Adult Literacy: A Handbook for Development Workers is written for agency staff with no formal training in adult education who have to respond - as planners, trainers, or teachers - to requests for literacy skills. It sets out to deepen their understanding of literacy and its importance in the process of development and change. Using examples from many countries, the authors give practical guidance, in clear language, for all stages of literacy action from planning to assessment. Besides reading, they cover the skills involved in writing, calculating, and interpreting visual images. They suggest ways of using materials that are already available, and how to develop new ones designed for specific situations.