How to approach clients regarding their literacy issues.

Here are a few points to remember before approaching a student regarding his or her literacy needs.

• Approach clients with the greatest sensitivity to the shame they may feel about their literacy skills.
• Remind the client of the alternative nature of community-based literacy programs; that it is not like going "back to school". (See section on Community-based literacy programs, page 6.)
• Sometimes it helps to draw the client's attention to another client who may have returned to learning successfully.
• Never push or force a client into a literacy program. It is very important that the decision to return to learning comes from the client.

The following section is taken from a publication called Literacy Support Work by the United Way of Canada.

Initial Contact

The initial contact is a crucial and sensitive step in the literacy support process. First of all it's important to take the time to build a rapport with this person based on trust and mutual respect. Broach the subject when the time is right.

Broaching the Subject

Deciding to make changes to one's personal situation is a long, arduous process, and fear of taking the first step is understandable. The person must take on this commitment and have faith in his or her chances of success. Further failure can sometimes be devastating. The important thing is to 'plant' the idea without applying pressure. Remember: this decision belongs not to you, but to the person you're talking to.

The real motivating factor at this stage is independence: the ability to make choices, set goals and move to attain them, spurred on by commitment and perseverance.