Language and Literacy Fund

The Language and Literacy Fund (LLF) was founded in 2015 to support and strengthen the reading, spelling and writing skills of adult learners in the community college setting.  A scholarship is offered to eligible students for regular attendance.  LLF Instructors volunteer their time and expertise to teach these classes.

The literacy disadvantages of these adult learners may not have been recognized or dealt with throughout their school years. LLF serves these adults by providing reading, writing and spelling skills necessary to achieve a GED diploma, certificate programs or credit level college classes.  It is also a tribute to the late Barbara McAllister and Dorothy Whitehead who recognized this need in the Portland metropolitan area and in the 1980's pioneered their Fundamentals of Written Language program that served adults with dyslexia and other learning differences.

LLF provides classes with Instructors trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach, a structured, systematic and sequential approach for dyslexic learners; an approach we have found that benefits not only those with learning differences, but all learners.  Counseling and testing are done at the start and completion of each class to attain a measure of achievement.

The program is directed to community colleges because so many struggling but motivated students are reaching out here to lift themselves into new skill sets and opportunities.   Classes are small because of the necessity for close individual attention.  Approximately six students are enrolled in each of the two classes offering a $100 scholarship to eligible students per fall, winter and spring terms.  At the outset the community college assists in notifying students about the LLF class. In view of the overall minimal financial resources for so many of these students they receive the $100 scholarship for each term completed based on attendance.