Life Long Learning:
Ohio Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) Program
In 2004, the number of Ohio ABLE participants 60 and over was 1,988 people, 3.5% of the total (Ohio Department of Education 2004 ABLE Annual Report). Students 60 and over represent the smallest group of participants in ABLE programs.
Why go back to school now? This is a common question for those thinking about going back to school. The Ohio Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) programs have the answers. They offer a variety of services to improve adult education. They help with basic academic skills, GED preparation, family literacy, job training, competency with everyday tasks (banking, bill payment, etc.), and English as a Second Language. There are preconceptions attached to age and education. What most people fail to realize is that there are many educational opportunities through ABLE programs.
For Art Massengill, the ABLE programs have been a great opportunity to continue his education. Art, a student at the Live Oaks ABLE program, went back to get his GED at 62. When he was a child, Art grew up in the mountains of Tennessee. He spent more time at home than at school. Eventually he left school completely to help his family at home. Although he always thought about going back, he never returned to school. He moved to Ohio when he was 19 and got married. He spent 36 years working at a printing inks company.
One day, he was talking about his education with a friend. He expressed regret about not continuing his education. His friend asked him, “Why don’t you get your GED?” Art went to find out about it the next day. He already knew about the Live Oaks ABLE program from brochures in the mail. Going in, he had no idea what the program would be like. He said, “I just wanted to go to school.” He had no doubts about his age because the same friend gave him the confidence to do it. “It was an opportunity to see where I could go with it,” he said.
He is in his fifth year at the program and is ready to take the GED test. Art praises the ABLE program, “It has given me more confidence in myself than I’ve had in years.” Despite his confidence, other people have expressed doubt. “People would ask ‘Why are you doing this now?’ I would just say that I’m doing it for myself,” he said. Since joining the program, he has achieved a lot. One of those achievements is that he has learned how to use a computer and even owns one. “I never had any idea I would be on one,” he said.
One of his biggest accomplishments is that he has also learned that he can write short stories. He writes for school and for himself, but he has also been published in past issues of Beginnings, a publication of the Ohio Literacy Resource Center. Art has been selected to be in the upcoming eighth issue of Beginnings. Beginnings writers celebrate their accomplishments at the annual Ohio Writer’s Conference in May.
In reflection, Art said that the ABLE experience has “been a challenge, but exciting.” He considers the goals he had when he first entered the program; “I have accomplished a lot.” For anyone who has doubts about going back to school, Art has this advice, “Do it, go back to school and enjoy it. I think it’s a great opportunity to feel better about yourself.”
From 2000 Census data, 14% of Ohio’s adult population lacks a high school credential (Ohio Literacy Network). The lack of education creates many obstacles for the individual, the family, and also the community. Through federal and state funding, ABLE programs are available free to participants. ABLE programs are also supported by Resource Centers. ABLE Resource Centers, like the Ohio Literacy Resource Center, are focused on improving and providing leadership for ABLE programs. In 2004, over two million dollars in state and federal funds were allocated to support Ohio Resource Centers (Ohio Department of Education FY 2004 ABLE Section 223 State Leadership Report).