1. education

Quick Reference Sheet ORGANIZATION
OTTAWA COMMUNITY
COALITION FOR LITERACY (OCCL)
WHAT IT IS
Organization Mandate
The Ottawa Community Coalition for Literacy supports,
promotes and strengthens adult literacy services in Ottawa
through communications, research and public education.
OCCL is funded by the MTCU, memberships, donations and
fundraising. The Board of Directors is responsible for ongoing
operations. The Local Planning and Coordination Committee
(made up of representatives from the literacy agencies in Ottawa)
is responsible for literacy service planning.
WHAT THEY PROVIDE
Key Programs & Services for Job Seekers
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Contact:
Guide to Ottawa’s Literacy and Basic Skills Providers - Ottawa’s nine different Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS)
programs offer free services to help clients improve skills in the following six areas:
• find and use information
communicate ideas and information
• understand and use numbers
use digital technology
• manage learning
engage with others
Each LBS program differs in terms of the range of programming offered, from basic up to a grade 12 equivalency
level and in terms of the number of hours of instruction offered per week.
General Inquiries:
613.233.3232
info@occl.ca
Executive Director
Jennifer Fontaine
jenniferfontaine@occl.ca
Provider List (also see the Quick Reference Sheet for each provider)
• ACElinks
Algonquin - Career & Academic Access Centre
• ALSO’s Adult Upgrading Program
ALSO’s Deaf Adult Upgrading Program
• Centre Moi j’apprends
CNIB Deafblind Literacy Program
• Formation de base de l’Ontario
John Howard Society of Ottawa – Pre-Employment Training
• OCSB Literacy and Basic Skills
People, Words & Change
• OCDSB Workplace Training and Academic Upgrading Program
Eligibility Criteria: At least 19 years of age (sometimes programs serve young adults aged 16 to 18 if they are
mature enough to benefit from adult education); live in Ontario; speak English or French at Canadian Language
Benchmark Level 6 or higher if not born in Canada.
Credit and Equivalency Guide - Adult students in Ontario, who want to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or
equivalency, have many pathways to consider. The chart on this page provides an overview of several options. Colleges provide
academic referral services and adult high schools have guidance counselors who are available to help students.
OCCL Publications - A variety of useful pamphlets and manuals, including:
• Working Together - This pamphlet is intended to help anyone who may be thinking of referring a client to one of Ottawa's Literacy
and Basic Skills (LBS) programs or to an ACE (Academic and Career Entrance) program.
• Getting to Know the Library - A manual designed to introduce adult learners (literacy, ESL/FSL) to the resources and services of the
library and to help learners feel more at ease when dealing with the library. Also see Getting to Know the Library in ASL
• Literacy & Essential Skills Awareness Guide - A resource for employment counselors.
You can explore further at OttawaJobPath.ca:
Improving Literacy & Essential Skills
Access this page directly at ottawajobpath.ca/quick-clicks.php