Miss-Delectable
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- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
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Also welcomes Deaf Adult Upgrading program
also is a safe and caring community-based learning centre in Ottawa, offering literacy services for adults and families. also builds on individual and family strengths and supports the development of the tools needed for family life, work and daily living.
The organization was founded in 1979 by a group of five adult educators. They felt that the setup of the educational institutions they worked in was not serving students very well.
One of the important ideas behind the creation of also was the belief that adult students should have some control over what and how they learn. Instead of pre-set lessons, the literacy practitioners at also created the content of language learning from issues in the lives of learners. Finding affordable housing, being able to afford food, looking for work, dealing with social assistance, dealing with addiction - these were some of issues that many learners were dealing with and these became the content of literacy learning. Applying for social housing and reading the housing and want ads in the newspapers, for example, became part of the curriculum.
Because so many learners were on social assistance, also formed a unique relationship with the Ottawa Social Service department. Fees for service provided ongoing funding in the days before literacy was on the radar of the provincial or federal governments.
also has been known over the years for its innovative projects. alsoWORKS, for example, was an industrial cleaning company that was set up to give students a chance to earn while they learned. The students ran the company with support from the staff. They wrote cheques, did the payroll, paid bills, reconciled the books, ordered supplies and so on.
also is now entering its 30th year and it continues to create unique learning opportunities for adults and families. Their present location at Heartwood House: au coeur de la vie, in downtown Ottawa, provides for many valuable community partnerships which include:
. on-site literacy and languageenriched child care
. volunteer training opportunities for adult learners
. the Reading and Parents program (RAPP) which is a highly successful family literacy outreach program
also receives funding from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities in Ontario and from fundraising events such as the Amazing Book Race and the Amazing Scrabble Race. Students, staff and board work together to sustain a learning environment which leads to:
. personal independence and pride
. self confidence
. civic participation
In October 2009, also began a new venture, the also Deaf Adult Upgrading program. also is pleased to open their doors to deaf and hard of hearing adults and families in Ottawa. The program has two new deaf teachers, Kathy Holmes and Simone Edwards-Forde. Their program provides reading, writing, math and computer skills upgrading. They also offer pre-employment programming. Their purpose is to encourage deaf and hard of hearing adults and families to develop their skills, enabling them to have a better life and a better education for their future.
One of their learners is currently involved in a job training placement as a book store assistant. She said she is very happy with this job training because it gives her a new opportunity and a new experience. She has never had a job before, but now she has a chance to develop her skills and gain experience. Another learner secured a parttime job as a janitor in Heartwood House. Their learners are enjoying being a part of a new community.
For more information about also's Deaf Adult Upgrading program, please contact them by TTY at 613-233-6198, email info@also-ottawa.org. or visit their website at www.also-ottawa. org.
also is a safe and caring community-based learning centre in Ottawa, offering literacy services for adults and families. also builds on individual and family strengths and supports the development of the tools needed for family life, work and daily living.
The organization was founded in 1979 by a group of five adult educators. They felt that the setup of the educational institutions they worked in was not serving students very well.
One of the important ideas behind the creation of also was the belief that adult students should have some control over what and how they learn. Instead of pre-set lessons, the literacy practitioners at also created the content of language learning from issues in the lives of learners. Finding affordable housing, being able to afford food, looking for work, dealing with social assistance, dealing with addiction - these were some of issues that many learners were dealing with and these became the content of literacy learning. Applying for social housing and reading the housing and want ads in the newspapers, for example, became part of the curriculum.
Because so many learners were on social assistance, also formed a unique relationship with the Ottawa Social Service department. Fees for service provided ongoing funding in the days before literacy was on the radar of the provincial or federal governments.
also has been known over the years for its innovative projects. alsoWORKS, for example, was an industrial cleaning company that was set up to give students a chance to earn while they learned. The students ran the company with support from the staff. They wrote cheques, did the payroll, paid bills, reconciled the books, ordered supplies and so on.
also is now entering its 30th year and it continues to create unique learning opportunities for adults and families. Their present location at Heartwood House: au coeur de la vie, in downtown Ottawa, provides for many valuable community partnerships which include:
. on-site literacy and languageenriched child care
. volunteer training opportunities for adult learners
. the Reading and Parents program (RAPP) which is a highly successful family literacy outreach program
also receives funding from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities in Ontario and from fundraising events such as the Amazing Book Race and the Amazing Scrabble Race. Students, staff and board work together to sustain a learning environment which leads to:
. personal independence and pride
. self confidence
. civic participation
In October 2009, also began a new venture, the also Deaf Adult Upgrading program. also is pleased to open their doors to deaf and hard of hearing adults and families in Ottawa. The program has two new deaf teachers, Kathy Holmes and Simone Edwards-Forde. Their program provides reading, writing, math and computer skills upgrading. They also offer pre-employment programming. Their purpose is to encourage deaf and hard of hearing adults and families to develop their skills, enabling them to have a better life and a better education for their future.
One of their learners is currently involved in a job training placement as a book store assistant. She said she is very happy with this job training because it gives her a new opportunity and a new experience. She has never had a job before, but now she has a chance to develop her skills and gain experience. Another learner secured a parttime job as a janitor in Heartwood House. Their learners are enjoying being a part of a new community.
For more information about also's Deaf Adult Upgrading program, please contact them by TTY at 613-233-6198, email info@also-ottawa.org. or visit their website at www.also-ottawa. org.