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Oree was one of the adult learners who will forever hold a special place in my heart. He was in his 60s when he made his way into the small non-profit where I worked, and like most of our adult learners, he had struggled with reading for decades. I paired him with our volunteer dyslexia therapist. After one session, she suspected she knew the cause of his life-long struggle with literacy.  

Even though she couldn’t offer an official diagnosis, she began using instructional strategies that were rooted in research and designed to support students like Oree. He described those early lessons by explaining that “a light came on” in his mind. Literacy helped him see the world around him in a different way, and I believe that every adult learner deserves to have a light bulb moment like Oree.  

Sometimes when things become challenging, I think of Oree, and I remember why this work matters so much. I’m also reminded of the importance of professional development and making sure that volunteers and instructors have access to a variety of resources to support all learners. 

Understanding the complexities of the reading process for adult learners with learning differences is something our friends at Neuhaus know exceptionally well. They have an incredible virtual library of resources available on their website for educators to explore. I encourage you to take time to see what they have that might be helpful for your students.