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Route 66 Provides Web-Based Literacy Instruction For Persons With Disabilities
Benetech Launches An Innovative Service That Helps
Any Literate Adult
Teach Reading And Writing Skills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Palo Alto, Calif. (June 26, 2006): Benetech, the global technology nonprofit, today announced the release of its web-based Route 66 Literacy service. Route 66 is designed to help teachers, volunteers and parents provide reading and writing instruction to people with developmental disabilities. The Route 66 Literacy curriculum can also be used to instruct students learning to speak, read and write English. More information on the service can be found at http://www.route66literacy.org.
The U.S. Department of Education estimates that more than 800,000 American students have learning disabilities that prevent them from acquiring literacy skills. Unlike many literacy programs geared for preschool or first graders, Route 66 Literacy uses stories about popular culture tailored for older students. The first beta test of the innovative Route 66 Literacy service took place at a Palo Alto computer lab run by the Community Association for Rehabilitation, Inc. (C.A.R.).
“I'm learning to read and write about new things like sports and money management,” says Maritza Velasco, a young women who has been lining up with other students outside the computer lab for private lessons. “The equipment is very easy for me to use. And I have fun in class!”
“It's a great concept,” says Pamela Newman who manages C.A.R.'s computer lab. “I've had four Creative Recreation clients – all autistic young men – really blossom. It's also been very good for the adult clients, including a Spanish speaking woman who has been trying to learn English for ten years. This is the only reading program we've found that holds her interest.”
The Route 66 Literacy service is a partnership between Benetech and the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies (CLDS) of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The concept for Route 66 was developed by Dr. Karen Erickson, one of the nation's leading experts in literacy for people with disabilities.
“Benetech helped us create the technology to bring our high-quality instruction to a wider audience,” says Dr. Erickson. “The Route 66 service supports instructors, but requires no special training to teach literacy aside from basic web navigation skills.”
Janice Carter, Director of Literacy Programs at Benetech, notes that Route 66 Literacy features images from Flickr via Creative Commons licensing and is continually updated on-line to keep the curriculum relevant.
“The adoption of the browser has allowed us to offer a cost-effective method of providing literacy instruction to under-served students,” says Carter. “We hope to expand this technology to the pressing needs of global literacy.”
About Benetech
Benetech creates technology that serves humanity by blending social conscience with Silicon Valley expertise. The organization uses commercial technology and private sector management techniques to create innovative solutions that help solve challenging social issues around the world.
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We welcome your media-related inquiries. Please contact Ann Harrison via email at [email protected] or by phone at 650-644-3442.
