Imagine. Imagine not being able to read this sentence. Try not being able to read the directions on a package, a prescription label, or the warning sign on a fence. Imagine not being able to read a story to a child.

That’s reality to the thousands of men and women in this country who are illiterate. Perhaps they came to this country and are literate in their native tongue, but cannot speak or read English. Or they have a learning disability and just didn’t pick up the knack of reading. Or maybe reading was not valued in their homes and they never became good readers. But, there are three organizations in Baldwin County that will help a “learner” decode those squiggles on a page.

“One of the most common reasons (for a learner to come) is children in the home,” explained Marilyn Waters, director of the North Baldwin Literacy Council. She added that a number of official agencies refer learners to her organization. “I also get a lot of people by word of mouth.”

But about two-thirds of her 60-70 students that come through each year are looking to prepare for the General Educational Development (GED) exam or want to improve their reading skills. Or as Waters says, “they just can’t get a job” without reading skills. One of Waters’ biggest needs is tutors. They come from all walks of life, but must commit to one hour a week after training to tutoring. There are tutoring positions for all sorts, from an adult just learning his or her ABCs to GED instruction.

deLancey Erickson, director of the  Eastern Shore Literacy Council has people coming into her agency for the same reasons, but she does see a breakdown in age groups. “The younger group, early to mid-20s is usually looking to earn their GED,” she said. “Then we have ESL or English Language Learning and then people just wanting to learn to read.” Like Waters, Erickson sees a lot of learners who can’t get employment or advance in their jobs without reading skills.

The council will be sponsoring  Literacy Awareness week Oct. 4-11 at libraries and stores on the Eastern Shore. Getting people to admit they have a problem with reading can be difficult. “The learners are often very embarrassed,” Erickson said, recalling more than one grown man hanging his head in shame that he could not read. “The tutors have to show compassion.”

For Suzanne Avery, the Student Service Coordinator at the South Baldwin Literacy Council in Foley, the need is for “good tutors.” The tutors will be needed at the SBLC just held an “enrichment program” at the Snook YMCA this summer and plans to do after school tutoring.

“The idea is that we will have volunteer tutors work with kids on homework,” said Avery. “We want to do more family tutoring, communicate more with parents.”

Avery says she has found one school where a few students “couldn’t read.” She was quick to note that non-readers develop a plethora of coping skills to mask their difficulty and that in a crowded classroom, it is possible for them to “slip through the cracks.”

In the ESL program, tutors work “one on one” with the new learners, and South Baldwin has computer terminals loaded with the “Rosetta Stone” software so students can work at their own pace. “We are partnered with Faulkner’s GED classes, as well,” she said. If someone is looking for help or would like to tutor, they may call 943-READ and speak to Avery. “We are not intimidating,” she said.