National Adult Literacy Database

July 3, 2006

The following story was written by Raymond Roy, from Tourond, Manitoba. In 1995, Raymond had a workplace accident, when a ton of glass fell on his right leg. Since that time, he has been walking with a cane, and he cannot work in construction. When Raymond's son began school a few years the accident, Raymond decided that he needed help to learn to read and write. He first enrolled in literacy classes with the francophone organization Pluri-Elles. He has also been learner spokesperson for Literacy Partners of Manitoba (LPM).

Story

by Raymond Roy

You never know how your day is going to end. You get up every day, get ready for work and say goodbye to the family and off you go. Then an accident changes everything.

My name is Raymond Roy and I am an adult literacy learner. In 1995 I had an accident. 2000 pounds of glass fell on my right leg that now left me permanently disabled. I had to look for a different job, but unfortunately I couldn’t read or write to find a suitable job.

A few years later, when my son started school, he brought books home from the library for me to read to him. I knew that I could not read to him. I tried to pretend to read but Matthew looked at me and he said "You can’t read Dad?" Hearing those words I wondered what kind of father figure I would be. I was not able to work. I couldn’t help my child with his school work or read a menu, newspaper or road signs. I could not write a note to my wife or for my children, or a cheque when I went shopping. You feel useless, you feel like your life has ended.

With those thoughts, I said to myself "I need help." I went to the library to look for some information about classes on reading and writing. I found a brochure with the name of Pluri-Elles, it said that they could help. It took courage to phone and now with their help, I am learning how to read and write.

Then I heard an announcement on the radio about Literacy Partners of Manitoba (LPM). It said they could help you or if you want to become a speaker for adult literacy. I figured if I became a better speaker, then my reading and writing would probably improve. After locating where LPM was, I went to a meeting. As I walked in to the classroom I noticed that I was not alone, I didn’t feel useless anymore.

Thanks to Pluri-Elles my reading and writing skills have improved. Thanks to LPM, I have become a successful public speaker to speak out for literacy. Now I represent Literacy Partners of Manitoba, the Pluri-Elles literacy program, the Movement for Canadian Literacy and Fédération Canadienne pour L’Alphabétisation en Français (FCAF).

My son loves to read now and I am able to encourage both my kids. I know that a good start helps to make children prepared for the future and for the good jobs. If I hadn’t made changes in my life, perhaps my son would have ended up the same. But now I have broken the chain.

[This story was taken from Profiles in literacy and lifelong learning: 2005 Learner Stories, p.6, published by the Learners Advisory Network, Movement for Canadian Literacy.]