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PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 28, 1995 - 5 JEFF MITCHELL/PORT PERRY STAR Jeff Smith, with wife Stella and daughters Gina, 10, and Janice, 6, has improved his read- ing skills with the help of a tutor from the Literacy Council of Druham Region. He's been in- volved with the program for about five years. Literacy opens door for adults From Page 1 tain their home in downtown Oshawa, but his lack of reading skills have always been bother- some. "I could read, but there were some words that were harder to pick up on than other words," he said during a recent inter- view. In 1989, at the urging of his father -- also a career GM work- er -- he decided to do something about it. And he's never looked back. Over the past five years, Mr. Smith has worked with tutors who spend a couple hcurs a week with him, helping him toward his goal of literacy. He has progressed through several texts that are aimed at helping him increase his vocabulary and reading comprehension, spending time at home toiling through assignments and look- ing forward to weekly reviews with his tutor. There are frustrations some- times, but the progress has been encouraging. And Mr. Smith realizes the only way he will make up for lost time is to keep working. "It's the only way you're going to learn," he said. "All I can do is try." Common story Mr. Smith's story is not unlike many heard by the Literacy Council, an organiza- tion run largely on volunteer effort, says Carol Shepherd. She's a tutor and council volun- teer in Scugog, and the wife of Durham MP Alex Shepherd. The Council is approached by many people who have devel- oped some reading skills, but were hampered by learning dis- abilities, or left school early. "A lot of the time work was more important," she said. "Especially if they went through the Depression, many were pulled out of school. "Families didn't often put as - much importance on learning." The Literacy Council serves people 18 and over who want to improve their reading and writ- ing skills, or start from scratch -- total illiteracy, she said. Every case is different, but in many instances, people have lived and learned to cope with -- or conceal -- their inability to read for years without addressing it. But eventually, they make the decision to seek help. "Something usually does click," said Mrs. Shepherd. "they've been thinking about it for a while." Mrs. Shepherd is observing Family Literacy Week, Feb. 256 to March 3, by giving talks to school children. Through stories and discussions the kids learn there are adults who cannot read, and the importance of discussing any difficulties they are having with teachers and parents. "These are real people," she said of the message she's taking to the kids. "...If you're having any trouble at all, tell some- body." Some ashamed Mr. Smith feels the same way, and would give similar advice if he were asked. He knows the embarrass- ment and shame people feel when they are unable to read in a world that demands Btetecy of everyone. The illiterate can develop elaborate coping mechanisms to conceal their inability to read, he said. "You try to hide it," he said. "When somebody gives you something to read, you read as much as you can and then you hand it back... or you say you forgot your glasses. "A lot of people are ashamed," he said. "They don't want any- body to know. They want to keep it to themselves." His wife, Stella, 30, said that there is also a need for more awareness of the extent of illit- eracy among the literate. "I think a lot of the public out there take it for granted that everybody can read," she said. "They're just not as aware of it as they could be. "It could be somebody you know." For more information on the Literacy Council of Durham Region, or to volunteer to become a tutor, call 434-5441. SEC000000800000 0! ; We Won't Be Undersold Anderson Warren Rd. repos VAN HEMMEN TIRES & SALES 317 HOPKINS STREET ia lNE=24 666-2121 fer) ei LLL AAR REL LTS etal 3 IESE] {s oN. nN 00 i wm{HR Ls 39 xB * LY; . iy ' i Will do all aspects of maintenance & renovations to old homes & buildings - Landlords wishing to comply with fire code ODDJOBS Bill McCullough (905) 985-8069 ei 66 RUSSETT AVE. OSHAWA, ONTARIO (905) 434-8179 1-800-463-8078 SERVICE °¢ INSTALLATIONS [E \UTO START 200.00 SALES from the comfort INSTALLED of your home MOST VEHICLES upto 300 ft. range flodels availabie for Manual Transmissicn and Diesel 1150 Champlain Court Whitby, Ont. 668-2668 SPRING SPECIAL MARTIAL ARTS CENTRE ORIENTATION 95 limited time offer (Idi (ldniation call... PORT PERRY UXBRIDGE