There is a widespread need to detect basic skills deficiencies during early stages of social, vocational or educational counselling. Because people who are embarrassed by their lack of literacy and numeracy skills successfully hide their deficits, advisers working in these fields have to be trained to employ strategies and methods to carefully unveil these facts without offending the social and cultural integrity of their clients.

The project Support the Way to Literacy developed "Guidelines for Counselling Disadvantaged Adults". Theyl sensitise, inform and train advisers in order to detect people with illiteracy or borderline basic skills, help them to develop self-confidence, advise them on training possibilities, maintain motivation and re-orient their potential of creativity.

These guidelines can be downloaded on the project website of Support the Way to Literacy.