employers because their workers are doing a better all round job.”
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and it takes a great deal of courage sometimes to address the weaknesses, by taking upgrading courses, or seeking a tutor with a program like CALL. Sometimes there are factors that complicate matters.
Wendy Thomas is volunteer adult literacy training coordinator at Vancouver Island University (VIU). She also teaches adult basic education.
“There are many barriers that people face who come to our classes,” Thomas says, “but one thing I have been seeing more of recently is a learning disability called dysgraphia, which affects about 10 per cent of the population. These students may be functioning at quite a high level, but they can’t write very well.”
Thomas says it is only in recent years that she has become aware of dysgraphia, which is described by the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) this way:
“Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects writing, which requires a complex set of motor and information processing skills. Dysgraphia makes the act of writing difficult. It can lead to problems with spelling, poor handwriting and putting thoughts on paper. People with dysgraphia can have trouble organizing letters, numbers and words on a line or page.”
When people struggle with this learning disability—especially when it hasn’t been identified and they don’t know what they are dealing with—it can really hold them back and limit their opportunities.
“People with dysgraphia are often judged as not being as intelligent, but really there’s no correlation,” Thomas says. “It can take a toll on a person’s self esteem, and because they may be reluctant to do anything that has to do with writing it can really limit their opportunities. That is a loss to them and a loss to the community of a potentially strong employee.”
The good thing about identifying a learning disability, such as dysgraphia, Thomas continues, is it can help the person with it to understand that this is something they can deal with. There are definite strategies, like adjusting pencil grip and reducing the emphasis on writing, that can help. Understanding the disorder, its effects and how to cope with it, is the first step.
“I really recommend one-to-one tutoring for people who are struggling,” she says. “That individual attention is really invaluable when someone is having difficulties of any kind.”
Whether or not someone is struggling with a learning disorder, and no matter what their goals, the CALL and VIU tutoring programs are here to help.
“We help people with short-term goals, like getting their driver’s licence, as well as longer-term goals, like upgrading their overall reading, writing, basic math or computer skills,” Calderon says. “We’re happy to see more and more people coming forward all the time, admitting that they need some help. It takes courage, but they always walk away a little taller and a little more confident. And every individual that comes forward makes the community a better place; as we all strengthen our skills as individuals, the community gets stronger.”
To find out more about one-to-one tutoring readers can contact Calderon at [email protected] or 604.413.1021, or Thomas at [email protected] or 604.485.2878.
