Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education: New Recommendations to Congress

On December 6, 2011 The Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities, authorized by Congress reported that recommendations to Congress have been made that will provide for direction and result in breaking the barriers to existing instruction for students with disabilities.  These recommendations mark gains in equalizing opportunities for students with print disabilities.

Laura Kaloi, the Public Policy Director of the National Center for Learning Disabilities stated, “While acknowledging the complex and real barriers facing schools, publishers and most important, students in accessing instructional materials, the report makes it clear that students with disabilities should not be denied the opportunity to fully benefit from a postsecondary education. Barriers to existing instructional materials should be removed or surmounted. Future instructional materials can and must be designed to meet the needs of all students, including students with disabilities. The prosperity of our nation and its people depends on full inclusion and full access.”

Recommendations from the Commission include using the information developed in the study to:

1. Inform Federal regulations and legislation
2. Support model programs that improve quality and efficiency of the delivery of instructional materials
3. Identify best practices for collecting, maintaining, processing and disseminating materials in specialized formats making sure costs are comparable to materials produced for non disabled students
4. To improve effective use of such materials by faculty and staff while complying with applicable copyright law
5. Modify definitions of: instructional materials, authorized entities, and eligible students

Click here to view the full report and statement by James H. Wendorf, Executive Director of the National Commission on Learning Disabilities.

Yari Payne, CMP: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

I personally love traditions and what a better time than Christmas to remember them.  For the newbie’s or novice Florida Literacy Conference attendees this is traditionally when all the trimming (details) are placed on the conference website. Like, the dates and location- May 9-11, 2012 at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront.

The 2012 Florida Literacy Conference planning has begun and is in full swing. As the event planner, this is truly my favorite time of the year. It’s the beginning when everything starts to take shape.

And it wouldn’t be possible without presenters. A BIG thanks to everyone who has submitted a proposal to present at the conference. If you haven’t submitted something yet, it’s not too late! You can submit a conference concurrent session before January 23^rd. Conference presenters get a discounted conference rate of $210.

FLC along with our committee planning committee (elves) are working hard to recruit speakers and create a truly unique conference experience in St. Petersburg.

You can help too! I’m sure you

• Know someone who rocks at their job,
• Attended an amazing presentation recently, or
• Read a great new resource,

Reach out via email, phone, or social networks and ask them to submit a proposal before January 23rd.

While I’m super excited at what January will bring in terms of announcements, you will just have to stay tuned in. Let’s hope Santa got my FLC Christmas list.

Stay connected via Facebook, twitter (#flalitcon), and now LinkedIn for future conference updates!

Greg Smith: An Ever Changing Landscape Makes Community Outreach and Advocacy More Important Than Ever

Greg Smith, Executive Director of the Florida Literacy Coalition

Thanks to all of you who were able to join me for our recent webinar on Community Outreach and Advocacy.    If you missed the session, it is still available to view on FLC’s website.

One of the themes that I tried to emphasize is the importance of being proactive in developing and communicating key messages that you want others to know about your program and the difference that you make in the lives of your adult learners.

It’s easy for communications and advocacy to take a back seat to the many other things that we need to get done on a day-to-day basis.  After all, investment of time and effort in this area doesn’t always produce immediate and recognizable benefits.  Literacy programs have always been under resourced and the downturn in the economy has made matters even worse.  Moreover, demand for services is still high with over 70% of Florida’s community-based literacy organizations reporting that they have waiting lists for instruction.

While it may be a challenge, it’s now more important than ever to make sure that our communities, including key decision makers, are aware of the work that we do.   This includes elected officials at the local, state and national level.  The legislative and political landscape is ever changing.  Even since our webinar, a bill has surfaced that could have a substantial impact adult literacy.

In Congress, H.R.3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011, includes a provision that would require those seeking unemployment benefits to meet minimum education requirements in addition to work search requirements.  To meet these requirements, an individual would need to have earned a high school diploma or GED credential or other State-recognized equivalent. If one doesn’t have such a credential, he/she would need to be enrolled and making satisfactory progress in classes leading to a diploma, GED or its equivalent.  Under the bill, which has passed the House, these requirements can be waived by states if they are deemed to be unduly burdensome.

This is a good example of legislation that may have pros and cons depending on your perspective.  What would be the potential impact of such a law?  Would it create an additional demand for services, and if so, from where would the resources come to meet this demand?   Congress needs to hear from adult education and literacy practitioners on this issue.

This bill is also good example of legislation that, if passed, would provide an opportunity to let state policy makers know your thoughts on if and how such a provision should be implemented here in Florida.  You’re the experts and they need to know your thoughts on matters important to our field.  They should also hear from adult learners who may be impacted by such legislation.  Educate yourself on what you can do in an official capacity and what you may need to do as a private citizen.   The National Coalition for Literacy has good guidelines on what you can legally do.

With Florida’s legislative session just around the corner, this is a good time to stay informed, get plugged in and become actively engaged in the process.  We’ll try to keep you updated on significant new developments.

Here are some great national and state resources to keep you informed and/or engaged.

National

      National Coalition for Literacy
                Legislative Action Center http://www.capwiz.com/ncl/home/
Advocacy Tool Kit http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org

      ProLiteracy http://www.proliteracy.org/page.aspx?pid=601

      National Council of State Directors of Adult Education (NCSDAE) “The Return on Investment (ROI) From Adult Education and Training.”

Florida

      Florida Senate, http://www.flsenate.gov

      Florida House, http://www.flhouse.gov

      ACE of Florida http://www.aceofflorida.org/advocacy/legislative-alerts

      FLDOE, Career and Adult Education  http://www.fldoe.org/Workforce/legislation.asp

      FLDOE, Statistics by Legislative District http://fldoehub.org/PerformanceProfile

      FLC, FL Data and Statistics Reference Guide http://www.floridaliteracy.org/about_literacy__facts_and_statistics.html

Top Stories in Literacy: December 19

23 Twitter Tools to help you Tweet like a pro
As Margaret Atwood reiterated last week, a presence on twitter is beneficial for your organization and for students. Here are some tips to help you start a twitter campaign.

Digital literacy can boost employability and improve student experience
The nature of knowledge is changing and, in this digital age, our definition of basic literacy urgently needs expanding. With an estimated 90% of UK jobs requiring some level of IT competency, the notion of digital literacy – those capabilities that equip an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society – is one that needs to be taken seriously by colleges and universities.

Florida law results in more denials of unemployment benefits
The House Republicans unveiled a proposal  (H.R. 3630) to dramatically scale back federal unemployment insurance. It included language that would deny unemployment insurance benefits to individuals who do not have a HS diploma or GED unless they are enrolled and making satisfactory progress in classes leading to one.

Study: Income, Not Race, May be the Biggest Predictor in Health Habits
We know that racial health disparities and differences exist, especially when it comes to weight, diet and exercise. Researchers from John Hopkins believe that income level better explains why these differences are so prevalent in the U.S.

A couple tips for improving your Facebook page

On December 15 I participated in a webinar called “7 Simple Strategies to Profit From Facebook Marketing”. At first I wasn’t sure what I could get from it, since FLC is not using facebook to “profit,” but there were several tips and ideas  that were given that can ultimately help nonprofits. Here are some of the highlights with my input on how to make it work for you.

1. Know your audience
This is key for whatever you are doing, but especially marketing. Why should people like your page? Do you provide resources, statistics, anecdotal remarks? What actions do you want from your fans? Do you want them to use your services? Do you want to tell them a success story that will make them want to volunteer? Knowing what you want from the people who support you is key to a facebook strategy.

2. Creating engagement opportunities
Ask questions on your page that have a likely response. Don’t ask them to tell a story, people are busy and will “like” a post just because it’s the easiest thing to do. Try “What’s one word you would use to describe__” or “What do you think about what we’re working on?” Find questions that can easily be answered and don’t forget to respond to those who are answering questions! Show appreciation and hopefully they’ll keep going. One of the things emphasized in the webinar was the goal to entertain (photos, videos), educate (articles, statistics), and empower (lessons, takeaways) with every post. As a nonprofit, you specialize in these areas and I’m sure your fans will be excited to see you have an active presence.

3. Create something exciting and welcoming
One of the things suggested in the webinar for multiple uses is a welcome page. This is the first thing someone who is not a “fan” will look at. Give them reasons why they should come to your page and include incentives. “Like us to learn about what’s going on in your community and how you can get involved,” or “Like us and learn about FREE professional development opportunities”. You have a lot to offer. Tell people about it! I’ve created a basic welcome page for us .. for now. Big things are coming soon .

As a nonprofit, don’t forget that you have services to sell that can translate into grant dollars.  Let people know how great you are, why they should listen to you, and you will be successful.

Heart of Florida United Way: Hold on to your money!

The one-two punch of holiday spending and the arrival of tax season can leave a lot of people feeling stressed over their finances. Every year, taxpayers spend hundreds of dollars to have their taxes prepared. Did you know that you can have your taxes done for free at a location near you? This year, Heart of Florida United Way is pleased to continue its successful initiative, the Prosperity Campaign of Central Florida. The campaign is focused on helping Central Floridians hold on to the money that they are entitled to. One way is through promoting the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).

VITA sites are locations that provide free tax preparation by IRS-trained volunteers.  Taxpayers can save hundreds of dollars in filing fees and receive 100% of their refund by filing at one of these sites. Refunds are received quickly and easily – usually within 10 days or less.

The Heart of Florida United Way works with the IRS to promote VITA sites throughout Central Florida. Finding them is easy. Simply dial 2-1-1 once filing season starts (January 20^th) and ask for the location near you.

Taxpayers can also ask about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a federal tax credit for individuals and families that earn under certain income thresholds. This year, hard-working residents may qualify for a tax credit of up to $5,751! If you qualify and have already filed your taxes, you can re-file for this year and the last three years to claim your credit. That can result in over $20,000 for families that qualify.

To see if you qualify for the EITC, click here.

To find a VITA site near you, visit our website or simply dial 2-1-1 (After January 10)

Top Stories in Literacy December 12

Orange County School Board Member Takes the FCAT
The man in question is Rick Roach, who is in his fourth four-year term representing District 3 on the Board of Education in Orange County, Fl., a public school system with 180,000 students. Now in his 13th year on the board, he had considered taking the test for a while as he began to increasingly question whether the results really reflected a student’s ability.

Learning English: Social Networking
BBC has great resources for Adult learners. They also have specific tutor help pages for math, money, and ESL. Each week they cover a new topic with the “Learning English section.” This past week it was “Social Networking.”

Margaret Atwood says Twitter, internet boost literacy
Rather than turn our noses up at Twitter, we should celebrate it and the internet as new platforms for instant communication and as drivers of literacy, says CanLit legend Margaret Atwood.

Former NFL Players launch campaign to boost literacy
In March, it was reported that about 22 percent of Broward County’s adult population is illiterate. They saw a related problem when they passed out forms to middle and high school-aged youths who wanted to attend a football clinic. For the most part, they could not complete the paperwork.

No place in class for digital illiterates
This 20th-century notion of literacy has, I believe, mutated as the world has evolved in the face of a barrage of technologies that allow for different forms of expression and different levels of interaction: both with media and with other readers, writers, producers and editors.

Marilyn McMullan: Incorporating Career Awareness into your Daily Curriculum

It’s a rare student who comes into my ABE/GED classroom without the intention to get a job or get a better job.  Students are well aware that without strong literacy skills and a high school diploma or GED, their career options are really limited.  However, I find that only a few have clear understandings of what jobs may be available, or what skills are necessary for those jobs.  For many, the motivator is something like:  “I hear you can make good money as a _______”.  Rarely do students have a clear view of the variety of careers available.  As teachers, we need to help them get this information.   Students also tend to think of the skills they are learning as something for “the test” and disconnected from the skills they would need for a career or for life.   As teachers, we need to bring students closer to the understanding that while the skills we are teaching are for “the test”, they apply to the world of work as well.

An easy way to fill both these needs is to train yourself to use examples which emphasize career reference.  For instance, instead of “The dog (ran, is running, will run) down the street yesterday”, how about “The computer technician (ran, is running, will run) a virus check on my computer yesterday”?  Instead of “One third of the 75 books were fiction”, how about “One third of the 75 prescriptions filled by the pharmacy tech were antibiotics”?  As we teach, we need to constantly use career references in our examples and skills practice so that our students become familiar with various occupations and relate the skills they are learning to those occupations.

Marilyn McMullan

Another way to incorporate career awareness into skills teaching is to structure lessons around a certain occupation.  Take a few minutes to do a quick internet search for information on an occupation, especially one with high job availability in Florida.  Copy or rewrite an article on a radiologist, mix up the paragraphs, and have the students put them in the correct order.  Copy or rewrite a paragraph about legal assistants, leave out the commas and have students correct it.  Use truck drivers or transportation for questions dealing with the distance/ rate/time formula, calculating miles per gallon, or figuring gas cost per trip.  No matter what individual skill your students need or what level you are teaching, you will increase your students’ interest and knowledge by incorporating career awareness into your daily curriculum.

Gary Udouj: Teaching Technology for Career Success

The Fort Smith Adult Education Center is located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a mid-sized manufacturing city in western Arkansas.  As layoffs continue to affect our region, more adults are coming to our center not only to get a GED credential or review basic academic skills, but to learn how to find a new job using technology.  Last year our program served almost 3000 adults, and only 915 were employed. Many of the adults we serve had worked in manufacturing for 20+ years before being laid off. These adults have discovered that finding a new job now requires them to use computers to both seek out and apply for jobs.

In order to meet this demand, our center started offering two new classes: Digital Literacy and Technology for Career Success.  Our Digital Literacy class teaches adults computer basics, from turning on a computer to managing folders to accessing the internet and creating email accounts.  Many of our adult students do not own computers at home, and have found this introductory course to be essential. The course is taught over 12 hours, meeting twice a week for four weeks.

Once they have the basics, adults can then take our 12 hour Technology for Career Success. This course helps the students create resumes, write cover letters, fill out online job applications, search of jobs, and prepare for job interviews.  When taught in conjunction with our Career Readiness Certificate course and WAGE certificate courses, students leave us with the resumes, soft skills, technology, academic and interview skills needed to find a better job or move on to post-secondary training. Teachers work together to bring in Human Resource professionals from area businesses to conduct mock interviews, review resumes, and give the students feedback.

For more information about Career Readiness Certificate, WAGE Certificate, or Technology for Career Success, please visit our website.

Top Stories in Literacy: December 5

New fees drive down adult education enrollment in Florida
Many of Florida’s high school dropouts are giving up the chance to go back to school because they now are required to pay tuition. Enrollment in GED preparation classes has fallen 70 % in Broward County and 61% in Palm Beach County.

Proposal emerges to create adult charter schools
Nudged by a Tallahassee-based non-profit group, two lawmakers are poised to file bills that would allow charter schools and non-profits to offer adult education.

Literacy Coach wins Leadership Grant
Melissa Lime, a member of the board of directors of Learn to Read St. John’s County and instructional reading coach at Pacetti Bay Middle School has received the 2011 Eve Proffitt Emerging Leaders Project Grant from the PDK Educational Foundation.

The Khan Academy: Changing the Face of Education?
One organization that has found a way to improve education through technology is the Khan Academy. By providing an online library of math videos and assessments for students to use, they have created a self-driven, individualized curriculum that motivates students with immediate feedback and positive rewards.

The NEFC Sets Launch Date for the Core 80 Financial Literacy Curriculum
The 2012 version of the NFECs’ Core 80 Financial Literacy Curriculum is launching the second week of January and is designed to provide educators and volunteers engaging lesson plans to improve the financial capability of their students.