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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Hello, Michael, and welcome to the OSLIST
and this marvelous community. I look forward to meeting you when you come
to San Francisco next year.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Michael wrote:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.25in'><i><font size=2
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic'>... some
(maybe even a large part) of the group may not be able to write. This literacy
issue relates to education, not any kind of physical or intellectual
disability.</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.25in'><i><font size=2
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic'>...what
are the options? Do those people tend to self organise for someone with written
language skills to post their topic (and read other people's topics)? Given
that there may (or may</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.25in'><i><font size=2
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic'>not) be
some level of shame around illiteracy, should the matter be addressed up front
at the beginning of the OS? If so, would this be the role of the Sponsor or the
OS Facilitator?</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText style='margin-left:.25in'><i><font size=2
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic'>...Has
anyone experienced this situation?</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>I have worked with groups of mixed levels of
literacy – in this case, to me, it is similar to groups with mixed
languages.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>If possible, the client (host, sponsor) can
identify in advance what are the language and literacy needs, and we can make
some adjustments. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>In a mix where people will be helping each
other – I would simply design in some support for that rich diversity.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>It might depend on the actual group you are
working with. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>For example when I work in prison (doing
workshops and dialogue circles, not quite Open Space) I simply name (when I
explain instructions or process) that ‘we don’t all read, so feel
free to draw instead or ask someone next to you to help you write’.
Just as a matter of fact, a fact about “we”. If I know there
might be a shame situation (not to assume that, though) I say ‘and for
any of you who don’t have your reading glasses feel free to ask someone sitting
next to you to help’. Simply create an environment where
people are actively helping each other. Make it perfectly natural for folks to
write text or draw – either or – for their topic signs. In a
group that really knows each other (like in prison) folks always know who to
turn to (the people who can draw, the people who can write, and so on).</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>It also depends on the overall design of
course – but for example – people who want to post topics on the
agenda can come up to a table (I put it in the aisle so the circle still feels
round) to draw/write their signs (text or symbol or drawing) – there can
be a helper sitting at the table who helps write signs (or adds text) for
anyone who wishes that assistance. And you can name this as a support at
that table. Realize that a drawing or image will draw people to a
discussion just as well as text, for those people who decide to post signs in
that way.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>If the <u>majority</u> of the group is of an
oral culture, more than just a subgroup, you may want to shift the design a
little bit – as in that case most folks will need to capture in their
audio memory a string of topics – and the brain simply cannot hold that
many topics in memory. So you could adjust to have (I don’t know
how big your group is but) the first 5 topics named aloud – then go into
that discussion session, then reconvene in circle for the next 5 topics convenors
to name their topics, then go into that discussion session, and so on –
in and out so the mind remembers the selection of discussion topics for that
round.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>And as an assist in either version, you can
either label the discussion areas around the room / post-its as such things as
a leaf, a star, a fish and so on, or combine that with a letter (“A”
and a star for example).</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>I know the fabulous John Engle and others
will add some good ideas from their own experiences...</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Let us know how it goes and what you find
out,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Lisa</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:black'>___________________________</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=blue face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold'>L
i s a H e f t</span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:blue'>Consultant,
Facilitator, Educator</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:blue'>O p e n i n
g S p a c e</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><a href="mailto:lisaheft@openingspace.net"><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>lisaheft@openingspace.net</span></font></a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><a href="http://www.openingspace.net"><font
color=black><span style='color:black'>www.openingspace.net</span></font></a> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
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