Management of The Reading Clinic and also a trustee, writes on how the clinic plans to help Bermuda's prisoners. See Page 44 for more stories on The Reading Clinic.

*** The Reading Clinic will be launching a literacy project to research learning disabilities in the prison system.

The Bank of Bermuda, Centennial Trust, recently granted $25,000 towards The Reading Clinic's proposed Research Project on Literacy.

News of this generous grant and details of our Literacy Project have prompted donations from Gorhams Limited and the Hamilton Lions Club. We are very grateful for all of these donations, however, we will need additional funding to complete all the phases of the project.

According to Dr. Edward Hallowell, a member of The Reading Clinic's International Advisory Committee: "These people (prisoners) rarely get diagnosed early. They are thought of as criminals, not undiagnosed patients.

If they could be diagnosed, treatment would greatly reduce the likelihood they would return to jail after they served their initial sentence.'' Phase I will involve a screening procedure designed to determine if the offender possesses the basic tendencies, behaviour and history consistent with learning and/or attentional disabilities. Target date is June 1, 1999. It is anticipated, based on research conducted in other countries, that a significant number of individuals will fit the pattern of learning disabilities and will benefit from further assessment and appropriate teaching.

Ideally a Learning Disabilities/Attention Deficit Disorder screening programme should be part of the system for defendants who appear in our courts. We hope that our research project will lead to this in the future and have requested that such a screening be part of the planned Drug Court.

Phase II will involve a more detailed assessment of those who appear to fit the profile of a person with a learning and/or attentional disability and an assessment of how their needs can be met.

Between these two phases we plan to bring in learning disability experts involved with the judicial system to conduct a public seminar. Currently we are negotiating with Dr. Edward Hallowell, Judge David Admire and Mr. Ronald Hume.

According to Dr. Hallowell a programme set up by Judge Admire, from Redmond, Washington and Mr. Hume, head of the Learning Disabilities Association of Washington, is the most innovative programme he knows of in the criminal justice system. This programme is very similar to the one we are planning.

Phase III will involve facilitating an appropriate training course for prison tutors/teachers. In response to a request to provide this type of training, Betty Kitson and Ann Dunstan visited the Stern Center in Vermont to learn more about their prison training programme. It is anticipated that Phase III will be based on the Stern Center model of teaching adults with learning disabilities.

We believe this project has the potential to reduce recidivism and benefit not only the individuals concerned, but society as a whole.

Mr. Edward Dyer, Commissioner of Prisons, said: "I have the pleasure of giving you my wholehearted support to evaluate the prison population for learning disabilities. I would be very Interested in your findings. I look forward to working with The Reading Clinic in responding to the needs of prisoners.'' Contributed by