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TITLE Learning--That's Life! Conference Report and. Recommendations. A National Conference on Literacy and Older Canadians (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April 1990). INSTITUTION One Voice, the Canadian Seniors Network, Inc., Ottawa (Ontario). SPONS AGENCY Department of the Secretary of State, Ottawa (Ontario).; National Literacy Secretariat, Ottawa (Ontario).; Ontario Dept. of Education, Toronto.; Ontario Office for Senior Citizens' Affairs, Toronto. REPORT NO ISBN-1-895295-13-0 PUB DATE Apr 90 NOTE 46p.; For a related document, see CE 062 099. AVAILABLE FROMOne Voice, the Canadian Seniors Network, 901-350 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8, Canada ($10; $8 members). PUB TYPE Collected Works Conference Proceedings (021)

EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Adult Literacy; Developed Nations; *Educational Needs; Educational Policy; Foreign Countries; *Literacy Education; Middle Aged Adults; *Older Adults; *Policy Formation; Program Design; *Public Policy IDENTIFIERS *Canada; One Voice The Canadian Seniors Network

ABSTRACT As a result of a 1989 survey finding that 64 percent of Canadians aged 55-69 experience some degree of trouble with everyday reading material, One Voice, the Canadian Seniors Network, conducted a conference that brought together seniors, researchers, literacy project leaders, education professionals, community agencies and policy makers to examine the senior literacy problem and its solutions. The conference participants shared research, experiences, and information and studied the problem of low literacy in older adults in three ways. First, they examined the sources of the problem--historical, political, and cultural--finding the literacy problems of older Canadians to be highly diverse and pervasive. Service providers were judged to be insufficiently supportive of older adults with low literacy skills. Second, conference participants shared their knowledge of some solutions for low literacy. Projects and programs included: well-established community adult literacy classes; personal visits to care centers to share stories and discuss current events; and stressing the important role of community libraries. The common ingredients for success were a friendly, informal, accessible location; peer tutors; ane input from seniors. Third, conference participants recommended that seniors should take the lead in developi,-0 literacy education for older Canadians. (Recommendations, conference participants, and their credentials are listed in appendixes to the report.) (KC) Learning That's Life!

OF EDUCATION U.S. DEPARTMENTResearch nd imocoNement Conference Report and Recommendations Othce ot EduCattOnlI INFORMATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CENTER IERICi *is document has Deanreproduced as the person orOTWIMZtior receivedtroth 1. orictinatitn Peen made to improve 0 Minor changes nave reoroduCtion Gulley °protons tate° In thisdOCu Points 01 view or represent otlicia. menu do not necessarily OERI DOSttiOn or 001iCy

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A National Conference on Literacy and Older Canadians One Voice The Canadian Seniors Network

BEST COPY AVAILABLE Learning That's Life! Conference Report and Recommendations

A National Conference on Literacy and Older Canadians conducted by One Voice The Canadian Seniors Network April, 1990 Learning That's Life! One Voice Mission Statement Conference Report and Recommendations One Voice, The Canadian Seniors Network, One Voice The Canadian Seniors promotes the enhancement of the status and independence of older Canadians. One Network Voice advocates policies and programs to Ottawa, Canada, 1990 improve the well-being of Canadian seniors ISBN 1-895295-13-0 and encourages and enables their full and active participation in decisions affecting their lives. One Voice is a non-partisan, Aussi disponible en francais sous le voluntary, not-for-profit organization titre Apprendre c'est la vie! Rapport et providing leadership and working in part- recommandations de la Conference. nership and consultation with others. ISBN 1-895295-14-9. Adopted by the Board of Directors of One Voice 13 October 1989 Additional copies of this report are available for $10 ($8 for members of One Voice) from: One Voice 901-350 Sparks Street Ottawa, ON K1R 7S8 (613) 238-7624 (613) 235-4497 (FAX)

Acknowledgements 2

Foreword 3

Executive Summary 4

1 Introduction 6

2 The Context of the Problem 9

3 Sample Solutions 15

4 Conference Findings 19

5 Conclusion 23

Appendix A Session Recommendations 24

Appendix B Biographical Notes on Presenters 35

Appendix C Conference Participants 40

5 Acknowledgements

ne Voice is grateful to the We are also grateful for the coopera- many supporters and partici- tion of our partners in mounting the pants who made such a success of our conference: our travel agents, Travel conference on literacy and older adults, CUTS (Ottawa); the host hotel, the Chateau Learning That'sLife! Laurier; the Ottawa Congress Centre; and Major funding was received from the our official carrier, Air Canada. National Literacy Secretariat of the Depart- No conference, however, can be ex- ment of the Secretary of State of Canada. pected to succeed without the active par- The conference was also generously sup- ticipation of planners and organizers, ported by the Promotion of the Official presenters and resource people. We enjoyed Languages Branch of the Department of the the expertise and the willing help of many Secretary of State, the Ontario Ministry of groups in the planning and execution of Education, the Ontario Minister for Senior Learning That's Life!,including our many Citizens Affairs and the City of Ottawa. partner seniors organizations across the In addition, many contributions land; The Canadian Commission for Unesco; helped to sponsor individual conference our new friends in Canada's literacy and sessions, special events, the Gala Interna- education organizations; the One Voice tional Literacy Year Banquet, the One Board of Directors; and the Conference Voice Benefit Auction, and the general Committee. Under Chair Claude Plouffe, functioning of the conference. the Committee consisted of Sister Gisele These include: Richard, Bert Cyr and Bernard Richard. Astra Pharma Inc. Special mention should be made of the Deloitte & Touche Chartered contribution of Professors Helene Dallaire Accountants and Stan Jones to the planning of the con- Fran Lowe Associates ference program. The conference report Movement for Canadian Literacy was prepared by Christine Mercer of Nationair Adhawk Communications and edited by National Advisory Council on Aging Andrew Aitkens. Conference Coordinator National Bank of Canada Sylvie Deliencourt and the staff of One New Brunswick Senior Citizens Voice were assisted by Marion Fuller. Federation The enthusiasm and commitment of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers the conference participants suggest that the Association of Canada results of this conference will be far reach- Searle Canada Inc. ing and practical. As we work towards a Sharp Electronics of Car ada Ltd. National Literacy Strategy for Older Canadi- T&H Printers Ltd. ans, One Voice is confident that the inde- The Car Phone Centre pendence and quality of life of Canada's seniors will be supported and enhanced by the work of these individuals and their organizations. It is to them we owe our greatest thanks.

2 Foreword

I hen One Voice began its In the years to come, I believe that k" research into literacy and older this partnership will enrich the lives of all adults, we had no idea that the problem Canadians. Seniors have so much to give, was as serious as it is. The results of the and are willing to share their experience Statistics Canada Survey of Literacy Skills and wisdom. Improving literacy for seniors Used in Daily Activities sho