Executive Directors' Update

By Anette Chawla and Sue Folinsbee, Co-Executive Directors

THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN BUSY and productive ones for the Ontario Literacy Coalition (OLC). We are pleased to report that we have completed a program plan that outlines future directions for the OLC in four results areas. Over the next few years, we look forward to making these directions a reality. The four areas set out how the OLC must work to achieve specified results for:

• deliverers of literacy programs
• people with literacy challenges
• the general public
• government and other decision makers

Deliverers of literacy programs

We hope to build on our current work in workforce literacy. This area is of increasing interest both to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) and to Literacy and Basic Skills programs. This issue of Literacy on the Move offers a variety of perspectives on this work. We also hope to continue our work in the areas of family literacy and self-management and self-direction.

Our focus is on providing support, professional development opportunities and resources to literacy program deliverers. We will also continue to provide an opportunity for the literacy field to have a voice with government and other decision makers through the OLC/MTCU liaison meetings and the OLC Advisory Roundtable.

People with literacy challenges

The OLC continues to find ways to integrate the voice of people with literacy challenges in all aspects of its work. The main ways are through the OLC Board, the Adult Literacy Network of Ontario (ALNO), forums for discussion with government bureaucrats and politicians, and in field development projects and initiatives.

In the future, we want to focus on how immigrants and refugees are affected by literacy issues in Ontario and what kinds of services they get and still need. We will work closely with groups like the Campaign for Stable ESL Funding and the Ontario Council for Agencies Serving Immigrants on this issue. We also hope to look more closely at the needs of youth, seniors and adults with developmental disabilities.