New Horizons

"The computer has been a great gift to me," says adult learner Harry Seda of Middletown, New York. "Learning with the computer has given me tremendous confidence in my abilities."

Before computer technology arrived, Seda, 57, faced an uphill battle whenever he had to write a letter or read an order form at work. Learning disabled since childhood, Seda taught himself to read by using picture books, maps, magazines, and even phone books. A sharp memory and hands-on experience helped him rise from clerk to maintenance engineer at the Edelstein Grocery Company, where he worked for over 20 years.

"I would memorize the machinery drawings and relate them to the words on the page so I could understand how the equipment functioned. In this way, I learned how to repair elevators, electronic systems, and whatever else needed fixing."

After an accident forced Seda into early retirement nine years ago, he decided it was time to go back to school. He enrolled in a one-to-one program with the Literacy Volunteers of America, and it was there that his love affair with computers began. With the help of technology and his tutors, he has created web sites, sent letters to his children by e-mail, and improved his reading and spelling ability.

"Grammar programs help me write letters and a voice activated computer reads it back to me so that I can see if it's correct," says Seda. Excited to share his computer knowledge with other adult learners, he began teaching a computer course in 1997 called, "Getting Comfortable with Computer Technology."

He has also written four instruction booklets on computer basics, such as how to create files, save information, and what the icons mean. Encouraging other students like himself to learn and go forward has given Seda a great sense of accomplishment. "When people first come to my workshop they are angry because they don't understand how the computer works. But after they finish the class they're smiling and I know I've gotten through to them. And that's a great feeling. I love it."