A nonprofit organization in North Carolina is helping adults improve their digital literacy skills for free. 

Digital US, a coalition of national organizations, reports at least 32 million American adults lack the most basic digital literacy skills. Orange Literacy, based in Carrboro, N.C., works daily to chip away at those statistics.

Andrea Melendez, 30, has led Orange Literacy's digital literacy program for the last few years. She's the family literacy coordinator and data administrator for the nonprofit. 

“Mostly the people that come in here, come with zero,” Melendez said referring to the amount of digital knowledge many of her students have starting off. “I would say we work with people who have never used a digital device before."

So many responsibilities are done digitally. Melendez said improving digital literacy requires three parts:

1. Broadband internet access 
2. Hardware such as computers or cell phones 
3. A basic understanding of operating modern devices

Something as simple as putting directions into Google Maps or finding a tasty brunch spot can be more of a headache for some than others may realize.

Melendez said that most of her students speak English as a second language, yet communicate at home primarily, if not exclusively, in Spanish.

Melendez talks to each student about their goals. She then gives an intake process, which crafts a plan for the student on how to reach their goals. 

The literacy coordinator said this is key as she walked a man in his 60s through the basics of computers.

“He basically needs those skills to get online, at least to get online, go into the course and figure out the course for himself,” Melendez said.

Sessions with newcomers can often be in Spanish.

The initial appointment establishes a baseline for how much each student needs to learn. Melendez asks simple questions to make that determination. She focuses on what the student needs help with the most, asking questions about whether they have a smartphone, touch-screen device or computer at home.

Every starting point looks different, including finding the power-on button. 

This is how Orange Literacy gets a feel for what the student can and cannot do well, such as proficiency in using the internet for research and understanding how search engines may help. 

Students pick the top five biggest priority areas for improving their digital literacy.

Building confidence in themselves is crucial, Melendez said. She believes this step develops a necessary self-reliance because students want to depend less on the people they live with.

“He also feels like it would be empowering for him to be able to do it by himself and not ask his daughter all the time to help him figure out things,” Melendez said of her student.

Melendez said learning these skills often makes students' lives easier.

“That want to learn how to use digital skills for a better job and just joining into socially the community that we have,” she said.

Orange Literacy offers free one-on-one training for building basic skills. The nonprofit is located at 307 W. Weaver Street in Carrboro, N.C.