To encourage more awareness and collaboration, readers suggest:

1. Work together to meet adult student needs. We need some innovative tools that are interactive, self-paced and that motivates the student as he or she progresses. The next step is to ensure that all people who need these tools have access. Are these tools already available? Let me know.
   sdouglas@nbet.nb.ca

2. Attend each others professional meetings. Reading specialists,tutors, literacy practioners , adult learning professionals, adult literacy professionals and adult students all have their own organizations. Each should have a round table of members from these organizations at all their own local, regional and national professional meetings. These round tables could be formal ( part of the program) or informal ( meet at a coffee shop). Each person should present a question or problem and all should brainstorm on related information and possible solutions.

3. I do believe adult literacy is an important element of family literacy. However I do believe adults learn differently, have different agenda and must be taught in a relevant, life-experience manner. Relevancy is the educational keyword, regardless of age. How the adult is taught will most likely determine the degree of success. I am pursuing a Master1s Degree in Reading with a strong leaning toward adult literacy. I would appreciate any information relevant to my learning experience. Patricia A. Fulker
   QuisFluke@aol.com

4. I don't have any substantial suggestions. However, I think that community awareness is a huge first step. The majority of educated people, including myself, are very ignorant about literacy/illiteracy in general, and if they were more aware of the issues, consequences, etc., more people may become involved in volunteering or contributing in some way to promote literacy.
   karyn