1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Need to Examine Literacy Supports for Seniors in the NWT
This research paper provides a snapshot of seniors needs and preferences.
It presents the views of literacy providers, seniors, and senior-serving
organizations in selected NWT communities. The specific objectives of
the research were to:
- better understand the literacy needs and preferences of NWT seniors;
and
- make recommendations for better and more relevant literacy supports
and services for NWT seniors.
The NWT Literacy Council is dedicated to supporting the development
of literacy in all official languages of the NWT. The Council believes
that “everyone has a right to literacy. It believes that literacy
is something that involves everyone - individuals, families, communities,
business, labour and governments. Literacy is the foundation of lifelong
learning and of active participation in the social, economic and political
life of our communities, our territory and our country”.
The NWT Literacy Council sponsored the research. The Council recognizes
that NWT seniors, like other Canadian seniors, may have significantly
lower literacy skills than other segments of the adult population and
they may have difficulties accessing literacy supports. The study is
intended to stimulate discussions with seniors, senior serving organizations
and literacy providers regarding approaches to meet seniors literacy
needs in NWT communities. Lutra Associates Ltd. of Yellowknife conducted
the research on behalf of the NWT Literacy Council.
The literacy needs of seniors have long been a focus of the NWT Seniors
Society. In 1990, an NWT Seniors delegate attended the Learning –That’s
Life Conference, a national conference on literacy and older Canadians
sponsored by “One Voice”.1 The conference recommended seniors
taking the lead advocacy role on seniors literacy issues.
1.2 Research Methodology and Approach
The seniors literacy research project was managed by the Executive
Director of the NWT Literacy Council. The NWT Seniors Society agreed
that the NWT Literacy Council should take the lead role in guiding and
monitoring the research. The Executive Director of the NWT Literacy
Council provided input on the research scope, approach and research
instruments. |