“In 1990, I worked in the rehab field and started to volunteer with a literacy program. I soon discovered that the individuals I supported in my job were falling through the cracks when it came to accessing tutoring in the community. The literacy program in our community had a waiting list for individuals with disabilities to access a one-on-one tutor. The problem was getting volunteer tutors to work with individuals with special literacy needs. At this time, I had the opportunity to receive training in Reader’s Theatre techniques. I realized that with some adaptations, a Reader’s Theatre program would be beneficial to the learners in our community who were not being accepted in the literacy program. The mandate of this Reader’s Theatre group was two-fold: 1) to give literacy opportunities to disabled adult learners in a group setting, and 2) to do this utilizing only two volunteer tutors. In 1991, under the umbrella of the literacy program in Olds, a volunteer assistant and myself started a Reader’s Theatre program with 7 participants. This group has grown to 21 participants, who not only have increased their literacy knowledge but now perform Reader’s Theatre in Olds as fund raisers as well as having performed in an Edmonton inclusive elementary school. They have also performed at the Kiwanis Music Festival and have won awards for innovative script development.”

Cindy Crichton
C.C. Consulting, Olds, AB
(May 30, 1999)