Month: April 2019

My name is Luke Sandham. In recent years, my life has been in a major “reshuffle mode,” including time off work, ongoing struggles with anxiety and depression, and significantly, a diagnosis of Adult ADHD. Learning to understand this diagnosis, (I prefer the word “description”) of myself, and all the implications it holds has been supremely challenging.

As part of my adventure down the road to wellness, I had the chance to attend ADHD coaching sessions with Laura Godfrey at the CanLearn Society. Laura’s mentorship included (among many other gems) a discussion of the critical need for those with ADHD to get regular exercise. That discussion helped renew my passion for off-road cycling, which had faded in recent years.

When good fortune granted me a chance to participate in the TransRockies Classic mountain bike race, I found myself with a lofty fitness goal, but I knew I wanted to give back somehow; to help others who may be struggling as I have. So, I decided to use my participation in the event to raise funds and awareness for a good cause: The CanLearn Society!

The TransRockies Classic is a mountain bike stage race, of either 3 or 7 days. I will be competing in the 3-day version. (That’s plenty this year!) My goal is to raise 1000.00 dollars for the CanLearn Society to assist them in offering their wonderful programs and services. They have done so much for me, and for many many others who face challenges to their learning.

Want to join me in making a difference? I would be honoured if you could support me by pledging to support me, and thus many others, as we continue to be the beneficiaries of the CanLearn society’s vision of “Unlocking potential so all can learn.” Any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

With humble and heartfelt thanks,

Luke Sandham

Click here to go the link to support Luke in the Trans Rockies Classic.

My name is Colleen Smereka. I’m excited to share my story as part of CanLearn’s Celebration of 40 years of changing lives. 22 years ago I participated in the Partners for Learning program at CanLearn. This program had an extraordinary impact on my personal life journey.

When I started the Partners for Learning program my goal was to learn how to read and write better, but I learned so much more. I learned that I am intelligent, and with the right approach I can learn anything; the seed that all future decisions about my life grew out of. CanLearn allowed me to carve out a new life path.

Before CanLearn I wouldn’t try at learning because I didn’t want to look stupid. My inability to trust in my own ways of learning was holding me back in all areas of my life. Because I don’t learn like other people, I struggled to gain the confidence to embrace how I learn. In the program I was surrounded by people who were able to clearly explain how my brain worked. They helped me believe in my ability to learn. For the first time in my life, I felt like I could trust the people who were supporting my learning process. Everything I am today started because of the trust that was built between me and the people I met and the hope they gave me. In the program I found my voice and my confidence.

When I first started at the Partners for Learning program I had a dream to graduate from university, but I never thought it would be possible. After attending the program I had new found hope. I completed two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis Xavier University and a Bachelor of Education degree from St. Mary’s University. Over time I learned to use my voice to express what I needed to achieve personal success. I also used this voice to help advocate for others with similar learning challenges and I have been working in this area ever since.

Last year I helped to set up a new college in the United States. It was amazing to bring the voice of disability to a college from the outset. My journey has led me to understand that there is something unique and valuable within me that only I can share with the world and I have the confidence and the voice to share it. The insight that I provide can change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people like CanLearn changed mine.

My life is proof that you can change a life through learning. Thank you will never be enough for what you have given me; the gift of learning is the greatest gift of all.

Too many adults in Canada struggle with reading skills. Adult literacy programs can change their lives. Adult literacy matters.

I have a car that I drive only occasionally. For some reason, I find driving difficult, frustrating and anxiety-provoking. I am not sure why – perhaps it has something to do that I was learning to drive when I first moved to Calgary and was going through the resettlement process. Anyway, I avoid driving whenever I can. I am quite happy to walk or use transit to get around. I am fortunate to have people in my life who are happy to give me a ride when I ask them.

I used to have a job that involved a lot of driving around the city. More driving did not help me improve my driving skills and confidence. I feel no embarrassment in admitting I avoid driving; I even joke about it.

I sometimes try to look at my driving issue through the lenses of adults with reading and writing difficulties, and I realize that avoiding driving is not the same at all as avoiding reading or not being able to read.

Struggles with reading come at a high cost. Unemployment, poverty, social isolation, poor physical and mental health and many forms of social maladjustment are unmistakably related to literacy challenges.

Reading difficulties also take an emotional toll. Reading researcher Steven Dyckstra coined the term “shame fatigue” to describe a host of negative emotions experienced by struggling readers:

• Frustration, anger, anxiety and sadness
• Learned helplessness and fixed mindset – struggling readers often believe they can’t learn so they have no interest in learning
• Low self-esteem and self-defeating ways to deal with challenges, like quitting, avoidance and denial.

The research backing this up has been available for a long time; long enough to be doing better than we are.

17% of Canadian adults struggle with reading at the word recognition (decoding) level. Another 32% can read but lack the proficiency of a skilled reader necessary to succeed in the modern knowledge-based economy.
There is much talk about 21-century skills, the need for innovation and jobs that haven’t been invented yet. There is no doubt that these are essential and valuable conversations that will impact our future. However, for the future to be prosperous and bright we need to figure out what can be done to help the many people who can’t read or write.

What stands in the way of teaching literacy is not a lack of knowledge –the science of reading is well understood. I believe that what we need to do is put this research in practice so that we can:

• Design effective programs that provide both explicit, evidence-based reading instruction and opportunities for struggling adult readers to re-frame negative learning identities
• Keep in mind that various programs designed to help adults with employment, parenting, upgrading, GED preparation, etc. are very likely to fall flat for those with limited reading skills
• Remember that when adult reading skills improve, everything changes for their children.

To avoid reading or not to be able to read is not the same as avoiding driving!

I will probably continue to avoid driving and count on my friends to give me rides. A completely different approach is needed to help adults overcome their reading difficulties.

By: Nada Jerkovic