What’s New at the PEI Literacy Alliance?

The Alliance is having a busy fall season with committee work, upcoming workshops, plus the regular board meetings and the production of our newsletter, which can be found on the NALD website. We have a new assessment directory and we are working on a plain language guide for welfare recipients.

2001 Assessment Directory

One of the goals of the PEI Literacy Alliance is to decrease the barriers to people with low literacy levels, and one way to achieve this is to encourage the proper identification of people’s learning needs. To this end, the Alliance held a round table discussion on assessment services. The participants at the round table identified a need to share information about assessment services available in PEI.

The Alliance decided to gather information about the different agencies that offer assessments that relate to literacy and learning. We formed a project committee consisting of four of the Island’s leading assessment practitioners.

The committee provided valuable guidance and suggested names of organizations to contact about assessment services. We sent out a survey to organizations and individuals, and the responses we received from the directory.

Twelve organizations that offer assessments are listed with answers to these questions:

• Who are your clients?
• What kinds of assessments do you offer?
• What tests do you use?
• Is there a cost to the client?
• Is a referral required?
• What is a brief description of your service?
• What follow-up, accommodation, or adapting services do you offer or refer clients to?
• Who is the contact person, and what is your mailing address and phone number?

If you would like to have a copy of the directory, please call the Alliance Office at (902) 368-3620. This project was made possible by funds raised at the PGI Golf Tournament for Literacy.

Your Welfare Rights and Responsibilities in PEI: A Plain Language Guide

The Alliance has begun work on a new project funded by the National Literacy Secretariat. The objective was to produce a manual that clearly outlines the rights and responsibilities of people who receive financial assistance from the Department of Health and Social Services. It includes sections on:

• who can qualify for assistance
• the process of applying for assistance
• how much financial assistance is available
• reporting requirements
• training opportunities
• appeals
• advocacy groups
• useful contact numbers, and a list of Members of the Legislative Assembly

We have an excellent advisory committee with representatives from community groups and the Provincial Government. The committee has provided suggestions for material to be included. There will also be a companion Instructor’s Guide produced, so the manual can be used as a resource in adult education classes. Workplace Education PEI has agreed to develop the curriculum and compose the Instructor’s Guide. The book will be available in the spring of 2002, and the Instructor’s Guide a few months later.

For more information:
PEI Literacy Alliance,
11 Queen Street, 1st Floor,
P.O. Box 400, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7K7
Tel: (902) 368-3620 / Fax: (902) 368-3269
peiliteracy.alliance@pei.sympatico.ca
http://www.nald.ca/peila.htm