To the Tutor:
This manual should be used conjointly with the Health Law Student Manual. It includes a discussion section listing questions you might want to raise with your student. There is also a Resource and Links section to direct you to sites that offer more detailed information at a higher reading level, and referral services.
The purpose of this manual is to provide a tool that literacy tutors can use to help students better understand some basic legal concepts. The information contained in this manual is intended for general information purposes only. Students should consult a legal professional if they need advice regarding a specific question or issue.
As individuals, we must sometimes navigate our way through legal issues relating to our participation in society, work, and family life. Understanding that we have certain rights means that we are better equipped to make choices that will have a positive impact/result. Finding legal information, and then understanding the legal language can prove to be a challenge for many individuals.
For individuals with weak literacy skills the situation is magnified.
Individuals with weak literacy skills often lack the resources, the skills and the confidence to seek out legal information that will help them exercise their rights.
Adults with weak literacy skills who need legal information are faced with several barriers to access:
Without this information, individuals are often prevented from making informed decisions about issues that affect their lives.
The purpose of this manual is to provide a tool that literacy tutors can use to help students better understand some basic legal concepts.
As a result, individuals with weak literacy skills will have increased access to legal information, thereby helping them make informed decisions about issues affecting their lives, and contributing to their independent participation in society.