I believe that to some extent we often take our ability to read and write for granted. It's like a given. I don't think about the fact that I can read and write, and don't often consider how many people might struggle to either. Not for a lack of caring, but because I never looked into how much of a problem this actually is. Knowing this now has opened my eyes to something I did not know was such a huge issue.

Reading this article and seeing just how many people lack this privilege saddens me. Some things that stood out to me were:

"in a nation whose education system is among the most unequal in the industrialized world"

48 million or 23% of adults struggle to read.

Entire system set up to prioritize students who can quickly graduate with high school or work credentials.

Wait lists and overstuffed classes lead by uncertified part-time/volunteer teachers.

The term "literacy desert".

"an invisible epidemic" and "functionally illiterate"

This is horrible. I think about how often I am required to read. Text messages, emails, bills, documents at work, school assignments, helping my children with school work. I can't even begin to imagine how I'd feel if I were unable to read or write. Let alone how it would break my heart to be unable to support my children in that way.

I started to feel better hearing of the programs to create a support for those in need of these skills. Only to be let down by the fact that they were still not assisting those who needed it most. The fact that they were not prioritized or fell through the cracks is sad.

It seems like they start off strong but slowly dissolve into programs that are looking for quick change and immediate results. This is not possible for those that lack the basic reading skills to succeed in this face paced environment. This only creates more of an obstacle for them as they may feel it's impossible or not an option.

I felt happy to hear of programs like Literacy Mid-South and Detroit's Skills for Life program. I thought it was a bit insane to think that government programs lack the ability to show genuine interest in helping those in need, while smaller programs without government funding show more interest and seem more invested in change.

I feel like I can go on and on about this, mostly because it upsets me to think about those that struggle. It is personal in some way because I have family members that dropped out of school at a young age. It makes me wonder if they had the opportunity to return to school, apply for programs or if they were unaware of the resources.

This definitely pulled on my heart strings and made me want to do something to help. Every bit counts.

I admire some people despite the life that they are dealt with overcome their struggle. This inspires me to work harder and achieve my goals. If life throws you lemons make lemonde out of them.

Interpreting things such as bills, taxes, housing documents, etc. can be difficult even having the privilege of having completed school. I couldn't imagine the difficulty if somebody did not have such privilege.

It makes me upset that people are shamed for any lack of education or learning disability. At the end of the day, we are all humans and should be supporting one another through love, not hatred.

"At the doctor's office, she had to ask for help filling out intake forms, and she later looked up unfamiliar words in the privacy of her home." This is an example of how this literacy problem is affecting people in their personal lives. Having this low literacy leads to low-paying jobs (if they can even get a job).

Overall, I just think it was mind blowing that this problem is so known there is a specific term for it (literacy deserts). This problem is not just about kids failing, it is about what happens after that. I don't like the fact that programs are designed to help people who are already close to passing instead of the ones who are really struggling the most.

Overall, I am glad I had read this because it really shows how much our education system isn't doing well, but this article also allowed me to learn more about this and puts it into perspective seeing adults in a classroom surrounded by young adults, and they are all there to learn and have a good education.

I do wish there will be more opportunities for those who don't have the ability to learn.

- Kyra J.

In my opinion, some that frustrated me was how the system seems to prioritize quick result instead of helping those who struggle more. If the education programs focus on people who improve fast, it puts behind the people who need support.

Real-World Impact: The inability to perform "functional" tasks, such as reading and comprehending medical or financial bills, creates a cycle of struggle and vulnerability.

The article highlights a "hidden" crisis that often goes unnoticed because of the stigma attached to it. What struck me most was how literacy isn't just about reading books for pleasure; it’s about agency. When someone cannot decode a legal document or a prescription label, they lose their ability to navigate society independently. It's clear that these gaps are not just an educational failure but a systemic social justice issue that affects everything from healthcare to economic stability.

I was also surprised by how hard it is for adults to get help. A lot of programs don’t offer true beginner support, and some areas don’t have any programs at all. The article made it clear that low literacy isn’t just a personal issue, it’s something shaped by the systems around people, and it affects their social life, confidence, and financial stability.

Overall, it made me more aware of how big the problem really is and how many barriers adults face when they try to improve their reading skills.

I've always struggled to read. Although I've never been officially diagnosed with dyslexia, I know I have a lot of overlapping traits with many family members who have. Whether I have it or not, I have always been insecure about my inability to read proficiently, so hearing that 48 million people struggle with the same issue is comforting and worrying. 

Some of the personal difficulties the article listed regarding a lack of reading skills, such as having a hard time reading bills and filling out forms. I don't think my poor reading skills are too bad, although I can struggle keeping up with the reading material in class, and take a little longer to manage the register at work, I wouldn't say it hinders my life a significant amount.

Fortunately enough, my school did offer extra reading classes to help me keep up. In fact, these extra classes were so prominent in my reading journey that I was surprised to hear that a lot of education systems have failed in moving too soon or assuming their students' reading ability before teaching the next topic. 

As someone with similar experiences with other adults with poor literacy, I differ as I was privileged enough to have extra support. It upsets me to hear the common barriers to education for children struggling to read, and even more so, education for adults. We base so much of the world on our ability to read that the lack thereof has led to limited job opportunities and increased reliance on social resources. 

I plan to become more educated on this topic to spread awareness and bring change. Not everyone was as privileged as I was growing up, and without the resources given to me, I wouldn't be in as lucky spot as I am currently. Like myself, I hope all children can receive the proper reading-related support, and adults as well, because it's not fair to leave them out of the equation. 

I think a good place to start off would be to speak up about how common these struggles are and how they are not a true reflection of one's intelligence but rather a failure in the system, the goal being to reduce stigma and shame around illiteracy in adults. Furthermore, I think implementing personal learning programs specializing in teaching adult's literary skills would tackle the root problem, the lack of literacy education in older individuals.