Many volunteer organizations have computers available for student use and actively encourage the acquisition of computer skills along with literacy skills. Among the technology leaders in North Carolina's volunteer literacy organizations are Durham County Literacy Council, Blue Ridge Literacy Council, and Haywood Literacy Council. All three organizations have websites and e-mail capability. With a corporate gift of a dozen computers two years ago, Durham County Literacy Council furnished a computer laboratory for student use. A wide variety of software programs are available for adult students and their children.
Students also have access to the Internet.
Durham County Literacy Council operates an exciting initiative called the Parents' Part Program. Using educational software in addition to books, parents and children work together to practice phonics skills and word processing. Both Laubach Literacy Action and Literacy Volunteers of America have awarded grants to the Council to support this important work which develops parenting skills and promotes family bonding along with the enhancement of literacy skills. Lucy Haagen, Executive Director of DCLC, makes some excellent points on the use of volunteers in literacy programs. Just as volunteer literacy programs have had to rely on capable volunteers in their tutoring operations, it's quite a challenge getting computer literate and computer interested individuals to provide the kind of support needed to use technology effectively in instruction.