The dad who learned to read in his 20s

Shane Johnson still remembers the feeling that would rush through him when trying to read an unfamiliar word.

A simple form, menu or letter - the words in front of him may as well have been written in Sanskrit.

For years, the Birmingham father of one quietly navigated life without being able to read properly. He became skilled at hiding it, finding ways around everyday situations that many people take for granted.

But behind the coping strategies was something harder to conceal: embarrassment, frustration and the feeling he had been left behind.

Reading wasn't just about books. It affected confidence, independence and opportunities. Everyday tasks that most people barely think about became a source of anxiety.

"Reading normal letters or articles, even simple emails are difficult for me as well... it's really embarrassing," he said.

"When I'm grown up and saying 'I need help reading this', it is really embarrassing especially when you've got people who know more [than you]."

Growing up, Johnson had struggled at school. He found it difficult to concentrate and was easily distracted. Despite attending a school for children with additional needs, by the age of 11 his reading and writing had improved very little.

As the years passed, the gap only seemed to grow wider.

"I remember feeling terribly awkward and struggling to concentrate in classes," Johnson said.

"I didn't feel comfortable and I wasn't myself [and] my dad could see that difference within myself too."

It wasn't until he reached his late 20s that things began to change.

While studying Entry Level 2 English at Birmingham Adult Education Service's Selly Oak base, a tutor suggested he contact Read Easy, a charity that provides free one-to-one reading coaching for adults.

It was a recommendation that would alter the course of Johnson's life.

Week by week, alongside a volunteer reading coach, the words that had once felt impossible slowly began to make sense.

Then something unexpected happened.

Johnson didn't just learn to read, he started to enjoy it.

Today he spends his spare time reading novels, has improved his handwriting, writes his own stories and has discovered a confidence he says he never knew he had.

That confidence has spilled into other parts of his life too. He volunteers in a charity shop and has even begun acting on TikTok.

"It has helped me adapt and I'm learning so much," he says.

"The confidence I've gained is amazing and I see it when I'm with my son [reading and playing] with him."

Rosalind Venables, from Read Easy, says Johnson's story is far from unique.

"Many adults who struggle to read spend years hiding it because of the shame they feel. They become incredibly good at masking it," she explained.

"Most people won't admit it; they'd rather hide it because obviously you feel ashamed that you can't read.

"One of the strategies that people use is when they're spoken to, they say, 'Oh, I can't read this because I haven't got my glasses' and you can understand them doing that."

She says poor literacy affects far more than reading books. It can influence employment, relationships, confidence and even whether someone feels able to participate in everyday community life.

For Venables, watching someone gradually discover those opportunities is what makes volunteering worthwhile.

"As a coach, it's extremely rewarding to see someone progress, and you can feel that their confidence is building and life is changing because we're opening up a world to these people," she said.

For Johnson, learning to read hasn't simply meant recognising words on a page.

It has meant believing in himself.

The father-of-one hopes that by telling his story, other adults who have spent years feeling ashamed will realise it is never too late to ask for help.

"I've got a cooking book at home I'm trying to get into and I'm writing my own stories too which are amazing when I get into them.

"I feel more happier [knowing] I can just take a notebook and just do my own stuff," the dad said.

Read Easy needs more volunteer reading coaches to help adults across Birmingham learn to read.

No teaching experience is needed, with full training provided. Coaches work one-to-one with readers, helping them build literacy skills and confidence at a pace that suits them.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.