Vivian's inability to read and write would have sentenced her to a homogeneous life, a life without challenges, with lowered expectations. Vivian would end up being the victim of those who would control her life, rather than being empowered to make changes for its improvement

Literacy is vital for survival in an industrialized society like Canada, even for the general population. For a disabled woman, literacy creates the opportunity for a life approaching normal rather than one condemned to exile. The only thing worse than having to do all the form filling, lobbying and advocacy for very basic services is not having the skills or the assistance to perform these essential tasks at all.

If educators understood the kind of impact that literacy instruction could have for a disabled person, they would not I ask, "Why should I include this person in my program?" Instead they would work out how.

And just as women needed to be educated about the possibilities which would become open to them after liberation, so too, do disabled women need to be educated about their possibilities - possibilities created and increased through literacy.

Tracy Odell is the Access Coordinating with the Literacy Branch of the Ministry of Skills Development. Odell, who is physically disabled, is a long-time advocate for disabled issues. After living in an institution for twelve years, she lobbied for accessible transportation, and continues to do so for universal access. She has helped to develop two attendant care projects, and she consults with teacher and literacy practitioners on curriculum and improving access to learners with disabilities. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband David and her daughter, Kathleen.

Janice Andreae
Content, 1987
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