Does someone you know need help with basic literacy skills? It's estimated that 14 percent of U.S. adults are functionally illiterate: unable to read, write, and compute at levels necessary to function on the job and in society. Adults who have low literacy levels are often skilled at concealing it. Have you heard these excuses or noticed these behaviors in a friend, loved one, or employee? Identifying symptoms of reading problems in adults: 1.  A prospective employee may ask to take the application form home to fill it out. They may often give the following reasons: A. "I forgot/broke my glasses." B. "I don't remember my references/work dates/addresses." C. "I hurt my hand/wrist." D. "I am in a hurry. I don't have time to complete it now." 2.  Sometimes, current employees may use the above reasons when asked to do paperwork. 3.  One employee may often ask another: "What did you think about yesterday's memo?" This is one way a low-level reader can find out what was in a memo without having to read it. 4.  An employee may always or frequently ask for oral clarification of written instructions. 5.  An employee may forgo on-the-job training and promotion opportunities. 6.  An employee may fail to return required items—such as sign-off sheets for employee handbooks and enrollment applications for insurance benefits. 7.  An employee may ignore memos or payroll inserts requiring verbal responses to supervisors. In general: 1.  An adult may always order a hamburger or what companions order in a restaurant. 2.  An adult may never read the newspaper but may possibly carry one around to look as though he or she does. 3.  An adult may never refer to written notes nor write them. 4.  An adult may have trouble reading the handwriting of others. 5.  An adult may always be too busy to stop and read something, no matter how important it is. If someone you know exhibits these symptoms, call the Literacy Network today at (513) 621-7323. We connect adults to tutors and programs specially geared toward building or improving adult literacy. It's never too late to improve someone's life.

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