ProLiteracy Assists Volunteers

Heed McCain Call to Help Adults Learn to Read

(Syracuse, NY) —The head of the world’s largest organization of adult basic education and literacy programs said ProLiteracy is “ready, willing, and able” to help individuals who want to follow up on the call by presidential candidate Sen. John McCain to “teach an illiterate adult to read.”

David C. Harvey, president and CEO said, “Individuals who want to find adult literacy programs in their communities or who want to learn more about the issue of adult literacy in the U.S. need only to come to ProLiteracy’s Web site at proliteracy.org.

“We have a ‘find a program’ search feature that lists member programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia,” Harvey said. “Many of our programs have students on waiting lists because there aren’t enough teachers and tutors. I know those programs will be thrilled to hear from potential volunteers.”

Harvey said he was very pleased with the one-line reference to adult literacy that McCain made during his acceptance speech for his party’s presidential nomination last week. In calling for Americans to help change the country, McCain said “teach an illiterate adult to read.”

Harvey said the statement is an acknowledgement on the part of a presidential candidate that there are many adults in the U.S. who struggle with the simplest reading tasks. That acknowledgement, Harvey said, “is important to our cause.”

“Adult literacy must be on the radar screen of the new administration, no matter who wins the election and lands in the White House,” Harvey said. “And ProLiteracy is doing everything it can to make sure both candidates have the necessary information so they’ll be ready to address it when they take office.” Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s position on adult literacy can be found on the Literacy President Web site (www.litpresident.org)

In a 2003 national report on adult literacy, it is estimated that 30 million adults can barely read well enough to accomplish daily tasks such as reading a menu or following the directions on a prescription bottle. Yet federal funding for state adult basic education and literacy programs has been reduced or stayed stagnant over the past five years.

“We are going to need the support of the new president and the new Congress if we are to make sure adults have the reading, writing, computation, and technology skills required to make a living wage in today’s society,” Harvey said.

About ProLiteracy
ProLiteracy promotes literacy in the context of people’s daily lives —at home, at work, and in the community —through education, training and technical assistance, publications, research, policy development, and advocacy. ProLiteracy works with adult new readers and learners, and in partnership with local, national and international organizations, including volunteer-based literacy programs and the traditional adult basic education system, and agencies specializing in workforce readiness, health literacy, and English as a second language. ProLiteracy has member programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Internationally, ProLiteracy works with 125 nongovernmental agencies in 65 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.