Emphasis on adult literacy education in the United States began in the first decade of the twentieth century, which was characterized by heavy immigration from countries whose populations were not uniformly educated. Special attention was paid to adult literacy during times of crisis such as World War I and II when it was learned that many adults had difficulty reading and writing. While early programs relied heavily on volunteer teachers, the literacy education programs of the fifties and sixties (a period of increased federal legislation concerning adult literacy) hired and trained professionals. While the numbers of illiterates has decreased, the problem now is one of functionally illiterate adults who cannot read well enough to participate in society. (MKM)