Doreen’s struggle with reading stems from her childhood, which was impacted by a debilitating illness known as Lupus. She often didn’t want to eat as a child as her condition affected her physically and mentally.
“I was the youngest of eight children, and they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me for a while, but then I was diagnosed with Lupus,” she said. “It did impact me and my learning and my health. I just struggled. I struggled in school and struggled to learn to read.”
Fortunately, Doreen graduated high school and was very involved in her church. More than 30 years ago, she met her now husband at her church but was afraid to tell him about her reading struggles when they were dating. She was embarrassed and concerned about what he might say.
“I had to be honest and finally tell him,” she confessed. “Luckily, he said he didn’t care! We’ve been married for over 30 years, and he is so smart.”
While married, Doreen worked at a steady job for more than 25 years before retiring medically due to Lupus complications. She said she would use sight words to get by at work but was embarrassed when people like her supervisor would notice her reading struggles. However, she was highly organized and well-loved and completed her job proficiently.
After retiring, Doreen was more than ready to put her literacy woes behind her. After hearing about this program from her brother, she joined Reading to New Heights more than two years ago after several failed attempts with other literacy programs that did not work for her. She was so excited to start this long-time-awaited journey with a new program.
“I’ve been praying for a program like this since I was a child so that I could learn how to read. I am so grateful,” exclaimed Doreen.
Doreen has had great success and now reads with confidence. She meets virtually with her instructor twice a week and has developed a special bond. One day, by happenstance, she was discussing her progress in the program with her brother and discovered that they have the same instructor!
“It makes for great conversations between the two of us, and we’re both learning a lot because [our instructor] really puts all of her time into making sure you understand,” she said. “We’re both just so grateful for her and the program.”
Doreen has so many aspirations after joining the program, including starting a YouTube channel and authoring her first book.
“This is one of the best programs ever! I have tried all the other ones, but this one gives you the understanding you need,” she says. “I’m reading now. I am more confident, and I want to write a book. If I can do it, so can everyone who struggles with reading.”
The word literacy is used quite often, but how is it truly defined? And why does it matter?
We’re glad you asked and happy to share our thoughts.
Literacy has been defined and redefined as the world, society changes, and more is expected of people. The word literate means more now than simply knowing how to read. The term has more weight and depth than the old, direct translation.
Reading to New Heights defines literacy as the ability to use printed and written information to function well in society.
The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development) simplifies this idea well:
Literacy is more than just reading, writing, and numeracy. It’s not about being literate or illiterate anymore, but having adequate skills for today’s demands.
In refining our own definition, we were inspired by definitions of literacy from other places, most notably the following:
UNESCO – Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute, and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society.
NAAL (National Assessment of Adult Literacy) – Literacy is using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential.
ProLiteracy – Literacy is the ability to read, write, compute, and use technology at a level that enables an individual to reach his or her full potential as a parent, employee, and community member.
We love these definitions. And while someone is on the journey to learning, they are indeed learning. At Reading to New Heights, we call that beloved group adult learners. And we never use the term illiterate as it implies ignorance and is an insulting term to use. Literacy is a continuum, and people gain literacy on a scale. Learning is a continuous journey, so in essence, everyone over the age of 18 are adult learners.
The more you know, the more you grow! We hope to spread awareness and empower adults through literacy support.
Share this with someone you know today!
We are so thankful that United Way Dallas allowed Reading to New Heights to participate in their 12-week program designed to help foster early-stage social ventures led and staffed by women and people of color. Known as the Social Innovation Incubator, we, alongside other participants, had the opportunity to:
- Utilize personalize leadership coaching to empower participants as they develop their venture and grow their leadership
- Access seed funding and compete in a pitch competition for additional funding of up to $5,000
- Prioritization for future programs through United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
Last week, United Way Dallas granted us two awards—the Sustainability Awards and the Audience Choice Award–after a successful pitch.
“We are honored to be a part of this program not only because of the professional development and support but also because it provides endless opportunities to move our mission forward and create a safe place for adults to learn and improve their literacy skills. Everything we do is with current and future learners in mind,” says Deidra Mayberry, Reading to New Heights’ Executive Director and Co-founder.
Founded in 2020, Reading to New Heights is still in the startup phase. Focusing exclusively on startups led and staffed by women and people of color, the Social Innovation program fosters greater equity in the local social innovation sector. The program works to intentionally address historical barriers to success that many women and people of color encounter when launching a startup, including opportunity and resource gaps, as well as systemic racial and gender inequities.
“Social innovation is an exciting area because it’s all about leveraging more effective, efficient, sustainable, or just solutions to our community’s biggest challenges,” said Alexis Snow, senior manager of innovation at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
Thank you, United Way Dallas!
Before I met Deidra Mayberry, I was really in the dark about the disturbing statistics available on the breadth and depth of functional illiteracy among adults in this country. As Deidra puts it…
In a matter of just one day, people go from children who struggle with reading to adults who struggle with reading.
That makes sense because one day you are legally considered a child and the next, on your eighteenth birthday, you are suddenly plunged into the world with full adult responsibilities whether you’ve mastered basic literacy skills or not. As a lifelong educator, I’m a little bit embarrassed by how unaware I’ve been about this particular issue. Deidra cites a disturbing 2020 Forbes article by Michael T. Nietzel that articulates the widespread implications of the problem.
There’s 130 million adults in the U.S. that cannot read above a third grade level.
Someone you know likely struggles to read. According to UNESCO, despite a steady rise in the literacy rate over the past 50 years, there are still 773 million adults around the world who cannot read. The majority are women.
While that number can easily be overwhelming, it is essential to know that there are solutions to reducing this number. It is why Reading to New Heights was founded–to chip away at that number and empower those on the journey to reading proficiency.
And while monetary donations support our efforts of hiring certified instructors, paying for curriculum, and ensuring we achieve our mission, there are other ways to give back. Here are a few tips if you’re looking for ways to reduce illiteracy rates and get involved.
- Share our social media
You never know who in your social circle is struggling with literacy, and perhaps sharing a post could be the sign that someone needs to start their journey of improving their reading skills. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and share a post as a sign of solidarity and support.
- Become a volunteer
Our volunteers make our mission possible. You can support by offering your time, skills, and expertise with as little as four hours a week. We would love to have you join us! If you have an active teaching certificate from any state, click here for more information.
- Be a listening ear
Reading hardships are often a hidden struggle. If someone confides in you about their struggles or desire to improve their reading skills, take the time to listen and support them. Share our resources and let them know that they are not alone.
For an inspirational clip of how Reading to New Heights co-founder Deidra Mayberry confided in her friend about her struggles, watch this clip from the Kelly Clarkson Show.
Remember that literacy is one of the greatest gifts, and you have the tools to share it.
It’s no secret! Reading to New Heights aims to create a safe place for adults to learn and improve their literacy skills. We’re here for you, but we know it can be tough to decide to start our program. So, we’ve created a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that might help answer how we achieve success with our clients.
- What’s the cost?
It’s free! We are a non-profit and are a solely grant and donor-funded organization. We seek to remove all barriers to literacy, including costs.
- Are learners diagnosed with any reading disabilities within the program?
While we do have certified educators paired with each learner, we don’t offer diagnosing services. We focus on a multi-tiered approach to support. We support those with dyslexia or other learning disabilities, those with English as their second language, and those who simply need care and support. All adults are welcome!
- Is there an entrance exam?
We test every learner to assess their reading level. However, there is no score that must be achieved in order to enroll. All learners are welcome!
- Do learners have to read aloud in front of a class?
No. We know that reading aloud to strangers can be a tough hurdle for some, and we value privacy and creating safe spaces for our learners. We offer one-on-one, pattern, and small group options. Students can choose which option they prefer.
- Are classes in-person or virtual?
We offer both depending on the needs of the learner. Most enrolled learners prefer virtual sessions, while some prefer in-person instruction.
- How long is the program?
It’s different for everyone! We have designed an 18-month, three-level program with a goal of every learner graduating with mastering a 9th-grade reading level. Some learners have chosen to accelerate their two-year program, and others have taken their time. We follow our client’s pace.
Ready?
Now that you know more about us, we’d love to learn more about you. Click here if you’re interested in our program and ready to contact us or enroll. If this program tugs at your heart and you’re interested in making an impact through a donation, please click here.
When Deidra Mayberry was a child, she struggled with reading. Feeling embarrassed and ashamed, she did her best to hide it. And she was pretty good at hiding it. As her family moved around a lot, due to her parents’ military career, she adapted and kept hiding it — making it all the way through school without anyone really noticing.
After graduating from high school, she started looking for support to improve her reading skills.
I was turned away because I was over the age of 17, and other private options like one-on-one tutoring were financially out of reach for me.
Deidra promised that one day she’d do something to fix it. After struggling for years, and eventually finding support, she started a nonprofit to help other adults facing their own challenges with literacy. Now she’s striving to help the almost 43,000,000 adults who still are struggling. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), 21 percent of adults in the United States (about 43 million) fall into the illiterate/functionally illiterate category.
When Deidra Mayberry was a child, she struggled with reading. Feeling embarrassed and ashamed, she did her best to hide it. And she was pretty good at hiding it. As her family moved around a lot, due to her parents’ military career, she adapted and kept hiding it — making it all the way through school without anyone really noticing.
After graduating from high school, she started looking for support to improve her reading skills.
I was turned away because I was over the age of 17, and other private options like one-on-one tutoring were financially out of reach for me.
Deidra promised that one day she’d do something to fix it. After struggling for years, and eventually finding support, she started a nonprofit to help other adults facing their own challenges with literacy. Now she’s striving to help the almost 43,000,000 adults who still are struggling. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), 21 percent of adults in the United States (about 43 million) fall into the illiterate/functionally illiterate category.
Deidra’s story is like so many others. Our founder, Deidra Mayberry, recently had a chance to sit down with Fox 4’s Lauren Przybyl on Good Day to talk about her struggles with illiteracy earlier in her life, as well as what Reading to New Heights is now doing to help the people of Dallas County.
As the interview details, Deidra’s journey hasn’t been easy. One of seven children, she was part of a military family that moved constantly. With each new school, she found herself slipping further and further behind her classmates as they learned to read— and she didn’t.
Soon she found herself in special ed classes, and intentionally got to school late so no one would see her enter that classroom. She stayed there for three years. Even after she was moved back into regular classrooms, she fell behind, having missed three years of normal study.
Seeking any form of community and acceptance from the peers who had academically left her behind, she turned to people pleasing. “It took alot of work. A lot of prep before and after class. Alot of faking, trying to be the class clown, just to not be exposed.”
Things only got worse as she got older. In high school, when she told a guidance counselor about her dream of becoming a psychologist, she was told that it wouldn’t be possible— her grades just weren’t good enough. She struggled and found a way to graduate, and even went on to pursue a degree in business administration, but barely kept a C average.
Finally Deidra opened up to a trusted friend about her illiteracy. This friend started helping her, but she needed professional education. And she couldn’t find it. “That was the struggle. Knowing I needed the support, I couldn’t find anything.” Most illiteracy programs outside the school system are for children.
Embarrassment is the #1 factor prohibiting adults from learning to read. Like Deidra, so many illiterate adults feel shame for not measuring up to their peers. The #2 factor, meanwhile, is probably cost. It should come as no surprise that illiteracy is generally paired with poverty. The illiterate usually cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars to learn to read, and their lack of reading comprehension cycles back into their poverty.
When she finally did learn to read, Deidra determined to help others in her situation. “I just always had the dream that one day I would support people like myself and give them a program so that they, too, could better themselves.”
She founded Reading to New Heights to eliminate both major barriers: cost and shame. A major goal of RTNH has been raising awareness for adult illiteracy. It’s more common than you might think. 35% of Dallas County residents read below a basic level. Your illiterate friends are not alone in this struggle.
As for the cost factor, the organization takes care of that, as well. It’s completely free. But that doesn’t mean a drop in quality. “All of our volunteers are certified educators. When you’re dealing with adults, it’s really important that you have that background to be able to help navigate through what you may be challenged with.
“The goal was to make sure no one experienced the limitations I did, the hopelessness. Because there’s so much more inside that I wanted to do, but I didn’t have the skillset to do it. I didn’t want to just bring a problem, but to bring a solution.”
Deidra’s story is like so many others. If you know someone with a similar story, tell them about Reading to New Heights. They can start rewriting that story today.
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