One popular definition of literacy is that being literate means possessing reading and writing skills to be able to fully participate in education, family, workplace and community. While most do not consciously think about it, literacy mediates our interaction with much of the world. Written information is everywhere around us. We see written information at home, in our cars, on the streets, in the supermarkets, at the doctor's office and everywhere else. People who lack literacy skills must develop alternative strategies for interacting with the world.
Some people aid themselves by asking others to interpret.
Others learn to associate shapes, colors, pictures and drawings with specific information. While these strategies help some, limited literacy skills prevent people from fully participating in a literate world. The most obvious literacy impact that people think of, is in relationship to employment. Individuals with low literacy are often unable to obtain employment, or work in low paying jobs with limited or no benefits. In fact, research clearly shows a direct correlation between educational achievement and income.