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October is ADHD Awareness Month
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Approximately half of our Adult Literacy students have an ADHD diagnosis or strongly suspect they have undiagnosed ADHD. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that significantly impairs their executive function, and for most of them, it has caused years of stress and frustration, especially in terms of how it has impacted their education.
Having undiagnosed, untreated, or seriously misunderstood ADHD (see The Truth About ADHD) is the primary reason that many of these students were unable to complete high school. In the Adult Literacy program, students with ADHD can make a new start on their own terms, using the learning and communication strategies that work best for them.
But what we don’t hear enough about are the gifts of ADHD. Those include the tendency to be more creative, athletic, and entrepreneurial. People with ADHD are often divergent thinkers and innovative problem-solvers. They can hyperfocus on a task and notice details in their environment that others miss.
During ADHD Awareness Month, we want to support those students in their struggles while we also honor their incredible gifts 🎁.
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"So I want you to understand that you have a brain. The back part is where you learn; the front part is where you do. Knowledge/Performance. Knowing/Doing. And ADHD splits them apart [...] You have a disorder of performance, not knowledge. You know what to do, but can't do it. You have a disorder of the "when and the where," not the "what and the how." Your problem is not with knowing what to do. It's with doing what you know." -Dr. Russell Barkley
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"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." -Dr. Maya Angelou
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📚✨ October is also Dyslexia Awareness Month!
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Can you understand this question? Probably not. Now, let’s try this: How many platinum albums has Dolly Parton had? If you have dyslexia, this is how you might read the same question: Ham mamg dlafimum aldusn bas Boly Portom hab?
Did you know that 20% of the population has some level of dyslexia? 🧠💡
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disorder that can include challenges with:
🔹 Reading
🔹 Word decoding
🔹 Oral reading fluency
🔹 Spelling
It affects people from all backgrounds and intellectual levels — even brilliant creatives like Stephen Spielberg 🎬 and Whoopi Goldberg 🎭 are dyslexic.
With the right teaching methods, people with dyslexia can thrive. 🌟 The challenge? Too many go undiagnosed, leading to frustration, low self-esteem, and lack of access to resources. Unfortunately, special schools and private tutors are often out of reach for many families. 💔
That’s where Literacy Together comes in. 💪 Our Youth Literacy and Adult Literacy Programs train volunteer tutors to equip children and adults with the tools they need to enhance their literacy skills and achieve success. 📖💜
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👉 Want to make a difference?
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| Our Literacy Leaders are ready to work!
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Training for a new cohort of Youth Literacy interns has just wrapped up! Our team of ten Literacy Leaders spent three days learning our multi-sensory approach to providing literacy support to elementary-aged students in afterschool programs at the Christine W. Avery Learning Center and Youth Transformed for Life.
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Corporate Partner Spotlight: Heartwood Realty (Alisha & Jess)
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We're thrilled to spotlight one of our Gold Corporate Sponsors this month: Heartwood Realty (Alisha & Jess)! We had the pleasure of speaking with Alisha Suer, Broker/Owner, about why Heartwood Realty (Alisha & Jess) supports Literacy Together:
What does literacy mean to you or your team at Heartwood Realty, and why is it something you care about?
Literacy is deeply connected to education, and we all have ties to education, whether as college educators, professors, social workers, teachers, or librarians. We know that literacy is the cornerstone of everything we do. Reading leads to independence and opens so many doors, whether that's learning English, overcoming learning disabilities, or pursuing better economic opportunities.
The truth is, you can't get enough literacy support. Even if someone can read, there are more advanced levels needed for professional development and personal goals. Some people may be able to read well enough to get around town, but they might not have the literacy skills needed to advance in their career or pursue a better job.
How do you think improving literacy can change someone's life? Feel free to share a story!
When kids improve their reading skills, their confidence soars; and with it, their outlook, abilities, and beliefs about themselves.
I remember a third-grade student who read below grade level and struggled with reading the entire time I knew him. The other boys in his class were reading Percy Jackson, and he desperately wanted to read it too so he could be on the same page as his friends. Kids notice these things and judge each other, but when a child gains confidence in their reading they often start to feel more confident in themselves.
We worked together every day during reading time, and he pushed through. Being able to join those conversations changed everything. He felt included with the other boys, not left out. It transformed his attitude and gave him an "in" with his peers. No one wants to be left behind; they just want to be included.
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✨ We’re proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month ✨
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📅 September 15–October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month! 🎉
At Literacy Together, we celebrate our Hispanic community every day 💛.
We asked our Hispanic students, tutors, and staff: What is your favorite dish 🍲, tradition 🎊, or song 🎶 that celebrates your culture 🌎—and why?
Today, we’re spotlighting Gigi, our ESOL Associate from Venezuela. Thank you, Gigi, for sharing some of your favorite things about your country of origin!
Favorite Dish: I love cachapa with cheese and fried pork.
Favorite Tradition: Drums are a tradition from the Venezuelan Caribbean coast, near where I grew up. This practice is part of our African heritage and is often seen in community spaces, where people play and dance to the drums on the beach or in the squares of small coastal towns.
Favorite Traditional Song: Simón Díaz, "Tonada de luna llena" ... listen HERE
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We'd also like to introduce you to Yasira and Sweet and Salty Time!
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Yasira (ESOL student) and her husband, Gabriel, own Sweet and Salty Time and sell the best homemade, delicious Venezuelan food! Please show them your support on Facebook and Instagram!
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Outreach & Communications Coordinator Position Summary
The Outreach & Communications Coordinator leads our communications strategy and community engagement efforts to build visibility, strengthen relationships, and support programmatic and fundraising goals, including volunteer recruitment and sustained engagement.
This role is ideal for a creative, strategic, and organized individual who is passionate about storytelling and thrives on connecting with people. The Coordinator will ensure consistent, compelling communication across all platforms and engage with and inspire diverse audiences through public speaking engagements, volunteer orientations, and storytelling through student and tutor testimonials.
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Cozy corners + endless stories = one happy little reader! 📚😍
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Please help us spread the word about our need for volunteers 🙏🏼
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We host two orientation meetings a month. Our orientation meetings are open to anyone interested in learning more about Literacy Together's mission and how to support our work.
We share information about how lives are impacted by low literacy skills, the ways Literacy Together is addressing the literacy challenges we face in Buncombe County, and the many opportunities to get involved—whether as a volunteer tutor, through remote or in-person service, or in non-tutoring roles. This is what one participant said after one of this month's orientation meetings:
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| Upcoming Online Orientation Meetings
Tuesday, November 11th, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Thursday, November 13th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
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| Show your love for Literacy Together to the world!
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| Your generosity provides literacy services to our neighbors of every age.
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