article from
Contact
A regional newsletter for staff of
Human Resources Development Canada - Newfoundland Region

While some people seem to breeze through school and on to post-secondary education uninterrupted, for others the learning process poses a greater challenge. Such was the case for Madonna Dillon who had a learning disability that prevented her from doing well in school. In fact, over 20 years ago it caused her to drop out not once by three times by the time she got to Grade Eight. "I was totally frustrated in school. Later I saw my friends going on through high school and university. All the while I was trying to understand, why me, why wasn't I able to go to school and move on with my life?"

"I would not be here today without the help of Spell Read and I could not have afforded it without the financial assistance provided by HRDC." - Madonna Dillon

After she quit school, Madonna went to work in a convenience store. As time went by, the prospect of continuing in a lifetime of unskilled employment at near minimum wage weighed heavily on her mind. Madonna often felt she could do better - if only she could improve her ability to read. Despite having eventually graduated from Adult Basic Education in 1992, Madonna's reading and comprehension skills remained at a Grade Six level. Her situation changed for the better in the fall of 2000 when, at 35, she began the Spell Read Phonological Auditory Training (P.A.T.) program with assistance from Human Resources Development Canada.

Now, just over a year later, and in her first semester of a pre-Social Work degree at Memorial University, Madonna is truly appreciative of having been sponsored by HRDC in the Spell Read program.

A single mother since age 21, Madonna says her motivation to get ahead came from her two children, now aged 5 and 15. "In helping me, HRDC has really helped save three lives because I figure if I don't get a future neither do my kids." Madonna also acknowledges the help she received from other groups. "Besides HRDC and Spell Read, I want to emphasize that I was greatly helped along the way by Ability Works - an HRDC-sponsored employment centre whose main clientele are persons with disabilities, and Women Interested in Successful Employment (WISE)."

With her life headed in a positive direction with her current university career, Madonna admits that the road to knowledge so far has not been an easy one. Ironically, as she heads off to the Queen Elizabeth II Library, Madonna points out that her learning disability was known about since she was quite young. "I was assessed in Grade Four with a learning disability by a professional who said she was amazed that I had gotten as far as I had. End of story - I never saw the person after that!"

Now near the end of her first semester at university, Madonna exudes confidence that she is finally on the right track. Furthermore, she's not in the least deterred by being a mature student. "I sometimes joke with the younger students that I'm old enough to be their mother." She is, however, obviously quite pleased with the results in her three courses and proudly smiles when reporting that she has already scored an A in one of her exams. Despite the delays earlier encountered on the road to learning, Madonna's commitment to education now demonstrates her determination to achieve a goal that once seemed impossible. Congratulations, Madonna. Keep up the good work!