Rick Kniebuehler speaks out about literacy issues

Back in the 1980s, Rick Kniebuehler's ambition was to become a firefighter, but he faced a seemingly insurmountable hurdle: he could only read at a second-grade level because of a learning disability. He couldn't read, much less fill out, the fire department application, and he had no hope of passing the written tests. Fortunately, a staff member at the fire department referred him to the Literacy Network.
It took courage that first time to walk in to the Literacy Network, recalls Rick. Adults with reading difficulties are often fearful of being stigmatized--even though their problems are usually linked to only specific aspects of learning. Otherwise, they may function as well as anyone else.
"Many people who can't read are afraid. They don't want others to know," says Rick. His mother and his wife were among the few in on his secret.
Rick was reassured by the Literacy Network's strict policy of confidentiality. His participation was between him, his volunteer tutors, and members of the professional staff.
"It took me three or four weeks to get comfortable with my tutors, but from there we became friends, and things worked out great," he remembers.
"I came to the Literacy Network because I couldn't read or spell. Spelling was my bad thing," he notes. "If you show me a card, I can say the sound. But if you say the sound, I can't spell the word. When I found out what my problems were, that helped quite a bit.
"My tutor said, 'Look at me. Watch my lips, how I make the sounds. She made the sounds, and I did the same thing. That's how I got the sounds."
Over time, Rick attained a sixth-grade reading level. He passed his tests at the fire department and worked as a firefighter for eighteen years. What's more, he also passed the test to become an emergency medical technician (EMT).
"My tutor would work with me on preparing for the EMT test for an extra hour after our regular session," he recalls.
Rick served on the Literacy Network Board of Directors in 1987-1989, and soon found himself invited to speak about literacy issues to groups of tutors, as well as to the general public. By this time, Rick was rightly proud of his achievements, and he wanted to help others who had difficulty reading.
"I got to meet a lot of people all over the state," he notes.
Beginning in 1992, Rick went three times to National Adult Literacy Congress meetings in Philadelphia and Washington, DC. A highlight of the congress was a speech by First Lady Barbara Bush, who had made literacy a personal cause.
Rick remembers her speech well. "She told us, ' I know how you feel when you look at a written page. I feel the same way when I look at a computer screen.'"
Today, Rick can handle both the written page and the computer screen. Retired from the fire department, he now works for a rental car company, delivering cars to cities around the Midwest. He thanks the Literacy Network for helping him get his current job, as well.
"It would be hard if you couldn't read the road signs," he remarks. "And one thing about my tutor, she taught me how to read a map."
Rick also volunteers at the Literacy Network, helping to train new tutors. "I want to help tutors understand what it's like to be on the learning side. I tell tutors what my problem is in case they have someone who has the same problem."
Asked about his plans for the future, Rick smiles.
"I'm just going along with the flow. When my wife retires, we're going to travel a little bit."
Maps and signs come easy to him, now.

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