Re: Commnicating with an audience of low literacy levels

["Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>]

I think you've replied to someone who quoted me.  I didn't
say these things, though I wouldn't dispute them.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Gold" <peter -at- knowhowpro -dot- com>
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 4:55 AM
Subject: RE: Commnicating with an audience of low literacy levels


> Gene Kim-Eng wrote:
> 
>> Not surprisingly, reading levels tend to be low among
>> prison inmates as a group.  There is a direct correlation
>> between low literacy and violence.  
> 
> There is a high correlation between undiagnosed and untreated 
> learning disabilities in young students and frustration in 
> school and work that often leads to behavior that results in 
> imprisonment, as juveniles and adults. The rich teaching 
> methods, approaches, and techniques that work effectively for 
> those with learning disabilities are equally effective for 
> "normal" students.
> 
>> Any time anybody has
>> spare books after their garage sale (or before), the
>> nearest prison will gladly accept them as a donation.
>> Spare time spent with inmates as a Literacy Volunteer can
>> improve a life and make society better.
> 
> Yes, but informed proactive policies and well-funded training 
> for teachers and administrators in elementary, middle, and 
> high schools can help to reduce the acts that lead to 
> imprisonment, for less cost, and with better outcomes for 
> everyone.
> 
>> 
>> Also not surprisingly, income tends to follow the reading
>> level curve.
> 
> This is another view of the same issues - remediating learning 
> disabilities early on enables better success in school and 
> later life. The right early start is all-around better than 
> too-late fixups.
> 
>> One last thought -- a low reading level often has no
>> connection to a person's intelligence,
> 
> Correct! Learning disabilities are not about intelligence. Low 
> literacy in populations is less likely a result of low 
> intelligence, and more likely a result of undiagnosed and 
> untreated learning disabilities.
> 
>> and many non-readers
>> are very sensitive about this.
> 
> "Smart But Feeling Dumb," is a book about coping with the 
> frustrations of having dyslexia and related learning 
> disabilities, whose title sums this up concisely.
> 
> Writing at an accessible reading level doesn't mean 
> dumbing-down the content; it means writing the material as 
> accessibly as possible for the intended audiences.

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