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From: Precure Agnes <agnes.precure@occs.state.or.us>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:63] Re: literacy screening
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I would like to echo Debbie's points about Betsy and Janet's comments. Both
make excellent suggestions. However, I would again advise caution about
putting out a literacy screener under the guise of anything else. It's not
OK to tell adults -- literate, or not -- that you are doing a health
screening when what you are really doing a literacy screening. It's also
not OK to assess adults without their knowledge. Reverse the situation --
would it be appropriate to ask an adult in a literacy program to take a
literacy test ("we just want a little information about your reading
skills") when your real goal was to gather information about their medical
history to refer them for health services? Adults have the right to know
when you are assessing them, and what you are going to do with that
assessment information. This can become a privacy and confidentiality
issue. It's also very poor customer service to waste the time of those who
don't need literacy services by asking them to take an unnecessary test.
I encourage you to think about the approaches mentioned in earlier e-mails
-- talk to adults about community services including literacy. Ask them if
they would like information about literacy services. Watch for signs, but
use this information very, very cautiously -- you can't assume too much. Or
implement a screener, but be very clear that about what it is and how the
information will be used.
A medical facility can be a great place to begin literacy services, but
please be up front about it.
Agnes Precure
Staff Development and Curriculum Specialist
Office of Community College Services
Salem, Oregon
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dwyoho@aol.com [SMTP:Dwyoho@aol.com]
> Sent: Thursday, April 01, 1999 1:08 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:62] Re: literacy screening
>
> Janet, Betsy, all interested: You both have good ideas and you're both
> right.
> Janet's tips for observing possible literacy problems work. Betsy's
> concern
> not to single people out is a sensitive observation. What would you think
> of
> a brief, written questionniare (maybe five questions) given to all
> patients
> with the request: "We are doing a survey to find out what people know
> about
> some major health problems. Please complete this." Then write the survey
> with multiple choice answers. Make one answer obvious, the rest nonsense
> responses. Now you can observe each person as they work to fill it out,
> plus
> many poor readers will just guess a,b,c, or d and that will show when you
> read
> their responses. Questions should be on common concerns: smoking,
> headaches,
> whether people with hypertension show symptons, how much aspirin somebody
> should take at one time, etc. Collect the survey and at a glance, you
> know
> whether to explore literacy or not.
> Of course, the moment comes, which can be awkward, of suggesting a
> need for
> help. Here's how I ask the question to strangers: "A lot of people would
> like to improve their writing, reading, or spelling skills. What do you
> think
> about that?" You'll get all kinds of answers, often leading to the chance
> to
> suggest who to call, etc. "I've got a friend..." "My mom always bugs me
> to
> spell for her..." "I hate to read...." "School was always no fun..."
> etc.
> etc.
> I would also like to offer the opinion that most of us who read well
> are
> overly self-conscious about embarrassing someone. Assuming you are
> speaking
> privately, often "Our services include help for people interested in
> improving
> their reading. Would you be interested?" is direct and much less
> threatening
> than we readers would expect. How often the resopnse has been, "Oh, man,
> I
> can't read a lick..." or "You mean there are tutors for adults, not just
> kids?"
> One other idea: we have learned by trial and error that a simple,
> clear,
> large sign that says "Free help to read better. Call xxxx " is the best
> visual. Forget brochures and flyers.
> Good luck. Debbie Yoho, Greater Columbia Literacy Council
>
>
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