Linda Jordan, reading the classics, Telford
Linda Jordan has a very different lifestyle nowadays to the one she had in 2000.
In 1998 after numerous orthopaedic operations to help keep her mobile she had a clinical breakdown. She has Cerebral Palsy Diaplegea and so though her childhood had very little schooling with most of what she did have spent at the back of the class or cleaning out cupboards!
A mental health nurse who came to Linda's home realised how much time she spent reading and asked if she would like to read and write properly and went on to arrange for Linda to join a maths group in Shifnal. After some months when the tutor had gained Linda's confidence she asked her to join another group for English at Telford Job Centre, which Linda found herself agreeing to! Linda started to shake before she went in and got all hot and bothered. Her legs turned to jelly and all her old feelings of fear of school, etc came flooding back - however she knew her tutor would be there and Linda knew she had to do this for her nurse as well.
Linda wanted to run, hide and crouch in a corner but the tutor, Deb, just smiled and said "Hello". Linda didn't say more than a couple of words and sat there rocking, completely tongue tied. Gradually however she gained in confidence.
In 2009 Linda has a C&G 3792 literacy level 1 and 2, maths E3 and ICT E1 under her belt. The experience has been amazing and has changed her life. Not only this but she has also gained the C&G 9297 Unit 1 which now enables her to support others.
Linda took part in the Six Book Challenge in 2008 which introduced her to the classics that she had always wanted to read but didn't think they were for people like her. Linda reports that in her opinion the 2009 Challenge has been better than 2008 as she can now understand different styles of writers and says that it has allowed herself and others to escape to other worlds - both make-believe and factual.
