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National Reading Day: Man learns to read at age 47
ABC
News: 1.23.2018 by
Michael Koenigs
Norman Brown kept the fact that he was illiterate a
secret until he finally signed up for tutoring at the age of 47.
He
is one of approximately 32 million Americans who can’t read, according to a
study by the U.S. Department of Education.
Brown
fell behind his classmates during elementary school in Bakersfield, California,
but was still able to make his way through the educational system until 10th
grade.
“Back
then they sort of set you aside. I don’t know how I got to the 10th grade. This
is insane that I went so far in school.”
In
2014, a study from Central
Connecticut State ranked Bakersfield as the least literate city in the United
States.
Even
in adulthood, Brown had difficulty applying for jobs that required a written
application and asked his friends to complete the basic paperwork.
He
eventually found help at the Kern
Literacy Council, where he received weekly tutoring to help develop his
reading skills. He credits his improvement in reading and writing with helping
him launch his own auto body shop to repair classic cars. WATCH
VIDEO
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