Psychology occasionally steps outside the discipline and looks at social problems occurring in society.  Instead of discussing, for example, how schizophrenia is associated with Alzheimer’s, how insomnia can become linked to weight gain, how people taking certain medications should stay away from eating grapefruit products, what exactly is causing the increase in autism among children, and other worthwhile topics, psychology takes a brief sabbatical and converges with sociology.  Sociology can help explain circumstances that are happening within society and the correct approaches to how those particular issues can be remedied.  After all, people affected by the phenomenon can end up in a therapist’s office seeking advice as a result!

Thus, an important conversation about illiteracy, and the Americans who are personally dealing with the issue!

THE NUMBERS ARE GRIM

Parker (2025) indicated “Approximately 79% of adults in the United States have medium to high English literacy skills, leaving about 21%. These 21% of the adults with low literacy rates amount to approximately 43 million adults in the country.”  This information coincides with what Craft (2025) reported earlier this year.

Parker (2025) also mentioned:

As an aside, a state’s literacy rate is the average of all the cities within that state.  Thus, a state can have a respectable literacy rate, while a few cities within the state require important resources to help members of the population learn important life skills.

INSPIRING!  PEOPLE TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE

Morris (2025) pointed out that Seeds of Literacy is an important resource that helps individuals become proficient in critical life skills.  In his article “Why Are So Many Adults Struggling With Low Literacy In Cleveland And Beyond?”, he spoke with individuals who participated in the program and the issues they faced during their early years in the public school system.

The problems described in the article that interfered with quality education are varied (Morris, 2025):

Family responsibilities

The breakdown of the family

Self-esteem issues

Instructor indifference

Inadequate curriculum

Learning disabilities

The lack of resources within the school district to address students with learning disabilities

School desegregation (busing) (i.e., students dropping out of the system altogether)

SEEDS OF LITERACY IS EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE!

“Seeds of Literacy CEO Bonnie Entler said the nonprofit is seeing increasing demand for its services, year after year. Its model allows students to come as they are, whenever they’re able, for as long as they like, with three sessions – in the morning, afternoon and evening. There’s a virtual classroom and assistance with learning how to use computers” (Morris, 2025).

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY

In Houston, Texas, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation (2025) is doing its part in tackling the illiteracy issue with “Houston’s Adult Literacy Blueprint.”

The National Coalition For Literacy (2025) has a page titled “Adult Learners’ Stories” where participants discuss completing their GEDs, others earning their high school diplomas, and their journeys in the program.

ProLiteracy.org (2025) in Syracuse, New York has a program where people can volunteer with “Teach An Adult To Read.  Inspire The World To Change.”

While some people believe they have learning disabilities, this author believes that everyone learns differently!  Learning Disabilities Of America (2025) offers various learning methodologies for individuals from San Jose, California (Barton Reading And Spelling System), Prides Crossing, Maine (Landmark Methodology), Bloomington, Minnesota (Project READ), Bellevue, Washington (Slingerland Approach), and other parts of America with their independent programs.

Finally, a person has to admit that illiteracy is an unpleasant national issue to address!  However, the best way to resolve the problem is to bring it to the forefront and acknowledge the resources available, so that people can obtain access to those resources and start on a path to a better quality of life and more opportunities.  We’re talking about critical life skills here.

That’s it!

Vikki

References

Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation.  (2025). Houston’s Adult Literacy Blueprint.  Retrieved From https://www.barbarabushhouston.org/adultliteracyblueprint

Craft, S. (2025).  48+U.S. Literacy Statistics 2025.  Retrieved From https://www.thinkimpact.com/literacy-statistics/

Learning Disabilities Association Of America. (2025).  Proven Methods For Adults With Word Reading Challenges. Retrieved From https://ldaamerica.org/info/adult-literacy-reading-programs/

Morris, C. (2025).  Why Are So Many Adults Struggling With Low Literacy In Cleveland And Beyond?  Retrieved From https://www.ideastream.org/education/2025-03-07/why-are-so-many-adults-struggling-with-low-literacy-in-cleveland-and-beyond

National Coalition For Literacy.  (2025).  Adult Learners’ Stories.  Retrieved From https://nationalcoalitionforliteracy.org/advocacy/advocacy-from-strengths/adult-learners-stories/

Parker, A. (2025).  U.S. Literacy Rate 2025 – New Statistics & Data.  Retrieved From https://www.prosperityforamerica.org/literacy-statistics/

ProLiteracy.org.  (2025).  Volunteer.  Teach An Adult To Read.  Inspire The World To Change.  Retrieved From https://www.proliteracy.org/Get-Involved/Volunteer/