History:

• Special education experience
• Support agency or person involved in their daily life
• Work history: employment in a supported work setting

Observations and Task Performance:

• Inappropriately dressed for weather
• Speech is difficult to understand
• Difficulty with reading and writing
• Appears to be eager to please
• Appears to be easily led
• Avoids answering questions about their disability ¹⁵

The Famous "Grey Area"

There are some individuals that we may come across in literacy programs who seem to show characteristics of learning disabilities as well as intellectual disabilities. This is often referred to as "the grey area" mainly because most practitioners do not know the most effective teaching strategies for these individuals and they tend to be the most difficult population when it comes to writing training plans.

It is true for many literacy organizations that some learners may fall into a category that is often referred to as "the grey area." Several of these adults have never been through formal assessment procedures so it is often difficult for practitioners to find ways to instruct these learners. The best way to interpret the literacy needs of these individuals would be through formal assessment; however, this might not be possible for financial reasons.