The Building Bridges Interagency Conference: Innovative Efforts for Collaboration on Learning Disabilities in Adult Basic Education, Literacy, and Employment

Authors

  • Glenn Young
  • Paul J. Gerber
  • James A. Koller

Abstract

An interagency conference developed in the Seattle area is recommended as a national model for initiating change in public policy as it impacts adult learning disability and literacy issues across a variety of human services. The· broad-based coalition of federal, state, and local agencies featured addresses by the Governor of the State of Washington and nationally known experts in the fields of literacy and learning disabilities. The conference featured an openpolicy-makersforum in which thirtyfive local, regional, and national policy makers, adults with learning disabilities, and persons involved in services for adults with literacy and learning disabilities exchanged opinions before a live audience. Partially as a result of the conference, agencies are taking positive steps to incorporate learning disability and adult literacy issues into more realistic program development incorporating an understanding of learning disabilities as it affects employment and training.

Issue

Section

Articles