In the beginning, without knowing it, Steve Bracken had struggled with a learning difference that hampered his ability to learn in various ways. Steve is the kind of man who won't let obstacles stand in his way. He sees those obstacles as challenges and moves forward -- he never makes excuses. He just keeps moving ahead and keeps reaching for the stars.

An intelligent man, Steve, along with his brother in-law started a business working with all types of glass such as, shower doors, tabletops, vinyl windows, and more. They also do restoration of old classics. Steve does all the work on the classics, because he is the most proficient in that area.

Soon after getting into the glass business, Steve was determined that he was finally going learn how to read. Steve studied hard and his reading skills rapidly improved. He began to read everything he could get his hands on that related to glass. Steve's story reminds us of the importance and the power of reading. As of December, 2001, approximately two years after beginning to learn how to read, Steve's glass business has grossed somewhere in the neighborhood of two million dollars (nice neighborhood, huh.). Steve's story shows that learning how to read can have a direct, positive effect on one's quality of life. He learned how to deal with his learning difference in a way that it could not defeat him. He learned how to deal with it as a challenge, and realize great achievement.

In addition to working in his successful glass business, Steve speaks to groups about the power of reading. His message is you can do it too!

INTERVIEW WITH STEVEN BRACKEN

Conducted in July, 2001 by Ernest Best, Executive Director,

Massachusetts Alliance for Adult Literacy

• "What prompted you to attend an adult literacy program?"
  
  " Well, something that I always wanted to do was to learn how to read and write. Up until September the third 1999 I actually gave up. I figured that I'd never read a day in my life. I have a business partner and we have a business that grossed two million dollars. So, I came to a point in my life that I figured if something happened to him, where would I be? I would have to hire somebody else to handle the books of the business. And I could not hire someone who I trust as much as this man. The second thing are my children. They come home asking me to help them with their homework, or asking me to read them this book. I would tell them that daddy don't have time, and they need to go see mamma. Those are the two biggest things that really pushed me to walk in that door."
  
  
• "In terms of education are there any challenges that you face?"
  
  " It is strongly suspected that I have a learning difference."
  
  
• "What is you particular learning difference called?"
  
  " I am suspected of having dyslexia."
  
  
• "How did you find out that you have a learning difference? Where was it diagnosed? Describe the experience."
  
  " When other kids could do it and I couldn't do it, and they started making fun of me. I wasn't officially diagnosed with a learning disability, but my tutor highly suspects that I have dyslexia."
  
  
• "You were successful in learning how to read. You've become an adult learner leader. Many people with a learning difference can relate to the challenges that you face. And although you have a learning difference, it just doesn't go away. How were you with your learning difference able to be successful as an adult learner leader?"
  
  " Determination, and the will to l help others. I want to help others to change their lives the way that I did."
  
  
• "What techniques did you use, or still use, to deal with your learning difference that made you able to become successful?"
  
  " Part of my problem with learning how to read was helped by slowing down and taking the time to really look at what I was reading--better concentration. But I must give a great deal of the credit to my tutor. She is a very skilled person. I have one of the best tutors in the world. She never looses her cool. If you have a tutor that will make you feel uncomfortable at all (doesn't have patience), someone with a learning disability will hit that block wall. Then you might as well send them on home. With my tutor's help I learned through something called the Wilson Program. I recommend this program for anybody wanting to learn how to read."
  
  
• "What resources are you aware of that would help other adult with learning differences? Classes? Tutorials? Materials? Individual people?"
  
  " I have to speak very highly of the Wilson Program. I must say that I have never been shown anything else, but at this point and time, I have nothing but praise for it. They have given me something that no one else was able to give me--the ability to read. "