Written by Lauren James Budhu
March is National Reading Month; picking up a novel, scouring a cookbook for a dinner recipe, or reading a street sign while driving is just part of everyday life for so many adults in the United States. Yet for some, that skill doesn’t come easy. According to the latest report by ProLiteracy.org, more than 43 million American adults cannot read, write, or do basic math above a third grade level. Further, only one in three American fourth graders are proficient in reading, according to Save the Children.
This is the case due to a variety of causes. According to Literacy Pittsburgh, factors such as undiagnosed learning disabilities, hearing or vision loss, lack of a role model who stresses reading, poverty, instability at home, and leaving school early to work or take care of a relative can all contribute. Together, these factors can create insurmountable barriers to literacy.
The consequences of low literacy and illiteracy are countless. Some examples include unemployment, low-quality jobs or minimal chances for advancement, as well as limited ability to absorb essential information, reduced access to lifelong learning, low self esteem, and more. Reduced literacy also impacts the economy when jobs are vacant because of the lack of trained workforce. Further, a difficulty understanding of societal issues lowers levels of community involvement and civic participation.
While there are plenty of barriers, there are also many literacy efforts out there to help combat low literacy and illiteracy:
● ProLiteracy: The largest adult literacy and basic education membership organization in the United States supports more than 1,000 member programs in the country and 35 countries worldwide. In addition to providing literacy instruction, it also advocates for increased awareness, funding and support of educational resources for adults. Help more adults learn to read by donating!
● Save the Children: For young struggling readers, Save the Children provides literacy programs that help accelerate reading growth. They believe that every child deserves a future, which is why helping children thrive in reading and writing is crucial. Help a child by donating or joining a program to teach others.
● Book Programs
○ Children’s Book Project: This awesome project offers free books to children from under-resourced neighborhoods. Find out ways to give books!
○ Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: Dedicated to inspiring a love of reading from an early age, the global organization has programs in the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and Ireland that gift books to children up to age five. Started in 1995 in Parton’s home county in Tennessee, it now sends more than 2 million books a month to children all over the world. It’s so amazing that I am trying to get this program started locally in my hometown in Virginia! As an avid reader from an early age, it was always important to me to share this love of books with my two young children; something that this wonderful program would allow me to continue on a larger scale. See how you can help donate, sign your child up, or get a program started in your hometown.
Here’s to happy reading!
