Mark
Learning to read and write as a mature learner
My name is Mark, and I am 48 years of age. I am registered blind and disabled. I wanted to get some paid employment but I could only get voluntary work because I would lose benefits and therefore I would lose money and be worse off than before. Andy (who was helping me look for work) suggested that he contact Barbara from Lead Scotland, to see if they could help me with my education. So I may, at one point, be able to read my own mail and write letters to friends or family and get paid employment. That’s why I started at Lead Scotland.
It was about a year ago I started to learn to read. Lead have helped me to go forward and I have been able to read one book with some help from a volunteer. I got a magazine posted through my letter box with a card with a telephone number. I phoned the number (Essential Skills, Moray Council) and I got a second volunteer.
Learning the sounds of letters and how they make up words helped me to start to learn to read. I can now write short shopping lists, notes for family and I can write Christmas and birthday cards for people. In May I received an award for my achievements and what I had accomplished in the last year.
It is very annoying not being able to read because you have to rely on other people to read mail, cards or street signs. Not many people knew I couldn’t read but I felt it was very frustrating. I always relied on family but they are not always going to be around.