This booklet profiles seven participants in Colorado adult literacy and basic skills education programs and describes the effects that participating in literacy and adult basic education have had on participants, their families, and their communities. The first profile illustrates the positive effects that parents' participation in literacy and basic skills education can have on their children's social and educational development. The next three profiles demonstrate how participation in literacy and basic skills education can help individuals achieve citizenship, find success in the workplace, and find employment and participate in community activities despite their disabilities. In the final three profiles, past participants in literacy and basic skills education share their views regarding what their educational experiences have meant to their individual development, self-esteem/self-confidence, family life, and ability to cope with health problems. (MN)