Education and Health Literacy Consulting
Improving Literacy for Better Health Outcomes
Contact Us
for More Information
Shane Desautels
newwayslearning@gmail.com
(773) 322-9668
Our Commitment to Literacy and Health
Empowerment through
Improved Literacy and Education
Literacy is essential for the health and well-being of our community.
The National Literacy Act of 1991 defined literacy as an individual’s ability to read, write and speak in English, compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society, to achieve one’s goals and develop one’s knowledge and potential.
50% of Americans read at such a low level that they cannot perform simple tasks such as reading prescription drug labels.
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The U.S. ranks 36th in Literacy
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54% of adults are below a 6th grade level
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20% are below 5th grade level
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43% of adults have only basic literacy.
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44% have only intermediate literacy.
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21% of adults in 2022 were illiterate.
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Low literacy costs the United States taxpayers 20 billion dollars a year
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School dropouts cost the United States
240 billion in services needed and lost taxes
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50% of unemployed adults do not have a functional literacy level
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46 to 51% of adults have an income below the poverty level because they cannot read
In Chicago 52% of adults have limited literacy.
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20% read at or below the fifth-grade level.
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28% have less than a high school diploma.
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50% of people on public assistance do not have a high school diploma or GED.
NewWays Learning helps children, youth and adults develop the skills to reach the goals
for success.
I have worked in education
and social services for over
30 years. I founded NewWays
Learning and Literacy Consulting
because I believe that literacy
empowers people to reach their
personal goals and full potential.
Shane Desautels MA, M.Div.
Director of NewWays Learning and Literacy Consulting
Health Literacy Materials for
Improved Patient Education
The National Institute of Health defined Health Literacy as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.
75% of Americans with a long-term illness (6 months or more) have limited literacy.
Patients with low literacy are 5 times more likely to misinterpret prescriptions than those with
adequate skills.
People with low health literacy have higher health care costs and are more likely to go to an emergency room for care. Emergency room patients with low literacy are twice as likely to be hospitalized as those with adequate literacy skills.
We take a unique and personalized approach to improving health literacy, so all patients can make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Our focus is on creating custom materials that are easy to understand and engage with.
We can improve the literacy level of advertising and other printed materials. We also create patient-friendly materials to enhance interaction, ensure informed consent, and benefit the health and well-being of our community.
We work closely with you to develop custom patient education materials for better understanding and decision-making in healthcare.
We provide health literacy assessments and education, empowering individuals to navigate the complexities of healthcare information and make informed choices for themselves and their families.
About Us
At NewWays Learning and Literacy Consulting, we are dedicated to improving health literacy and education. Our mission is to empower individuals and communities through accessible and comprehensive health information, ensuring better health outcomes and well-being for all.
