According to a study released by the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) in 2003, 14.5% of U.S. adults lack basic prose literacy skills, meaning that their literacy skills range from being completely unable to read English to being able to understand only basic phrases and sentences. The same study found that 10% of the population of Allegheny County lack basic prose literacy skills. Other studies show that education level correlates strongly with annual salary, and that the cost of illiteracy to taxpayers every year is about $20 billion in reduced productivity.

1. Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
GPLC
HOW
HOW TO SOLVE
THE LITERACY CRISIS IN
YOUR COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY Y.

2. HOW TO SOLVE THE
THE LITERACY CRISIS IN
YOUR COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY.
According to a study released by the National about $20 billion in reduced productivity. Low-literate
Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) in 2003, 14.5% Americans are unable to help young children with
of U.S. adults lack basic prose literacy skills, meaning homework, fill out a job application, read a newspaper,
that their literacy skills range from being completely or even understand a prescription label. The lack of
unable to read English to being able to understand only literacy skills can negatively impact individuals’ lives
basic phrases and sentences. The same study found as well as the lives of those around them.
that 10% of the population of Allegheny County lack
Fortunately, resources are already in place to help
basic prose literacy skills. Other studies show that
people gain the literacy skills they need to turn their
education level correlates strongly with annual salary,
lives and their families’ lives around.
and that the cost of illiteracy to taxpayers every year is
VOLUNTEERING & ASSISTING
WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
ORGANIZATIONS. preparation classes offer a targeted
approach for those who want to earn
GED PREPARATION their diplomas.
Many local organizations devoted to
improving literacy within communities A study released in 2009
are non-profit and rely on the support and reported that 80.5% of ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF
enthusiasm of volunteers and donors. high school students in COMMUNICATION
If you want to contribute to literacy
Pennsylvania successfully
efforts within your community, here are C ommunication changes as we use
graduate on time, compared to
a few of the ways you can get involved: different media to convey our message.
the national average of 73.4%.
Two particularly common forms of
Although the state ranks 6th in
LITERACY TUTORING the nation in terms of graduation rate,
communication, telephone and email,
are important for both everyday and
Literacy tutoring is a broad category this still means that each year more than
professional life, emphasizing accurate
that may encompass many areas, ten thousand students in Pennsylvania
listening and reading comprehension
including basic adult literacy education, do not graduate from high school.
skills in addition to speaking.
GED preparation, and ESL (English as a However, GED preparation programs
Knowing how to communicate clearly,
second language) training. The focus offer adult learners the opportunity to
expressively, and professionally
of these programs will be to teach and reclaim lost schooling time and create
over these devices is a major part of
reinforce reading, writing, speaking, and new opportunities for themselves.
some jobs. Also, it may take some
math skills. The goals of students at Attaining a GED diploma enables people
practice using these media to become
this level will be quite varied. Some will to become more competitive in the job
comfortable communicating because
want to become better employees, be market, qualify for more positions, go
you cannot see the other person to
able to read to their children, learn a new to college, and even become eligible
gauge reactions or physically express
language after immigration, understand for certain c areer-related certification
yourself. The sole reliance on the words
medical instructions, and more. Some exams. For many, going back to school
you choose to convey meaning can be
literacy courses are taught one-on-one and earning the credentials they were
particularly intimidating for people with
and others in small classes. previously unable to get for whatever
low language skills.
reason is a goal in itself, and GED

3. DONATION
Not everyone has the time to volunteer as a tutor or teacher,
but there are still ways that you can get involved. Aside from
depending on volunteers, organizations that fight illiteracy
also rely on grants and donations to keep their operations
going. Many of these donations are tax-deductible. Not all
TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTION
donations must necessarily be cash – some organizations
Along with literacy skills, the ability to use computers may also accept real estate, bequests, used cars, and more.
and basic software is critical for working in offices today. Registration for or participation in fundraising events held
Office employees often must be able to type well, navigate throughout the year also provide opportunities for donors
the Internet, and use the functions of Word, Excel, and to get involved in the organizations. Different organizations
PowerPoint. While higher software and web-based skills may have different donation suggestions, preferences, or
vary by industry and employer, those basics remain a limitations, so check with your local organization before
core requirement for much computerized work. Local making a donation.
organizations often have computers available for people
to practice with and train on if they do not have or cannot
afford a computer in their own home.
GREATER PITTSBURGH
LITERACY COUNCIL (GPLC)
GPLC is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping reading, writing, basic math, ESL, or GED preparation.
adults and families improve their lives through literacy. Other volunteer positions focus on telephone
It provides literacy education as well as basic job conversation, e-mail communication, refugee tutoring,
preparation and computer skills training. As a provider of technology instruction, special events (Leaders for
free education, GPLC relies on the efforts of community Literacy Luncheon or Trivia Bowl), and other fundraising
volunteers in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas to events. For every dollar GPLC receives, 89 cents go
help students succeed in their literacy goals. GPLC offers directly toward students, making it a wise investment for
many opportunities to volunteers to become tutors for donating to a charity in Pittsburgh.

4. Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
HOW
HOW TO SOLVE
THE LITERACY CRISIS IN
YOUR COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY Y.
If you would like to learn more about our
programs or are interested in being a GPLC.ORG
volunteer in Pittsburgh or Allegheny County
with GPLC, contact us at 412-393-7600 or FACEBOOK.COM/LITERACY.GPLC
visit our website.