Literacy Activities Handbook - Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres

As much as possible, adult literacy learners with developmental disabilities should generate their own learning goals, based on their own interests and needs. Being in control of their own learning builds self-esteem and helps retain interest.

In some cases, the tutor may need to help the learner set goals for learning. We’ve learned that the tutor may also need to work with the learner to set realistic small steps which lead toward a larger goal. And, although a balance will need to be struck between immediate literacy needs (such as reading medicine labels) and longer term goals (such as reading a mystery novel), it’s important to remember that reading has recreational as well as functional uses.

most learners have an attention span of 15-30 minutes for one activity,
progress can be very slow— measured in months rather than weeks—and dependent upon the frequency and consistency of instruction,
students are concrete learners, so stories linked to their own experiences will be easier to understand,
tutors need to be creative and flexible with instructional methods, adapting the learning needs to the interests of the student,
tutors should use as many different activities as possible for each concept being taught, and, above all
progress will be faster when both student and tutor are having fun!