03/15/2002

Read to Succeed for Adults

Q: Someone told me about a program in Hartford called Read to Succeed that helps adults with reading disabilities learn how to improve their reading skills. Have you heard of this program?

A: I contacted Karen Oaks, the Director of Read to Succeed and she sent me the following information.

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Read to Succeed: Success story
By Christopher Zurcher

Delroy Edwards wanted to read to his daughter.

Carmine Lombardi wanted to take a college course.

Delroy and Carmine had something in common. They couldn't read well enough to do the things they wanted to do. Both knew it wasn't hopeless. They knew they were smart enough, but they had not found the keys to unlock their reading and spelling skills. With some hard work and encouragement, the Hartford YMCA's Read to Succeed Adult Reading Program has shown them that they can learn to read and they have, better than they ever thought.

The mission of Read to Succeed is to teach reading, spelling and writing skills to adults who have reading disabilities along with average or above average intelligence—all at an affordable level. According to Karen Oaks, Program Director, the average student who comes to Read to Succeed is 37 years old. More than 70% have high school diplomas and college degrees. "The average graduate in 2001 entered with a reading level of second grade and graduated reading at the 14th grade (adult level)," says Oaks. "Achieving this kind of growth takes a dedicated group of students, volunteer tutors, teachers and financial sponsorship. Students come to classes 4 days a week for 2 hours daily, and graduate in about 2 years. Currently students come to us from communities in and around Hartford, from as far away as Willimantic and Southington."

Read to Succeed uses teaching techniques based on proven research and the most current recommendations of state and national reading panels. "We train our teachers and volunteer tutors frequently to assure their skills are current," says Oaks. "Then they immediately practice what they have learned. This makes their teaching skills stronger which, in turn, benefits every student."

Carmine, an electrician, has received several promotions at work since he entered the Read to Succeed program and started learning to read better. "People come to me now at work with questions, because I read all the service bulletins that come out at work," Carmine said. "It makes me feel great." In the spring of 2002 Carmine will be added to the list of graduates from Read to Succeed since it started teaching adults to read in 1990.

"I've seen many determined individuals start this program and seen them become filled with hope," says Elke Blanchard, the Read To Succeed Academic Coordinator. "They've gone through their entire lives feeling like they've been dumped because they can't read. But when they come to us and we explain to them about learning disabilities and that they can learn to read, the whole world opens up for them and they know everything's going to be okay."

"I read the Bible a lot more now," Delroy said. "I get a kick out of reading my mail. And when I'm going places, I know where I am." And, like everyone who has gone through the Read to Succeed program, Delroy is going places. Carmine, too, has plans for college and will remain as a volunteer once he graduates this year.

Although Read to Succeed currently serves only adults, it has served as a resource for parents, educators and other service agencies. Oaks explains that Read to Succeed is exploring ways to begin teaching more educators as well as serving children, families and corporate environments. "We are searching for a larger space in Hartford where we can serve a larger adult population and cut down on our waiting list."

This means that Read to Succeed needs more volunteer tutors and financial sponsorship. The tutors and students come from all walks of life, creating a wonderfully diverse group. Tutors are retired or still working and come from backgrounds such as: actuarial, insurance, psychology, education, industry, building management, accounting and education.

Elke was a volunteer when she started with Read to Succeed. She left her position as a quality control expert with State Street Bank, in Boston, because the part of her job she enjoyed the most was teaching others. "I left and got a degree in special education," she said. "A professor told me that if I really wanted to learn how to teach people to read, that I should go to Read to Succeed." Elke is now finishing up a specialized reading program at Columbia University and will receive her Language Academic Therapist Certification.

As far as what it's like to be a tutor with Read to Succeed: "Something happens when you enter those doors," Elke said. "You can come in the door in a bad mood, but when you leave, you leave happy."

"This is a universal attitude with our volunteers," says Oaks, herself a teacher of special education and parent of a child with dyslexia. "There are so many days I find it hard to leave work, because there is such an atmosphere of joyful success in our students, volunteer tutors and teachers."

Signs that an adult may have a reading disability include:

• May hide reading problems.
• May spell poorly; relies on others to correct spelling.
• Avoids writing; may not be able to write.
• Often very competent in oral language.
• Relies on memory; may have an excellent memory.
• Often has good "people" skills.
• Often is spatially talented; professions include, but are not limited, to engineers, architects, designers, artists and craftspeople, mathematicians, physicists, physicians (esp. surgeons and orthopedists), and dentists.
• May be very good at "reading" people (intuitive).
• In jobs is often working well below their intellectual capacity.
• May have difficulty with planning, organization and management of time, materials and tasks.
• Often entrepreneurs.

Maybe someone you know might be able to better their life with some reading instruction. Like Delroy, Carmine and others who have been Read to Succeed students, they could soon be reading and achieving their dreams.

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Editor's Note: You can contact Read To Succeed by phone at (860) 522-4183, ext. 2322 Ask for a free initial assessment, or volunteer as a tutor, or apply for a staff position or offer to assist in other ways. You can email the program at readtosucceedymca@yahoo.com.

Christopher Zurcher works in Hartford, lives in Collinsville, and has been a volunteer Read to Succeed tutor for two years.

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Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.