- Creating a program to recognize organizations who provide leadership and
champion the 'Literacy for Employability' agenda; and
- Designing recognition and incentives for literacy students who achieve their goals.
- School to Work Transition – addressing the issues of high
school graduates with low literacy skills
In Section 7 under Findings, this report discusses the issue of students
graduating from high school with a diploma but their literacy skills
are substantially below the grade 12 reading skill level. One can assume
that the employability potential for these students is poor and, because
they have a diploma, they are not eligible to participate in most literacy programs.
One can also make the assumption that many of these students have disabilities.
Further understanding of this issue is required before definitive recommendations
can be made. A project should be struck which examines these issues
more closely and explores the potential of building on existing school
to work, high school to post secondary and school to apprenticeship
transition programs to address the specific needs of this student population.
- Planning and Coordination of Literacy Needs for Persons with Disabilities
An oranization must be responsible for moving forward with the agenda
for adult literacy for persons with disabilities. Organizations which
should be considered include the Disabled Persons Commission, TEAM Work Cooperative,
and the Department of Education.
At one time, the Department of Education had created a position to coordinate
literacy needs for persons with disabilities. This position was intended
to provide advocacy, coordination and organization for the needs of
this group. The position existed for only a short time and appears to have
been eliminated several years ago. Someone who has 'the pulse' of this
community and the authority to influence program change would be an asset to moving the issues forward.
A planning and coordinator's position should initially be funded on a project
basis to develop an action plan to address the issues related to literacy
for persons with disabilities. Issues which an action plan should address
include both strategic and tactical issues, most of which have been described above.
Longer term, this position should be permanently funded to implement the
plan and to provide the coordination and perform the advocacy work that will
be necessary to improve literacy and consequent employment levels for persons
with disabilities in HRM.
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