This text is part of the special booklet Beyond a Statistic
Everyone at home, riveted to their screen to do everything, from applying for a government grant to meeting the team at work, including shopping, not forgetting the nephew’s birthday dinner. The pandemic has been difficult for most people, but especially for those with low literacy. To better meet the needs exacerbated by the pandemic, several literacy organizations have recently launched new initiatives. Here are three.
Let’s talk about literacy! : video clips to communicate better
The Let’s Talk Literacy! of the Adult Education Center (CEA) in Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup made it possible to create video clips to help organizations communicate more effectively and respectfully with people with low literacy skills. The videos were developed by teachers Catherine Fournier and Isabelle Labrecque, guidance counselor Valérie Lepage, in collaboration with Pauline Solomon, trainer at the ABC des Portages. Their initiative seems to be gradually gaining ground at the Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup School Service Center (CSS), but also throughout the province.
“Filling out a government form, understanding a legal document, deciphering a bill, reading a prescription and registering your child for daycare or school are all situations that can represent a major challenge for many adults with low literacy skills,” explained Nathalie Bélanger, director of the CEA of Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup, in a press release.
No less than one out of two people aged 16 to 65 in Quebec does not have the minimum reading skills so that they can be autonomous, functional and independent in their daily activities, according to the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Skills, an initiative of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In terms of literacy, the Bas-Saint-Laurent is below the Quebec average, according to the Literacy Foundation. “For us, that was the trigger,” says Nathalie Bélanger. As a public body working in the adult education sector, we had to do something. It was imperative to raise awareness, inform and equip businesses, the various organizations in our community as well as the health sector on the different levels of literacy and on the importance of adapting their daily interventions. »
To reach the greatest number of people on the territory, four capsules of about fifteen minutes have been created on these themes: What is literacy?, Observable behaviors, Adapting oral communications, Adapting his written communications. These capsules are also accompanied by tools, such as an informative poster and a literacy wheel grouping together the different skill levels from -1 to 5.
“The process led us to question ourselves about our own practices,” adds Nathalie Bélanger. We have made significant improvements to the onboarding process for new students. Many misunderstandings often stem from a misunderstanding of the information conveyed. Our toolbox is also very much appreciated by our organization. Several establishments of our CSS use it in their communications with parents. Another CSS contacted us recently to use the material we developed. »
Let’s talk about literacy! is part of a comprehensive CEA action plan to help adults live in an increasingly complex world that demands a certain level of literacy.
Etiquette: for the simplification of communications
To raise people’s awareness of illiteracy and the importance of simplifying communications, the popular literacy group l’Ardoise, in Sorel-Tracy, created the Label — Dare to wear it! This project focuses on promoting the right to information of people with low literacy skills by offering appropriate services. By displaying the initiative’s logo, the organizations will be able to be recognized by people with low literacy skills as spaces adapted to their situation.
These people are numerous. In Quebec, more than half of the active population has a literacy level of two or less on a scale containing six. However, you have to reach the third level to be able to understand current communications in Quebec. Staying healthy, getting or keeping a job, integrating into their children’s schooling, avoiding financial precariousness, these are often the challenges faced by people with a low level of literacy.
“Although illiteracy has very concrete individual consequences, it is above all a societal problem which prevents the active participation of more than half of people aged 16 and over and we must act collectively to improve the living conditions of people with low literacy skills,” says Suzie Blanchard, social transformation project manager at l’Ardoise.
The right to information is also one of the least respected rights among adults with low literacy skills, according to a consultation by the Regroupement des Groupes Populaires en Literacy du Québec.
It is in the face of this observation that the Label initiative — Dare to wear it! has been developed. The objectives are to make organizations of all kinds, which provide services to the public, aware of the right to information and to equip them so that they can simplify their communications. The initiative also wants to promote the participation of people with low literacy “in the community with dignity, because they will receive services adapted to their reality,” argues Martine Simard, executive director of l’Ardoise.
The popular literacy group recently reviewed its service offering after several needs were revealed by the pandemic. COVID has indeed led many people to have to urgently fill out online forms, for example to obtain government assistance. L’Ardoise offers, among other things, free individual support and support for reading, writing and the use of digital technologies in Sorel-Tracy, a city marked by its industrial past.
A new space in Saulnierville
Headquartered in Tusket, the Literacy Team — Nova Scotia, which helps Nova Scotians learn the French language and develop employability skills, had to make the switch from offering online services since the start of the pandemic. While training is still offered remotely, the organization has observed a need for a physical presence, especially when it comes time to develop basic computer skills. His training in the field allows him to learn, among other things, how to navigate websites, send emails, create a Facebook account and talk to loved ones using certain videoconferencing software. It was therefore at the request of the population that the community organization opened an office in Saulnierville in June.
The Literacy Team — Nova Scotia offers six other training sessions to the population. Alpha Familiale gives workshops to Francophone Acadian families with young children. The objective is to improve parenting skills in adults and make them aware of the importance of reading from an early age at home. The Je parle français avec mon enfant program also allows parents to improve their level of French so that they can support their child in the early years at daycare or school. Community Alpha helps Acadian and Francophone adults acquire a basic reading, writing, conversation and math skills. Digital training for seniors who have special needs to promote their social inclusion is offered with Impact aîné.es On the professional side, Skills at work presents ten small workshops on important elements to have in the workplace for a relaxed and participatory.
The distance education component offers more than 50 courses to follow independently in the fields of French grammar, mathematics and computer security.
The mission of the Literacy Team — Nova Scotia, which this year celebrates its 30e birthday, is to enable adults to be independent in their personal, professional and social lives. Closed in the summer, the community organization resumes its activities on September 6.