Learner's Story



The following story was written by Donald Haines, from Montreal, Quebec. Donald has been one of those indispensible assets to RECLAIM (The Reading Council for Literacy Advance in Montreal). He has written letters and articles for their newsletters and website, and speaks at tutor training workshops and at other literacy workshops. He has also started a student group. He won a Canada Post Literacy Award in 1996. Donald is an inspiration to all of us!!

Untitled
by Donald Haines

My name is Donald Haines and I am 57 years old. I did not decide to learn to read and write until I was about 50, having this disability all my life. Learning disabled people always have an average or above average IQ. Their problem is that it takes longer for the information to sink in.

My life depended on other people to read letters and applications, and to fill in forms. I always used the excuse that I forgot my glasses or the right ones to read with. I could not look up names or numbers in the telephone book, so I would ask people to mark the number down for me.

RECLAIM came to me by accident through a friend who happened to be a teacher. She gave me a number to call and I did. I was so nervous and scared to start this new adventure at my age. I was matched with a good tutor who has helped me get over the fear of reading and is still with me today.

In the last five years of being a student at RECLAIM, I have learnt not only how to read through their selection of books, but also about how a computer could help me. RECLAIM has a drop-in centre where they have many computers with learning programs, such as reading, writing and spelling. There are always tutors around to help me with different problems.

Now it has opened up a new world for me. I can read parts of newspapers, directions, prescription drugs, shopping lists and make out my own personal cheques. With more confidence in myself, I am not shy to give advice to those with the same disability.

I am not trying to get a degree or anything like this but only to know about the world around me without depending on others to let me know.

[This story was taken with permission, from the RECLAIM website, at : http://www.nald.ca/reclhome.htm]



And, Among the Winners Were...

The battle for world literacy is too often a story of unsung heroes. That’s one reason the NALD newsletter will bring to you on a regular basis a list of those individuals, programs and organisations honoured with international, national and provincial recognition for outstanding work in the global literacy initiative.

National

Awards for Excellence in Workplace Literacy -
2001 Recipients
Small Business: Diversified Metal Engineering Ltd. - Charlottetown, PEI
Medium Business: Cameco Corporation, Key Lake Operation - Saskatoon, SK
Large Business: The North West Company - Winnipeg, MB

Gage GED Graduate Scholarship Award -
2000 Recipient: Robert Fredericks, Halifax, NS

Provincial

New Brunswick

Alpha Awards - 2001 Recipients:
Learners: Claudette Audet, Val d’Amour; Grace Leriche, Salisbury; Géraldine Bouchard, St-Jean-Baptiste; Sherry McMillan, Fredericton; Réal Cyr, Saint-André; Robert Melanson, Moncton; James Mitton, Lakeville; Sylvie Malenfant, Saint-Léonard; Jessie Pope, Shediac; François Mallet, Shippagan; Cathy Simon, Sackville; Denis St-Pierre, Partenariat Maltempec II, Maltempec; Dorothy Ward, Miramichi
Volunteers: Gisèle Rioux, St-François; Peter Sawyer, Moncton
Facilitator Excellence: Linda Haché, Maltempec; Margaret Harriman, Salisbury West
Non-profit Organisations: Formation de base Saint-Léonard, Saint-Léonard; Comité Partenariat Le Goulet, Le Goulet; Minto Literacy Council, Minto Corporate: GCP Strategic Communications, Moncton
Lieutenant-Governor’s Alpha Award for Early Childhood Literacy: Early Active Reading & Storytelling (EARS) Committee, Moncton

Workplace Training for Excellence Awards - presented by the New Brunswick Labour Force Development Board - 2000 Recipients :
Career Laddering : Imperial Oil Ltd. - CSSC
Promotion of Equity Groups Participation: Imperial Oil Ltd. - CSSC; Jobs Unlimited
Human Resource Planning : Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee of NB Inc.
Educational Partnerships Basic Skill Development: Irving Pulp and Paper / NBCC - Saint John
Basic Skill Development: Communications, Energy and Papermakers Union of Canada

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Literacy Awards - 2001 Recipients:
Program or Project: Parkland Regional College, Melville
Corporate or Association: The Pinegrove Correctional Centre
Professional: Susan Emson, Saskatoon Public Library
Volunteer: Jeff Park, Saskatoon
Learners: Michael Lalonde, Saskatoon; Ramona Natowcappo, Saskatoon

Saskatchewan Labour Force Development Board Training for Excellence Awards - 2000 Recipients :
Educational Partnerships - Saskatoon Industry Education Council; SaskTel Promotion of Equity Participation - Mariaval Enterprise Centre
Promotion of Aboriginal Participation - Construction Career Development Project
Basic Skill Development - Canadian Mental Health Association Cross-Disability Teleservice Project Human Resource Planning - Crew Call: Careers in Film & Television
Career Laddering - Saskatchewan Government Insurance «Navigating Careers Together»



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Making Literacy a Union Issue Learner's Corner
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