The Answers May Vary Guidebook was developed in 2015 by Bow Valley College. This easy-to-read guidebook compiled the results of the AMV Research Report, plus interviews with educators and adult learners. With a focus on strategies and effective practices the Answers May Vary Guidebook provides concrete instructions about how to incorporate literacy and other essential skills into the daily life of an adult with a developmental disability. 

In 2024 the Community Learning Network undertook a project to relaunch this valuable resource. The animation of the 50-page guidebook as an interactive pdf is intended to make the resource significantly more accessible to CALP staff as they support foundational adult learners with disabilities. We are pleased to be able to revitalize a strong, existing resource and increase its profile in the CALP system.  

View the animated Answers May Vary Guidebook (2024) here.

Print the Answers May Vary Guidebook (2015) here.

2014 – Answers May Vary Research Report: Literacy Strategies, Resources, and Effective Practices for Adult Learners with Developmental Disabilities (2014). 

Interviewed tutors who work with adults with disabilities about the strategies, resources and effective practices they use when helping learners, working at International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) level one, improve their reading and writing skills. The research revealed common themes that resonate with adult learning principles: use daily life materials and/or learner’s experiences, use positive encouragement, work from learner goals—be learner centered, and make learning fun. 

2015 - Answers May Vary Guidebook: Incorporating Literacy & Other Essential Skills into Daily Life for Adults with Disabilities (2015). 

Took the results from the Research report, plus interviews with teachers and additional tutors at Bow Valley College, and created an easy to read guidebook that gives concrete instructions about how to incorporate literacy and other skills building activities into the daily life of an adult with a developmental disability. 

2016 - Answers May Vary (AMV) Facilitator’s Manual (2016) 

Developed a training resource for agency administrators, supervisors and literacy coordinators on how to work with adults with developmental disabilities to improve their literacy and essential skills. The Manual provides strategies and concrete ideas based on the Answers May Vary Guidebook, Answers May Vary Tutorial Videos and the Community Support Worker Training: How to build literacy and essential skills learning into daily life for adults with developmental disabilities pilot training sessions. 

2016 - Audio files are created to be downloaded as literacy prompts for tutors or community support workers who are new to the adult literacy. These files have been taken directly from Answers May Vary Guidebook, Chapter 2 ‘Strategies to Build Literacy and Essential Skills into Daily Life’.  

2024 - The Answers May Vary Guidebook is relaunched as an animated pdf with additional testimonials from educators and adult Albertans who use the strategies and effective practices as part of their everyday literacy practice.