Media Coverage
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SPECIAL FOCUS: EDUCATION
Addressing Literacy Problems In the Workplace
A conversation with Emmy Bledsoe,
Former Executive Director of
Project Literacy U.S. {PLUS}. |
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| By OLIA SILEO
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
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| ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT FROM THE National Assessment of Adult Literacy, about 11 million adults in the United States are not literate in English, and some 30 million adults have “below basic” skills in prose-barely enough to make sense of a simple pamphlet. In business, lack of literacy affects productivity, safety on the job, and, ultimately, the economy. Emmy Bledsoe, executive director of Project Literacy U.S. (PLUS), a non-profit, incorporated agency in Hackensack, talked with COMMERCE about what New Jersey businesses are doing to improve literacy in the workplace. |
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COMMERCE:
”The Adult Literacy in New Jersey Report “ from the New Jersey Council on Adult Education and Literacy says that 1.4 million adults in New Jersey are functionally illiterate. What are your goals in regard to raising adult literacy levels in NJ?
EMILY BLEDSOE:
The goal of PLUS is to increase awareness of adult literacy needs and the services that
are available. We promote literacy in the workforce, as well as in the community. We act as a clearinghouse for information and referrals, and can offer direct assistance with programs if needed.
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Q. Do New Jersey businesses use your services?
A. Yes. Our Workplace Literacy Initiative encourages business to be aware that
some of their employees may have problems with reading, writing and speaking English.
We can help industries identify basic skills needs among their employees and refer companies to the right provider program for their needs. The local Workplace Investment Board, a federally funded program, helps with corporate literacy issues, along with the Business Resources Network, which is part of the New Jersey Department of Labor. PLUS can provide direct assistance. We recently heard from a company that had an employee in need of basic reading help, and we were able to find a tutor for that person. It is all confidential and we do not charge for this service-but companies may make a donation to PLUS if they wish.
Q. Are you partnered with NJ businesses in any way?
A. Yes, we receive financial sponsorship from some companies in New Jersey, Often, it is from companies that have had on-site literacy programs for their employees.
Q. What are NJ businesses doing to promote literacy among their employees?
A. Some businesses are aware and concerned about the issue and have implemented programs within the company to help their employees become literate. Some companies have started English as a Second Language {ESL} programs; then have added a GED program. On-site basic skills programs-such as reading, writing, ESL and /or GED preparation- can make a big difference in improving Workplace Literacy. Programs can be tailored around the employee’s work and include language used in the specific job. Funding is available through the Department of Labor. Companies that are interested may contact us for information.
Q. How can an employer recognize that an employee might have a literacy problem?
A. Illiteracy is really a hidden impediment; people who have it often will try to cover it up and compensate for it in order to survive on the job.
Some signs that may point to literacy problems: mistakes on reports, reports that are late or not done, or an employee consistently “losing” memos and asking a co-worker what was in them.
Q. How should an employer approach an employee to encourage him/her to get help?
A. It really is a delicate issue because there is often embarrassment associated with the topic. Supervisors should be made aware to approach the subject with sensitivity and tact. As companies interact with their employees and get to know them, they develop a comfortable relationship. If managers see someone struggling to fill out a form, for instance, they can offer to help that person. We all have to be careful how we approach it. We don’t want to embarrass people or scare them away from getting help.
Q. How do businesses benefit by helping employees become literate?
A. Benefits include increased productivity and a safer work environment. If companies provide help to people who needed it, employees will have a better relationship with the company. The company can keep these people in the family, so to speak, and promote from within, while employees can grow in the job. It's more economical. Everybody wins. For assistance with Workplace Literacy Programs, call Emmy Bledsoe at (201) 489-7066.Project Literacy U.S. welcomes corporate sponsorship.
Helping hands on the path to adult literacy
The Record
Friday, October 13,2006
Bergen Group Promotes Basic Skills
BY MONSY ALVARADO
STAFF WRITER
HACKENSACK – Bluebirds peeeeeeped happily,””
Tatiana read the words slowly, placing her pencil underneath each word as she sounded it out.”Good job,” praised her tutor, Susan Podblelski..
Tariana and Podbielski have been meeting regularly since April at Bergen Community College’s Ciarco Learning Center on Main Street, It is there that 25-year old Tatiana learns about pronunciation, adverbs, adjectives and other English lessons she did not learn in high school.
“I push myself so much,” said Tatiana, who asked that her last name not be used, “I try as much as I can here and I get help at home.”
Project Literacy U.S of Bergen County (PLUS), a non-profit organization based in Hackensack that is teaching her to read, is helping Tatiana. The organization, formed in 1987, finds help for those who want to improve reading skills, speak English or who are working toward their GED. PLUS’ mission is to promote adult literacy by increasing public awareness and literacy initiatives in the workplace and community.
The organization is holding its annual gala dinner on Saturday, where it will honor actor James Earl Jones, who has been an advocate for literacy programs. Jones said during a recent telephone interview that he learned to enjoy reading because of his family.
“Literacy was very important in my family starting back during slavery times,” said Jones, who grew up Mississippi. “Even though it was illegal, my great-great-grandparents wanted it and passed on the love of reading.”
PLUS receives about 300 calls a year from people looking for help, The organization refers many of them to other literacy programs in the area, but it also tutors approximately 50 people. Emmy Bledsoe, executive director, said the organization has more than 100 people on a waiting list who are seeking one-on-one tutoring.
The need is to really find qualified volunteer tutors, she said. Bledsoe said that the public is just not aware of how many people lack basic reading skills calling it a “hidden handicap. Many adults who cannot read go to great lengths to hide it from others."
“It crosses all social economic levels,” Bledsoe said,” There are many reasons for the lack of basic skills in adults. Some may not have been ready to learn when they were in school. Some may have difficulty attaining information. Tatiana, who lives in Hawthorne, graduated from high school. In school, Tatiana was placed in special education classes, which were crowded and did not give her the one-on-one help she needed.
“I also was not really into it,” she said, I was more into boys and into having fun.”
After graduation, Tatiana held several jobs, including a filing clerk at a car dealership, she knew the alphabet and could read numbers. When her boss gave her more responsibility, she could always count on her coworkers for assistance.I had jobs since I was 17,” she said, “Sometimes it was hard, really hard." When Tatiana gave birth to her 15 year old daughter, she said it was time to get serious about reading.
“My daughter was my inspiration,” said Tatiana, who recently started a new job where she is required to use her newly acquired skills, I want to read to her, help her do her home-work.”
Mariam of Hackensack, said her children were the reason she asked for help from the organization, Mariam, who was born in Egypt, is learning English and hopes to communicate fluently with her 3-year old’s pre-kindergarten teacher.
Betty Alken, a retired teacher and Mariam’s tutor, said when they first met in May, Aiken had to rely on Mariam’s husband to help translate. Now, the 27-year old woman can hold simple conversations in English. “She can answer questions herself about a lot of things.” Aiken said, “she understands me and I understand her.”
For information about PLUS or its annual gala, call the organization at 201-489-7066 or visit its web site at www.projectplus org.
E-mail : alvarado@northjresey.com |
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The average adult has an eighth grade reading level. |
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American businesses lose more than $60 billion in productivity each year due to employee’s lack of basic reading skills. |
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Twenty five percent of Americans cannot address an envelope well enough to reach its destination. |
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Adults with a bachelor’s degree are three times more likely than people with less than a high school diploma to report reading newspapers, magazines or books regularly. |
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Most adults read at least one or two grade levels below their last completed school grade. |
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Source Project Literacy U.S |
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... help an adult learn to read
… promote literacy in Bergen County
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… for yourself, a family member or friend
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| We would like to increase the capacity of our volunteer tutoring program from serving 75 students to serving 150 or more students by the end of 2008. We would also like to increase the performance levels of at least 75% of our students by at least one level. We feel that these goals can be best |
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