IL Reading Club

The Open Book: Literacy Group

Join us on Wednesdays from 2:00-3:00pm at the centre to particiapte if you like reading good books with great friends! 

Books are being read and listened to in audio format for all to enjoy!

Now reading: The Hunger Games

By: Suzanne Collins 

 

IL Literacy Program 

National Project Details:

The centre has now wrapped up the 3 year National Literacy Project!

Since 2007, The Independent Living Resource Centre (ILRC) Thunder Bay has been actively involved in a national literacy research project focused on assessing the impact of literacy on quality of life for persons with disabilities.  The ILRC is one of five pilot sites across Canada that was chosen to participate in this prestigious, Canada-wide project.  This exciting team also included the Thunder Bay Literacy Group, Independent Living Canada and researchers from the University of Manitoba.  These researchers are currently analyzing the findings.  Participant stories and combined findings will be published in a national research essay that will be distributed to disability groups across Canada.  The project will conclude in September 2010, and as a result of the rave reviews of the project, the ILRC will continue to provide literacy tutoring to adults with disabilities.

Over the literacy project’s three- year span, The ILRC has assisted 17 consumers in enhancing their literacy skills.  Reading, writing, math, and computer skills were some of the desired literacy domains being explored by participants.  Learning environments were also very different for each participant.  Some project participants attended classes, while others attended tutoring sessions.  In all cases, classes and sessions were designed to fit the needs and learning styles of each participant.  Some participants required hands on, repetitive learning in their lesson plans, while others benefited more from audiovisual cues or verbal direction.  The multiple learning styles approach was a very successful part of the project.

Though the research of the project is yet to be finalized, project participants have reported that they feel that they were successful in attaining their goals.  Participants have been quoted as saying that they wish they could have been involved in this project years ago to help in their literacy pursuits.  One participant has even stated that the literacy project offered her “a new beginning in her life”.

Prior to the project, some participants had been fearful of “literacy”, as they had always felt that they simply could not learn.  Not only did their literacy skills improve, but participants also began to report on higher self-esteem, as they realized that they could really learn – just perhaps in a different way!