[Dtb-talk] Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Legislation Passes

[J Garcia]

I'm having a tough time comprehending your ramblings below, but it appears
as though you are also offering information against the long existing belief
that it was Louis Braille who was the sole inventor of the Braille code.
That is, you are claiming below that it was a female partner of his who
either conveyed to him or gave him the idea. In my previous message I also
alluded to a similar conclusion. Bottom line, Louis Braille is going to be
honored for something he really didn't invent more than change a little. How
silly--of course Napoleon shouldn't be given any credit, but his officers
should. Other than the ramblings and nonsequetors, thanks for offering
support for my argument--glad I'm not alone.

The person who doesn't bother with and has yet to find any good use for
Braille,
J Garcia
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ANTONIO GUIMARAES" <amguima at verizon.net>
To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 01, 2006 8:01 AM
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Legislation Passes


> According to the book Louis Braille, windows for the blind, Braille
learned
> of the night writing system from his female friend, who's name
unfortunately
> escapes me. She was reading the paper to him, and braille went to visit
the
> military person at his house.
>
> Friends of Braille encouraged him to come up witha system for reading for
> the blind, since reading print letters by touch was so cumbersom. Once
> Braille was convinced that he, a blind man, should work to further the
lives
> of the blind, he set on a mission to develop a better system.
>
> Braille also faught coragiously against officials at the school for the
> blind in France, so that his ingenious tystem could be taught there. He
> taught some of his friends in secret, and this relentless work, though he
> was sick with respiratory trouble, is the reason braille is the system it
> is.
>
> Do you read night writing, or braille? Night writing had 12 dots, not 6.
> Night writing could not relay the messages braille can, being adapted for
> music, spoken language, mathematics, and computer languages.
>
> So then, do we credit Napoleon, and award him a medal for having
contrubuted
> to the lives of educated blind people? He did request a Night Writing
system
> after all, didn't he?
>
> I have to wonder why some seek to discredit such important work that has
> given the blind life opportunities, and much freedom
>
> Long live Napoleon.
>
> Most sincerely
> Antonio M. Guimaraes Jr.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "J Garcia" <j.garcia235 at verizon.net>
> To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 11:48 PM
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Legislation
Passes
>
>
> > If the following information is correct, is it fair to give all the
credit
> > to Louis Braille?
> >
> > The Braille system was based on a method of communication originally
> > developed by Charles Barbier in response to Napoleon's demand for a code
> > that soldiers could use to communicate silently and without light at
night
> > called night writing. Night writing was a system of code that used
symbols
> > of twelve dots arranged as two columns of six dots embossed on a square
of
> > cardboard. Called sonography, each grid of dots stands for a letter or
> > phoneme. Barbier's system was too complex for soldiers to learn, and was
> > rejected by the military; in 1821 he visited the National Institute for
> > the
> > Blind in Paris, France, where he met Louis Braille. Louis identified the
> > major failing of the code, which was that the human finger could not
> > encompass the whole symbol without moving, and so could not move rapidly
> > from one symbol to another. His modification was to use a 6 dot cell -
the
> > braille system - which revolutionized written communication for the
blind.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > J Garcia
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
> > To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>;
> > <nfb-announce at nfbnet.org>;
> > <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>; <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>;
> > <blindkid at nfbnet.org>;
> > <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>; <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>;
> > <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>;
> > <humanser at nfbnet.org>; <musictlk at nfbnet.org>; <nabentre at nfbnet.org>;
> > <nabop at nfbnet.org>; <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; <napub at nfbnet.org>;
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> > <nosb at nfbnet.org>; <stylist at nfbnet.org>; <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>;
> > <vendtalk at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-science at nfbnet.org>;
<journalism at nfbnet.org>;
> > <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>; <blparent at nfbnet.org>; <jobs at nfbnet.org>;
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> > <4alabama at nfbnet.org>; <greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org>;
> > <il-talk at nfbnet.org>;
> > <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>; <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-idaho at nfbnet.org>;
> > <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-river-city at nfbnet.org>;
<nfbmo at nfbnet.org>;
> > <nfbofnc at nfbnet.org>; <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-reno-l at nfbnet.org>;
> > <tn-talk at nfbnet.org>; <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>;
<arizona-students at nfbnet.org>;
> > <cabs-talk at nfbnet.org>; <ccb-alumni at nfbnet.org>; <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org>;
> > <la-students at nfbnet.org>; <mabs at nfbnet.org>; <mi-abs at nfbnet.org>;
> > <nebraska-students at nfbnet.org>; <oabs at nfbnet.org>; <mn-abs at nfbnet.org>;
> > <blindexplorers at nfbnet.org>; <caps at nfbnet.org>;
<gama-summit at nfbnet.org>;
> > <nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org>; <ncbys at nfbnet.org>;
> > <new-horizons at nfbnet.org>;
> > <nfb-bdc at nfbnet.org>; <nfb-imagination-fund at nfbnet.org>;
> > <nfb-newsline-sponsors at nfbnet.org>; <nlbct at nfbnet.org>;
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> > <nfb-moderators at nfbnet.org>; <reader-ambassadors at nfbnet.org>;
> > <reader-pioneers at nfbnet.org>; <aebteam at nfbnet.org>;
> > <art_beyond_sight_advocacy at nfbnet.org>;
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> > <artbeyondsightmuseums at nfbnet.org>; <blindmath at nfbnet.org>;
> > <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 8:16 PM
> > Subject: [Dtb-talk] Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Legislation Passes
> >
> >
> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >Press Release
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >Source: National Federation of the Blind
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >U.S. Senate Passes Coin Bill Honoring Legacy of Louis Braille
> >> >
> >> >Friday June 30, 8:35 am ET
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >National Federation of the Blind Hails Legislation to Help Fund
Braille
> >> >Literacy Campaign
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >WASHINGTON, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Senate last night passed
> >> >legislation honoring Louis Braille, creator of the raised-dot system
of
> >> >reading and
> >> >
> >> >writing that bears his name. The Louis Braille Bicentennial -- Braille
> >> >Literacy Commemorative Coin Act (S. 2321), which was passed by
unanimous
> >> >consent,
> >> >
> >> >calls for the Secretary of the Treasury to issue up to 400,000
> > silver-dollar
> >> >coins commemorating the bicentennial anniversary of Louis Braille's
> > birth.
> >> >
> >> >The bill is part of a larger campaign initiated by the National
> > Federation
> >> >of the Blind (NFB) to encourage Braille literacy among blind youth.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >ADVERTISEMENT
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) who jointly introduced the
> > legislation
> >> >with Senator Rick Santorum (R-Penn.), this past February, said:
> > "Encouraging
> >> >more
> >> >
> >> >blind youth to learn to read and write in Braille from an early age
will
> >> >only increase their opportunities as they grow older. We need to
ensure
> > that
> >> >more
> >> >
> >> >people -- blind and sighted -- are educated and well aware of
Braille's
> >> >amazing system, and the vast benefits associated with it."
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >A definite correlation exists between Braille literacy and employment
> > rates
> >> >among the blind, proving that Braille literacy is a vital pathway to
> >> >success.
> >> >
> >> >Over 80% of employed blind or visually impaired adults report using
> > Braille
> >> >every day, but the number of blind or visually impaired students
> >> >learning
> >> >Braille
> >> >
> >> >has been decreasing. Today, only 10% of blind or visually impaired
> > students
> >> >learn to read and write Braille.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the NFB, said: "Louis Braille recognized
> > long
> >> >ago that the fact that a person is blind does not mean he or she must
be
> >> >limited
> >> >
> >> >in life. He understood that providing the blind with practical,
> > innovative
> >> >solutions was key to their independence. This positive attitude
towards
> >> >blindness
> >> >
> >> >reflects the Federation's philosophy as well. The NFB applauds this
> >> >legislation, which will ultimately result in an increase in Braille
> > literacy
> >> >as a result
> >> >
> >> >of the programs funded by the surcharge proceeds."
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >Under the new legislation a $10 surcharge will be added to each coin.
> > Money
> >> >from coin sales goes to the NFB, which will then match the proceeds
> > dollar
> >> >for
> >> >
> >> >dollar through other fundraising activities. In addition to projects
> >> >submitted by NFB affiliates, the NFB will invite other organizations
> > serving
> >> >the blind
> >> >
> >> >to submit Braille literacy projects to its planning committee for
> > possible
> >> >funding. For example, the money will support NFB- approved Braille
> > literacy
> >> >
> >> >initiatives, such as the NFB's Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >By offering special recognition and cash prizes for the number of
pages
> >> >read, this national Braille-reading competition encourages students
from
> >> >kindergarten
> >> >
> >> >through twelfth grade to read books in their free time. Like Louis
> > Braille,
> >> >young people develop a deep fondness for reading and improve their
> > reading
> >> >
> >> >skills. As a result blind youth are better equipped for future
successes
> > in
> >> >all areas of their lives.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >Hannah Weatherd, age 13, of Saratoga, Wyoming, who won this year's
> >> >competition and can read Braille faster than most people can speak,
says
> > the
> >> >program
> >> >
> >> >has dramatically improved her Braille-reading skills: "The more I
read,
> > the
> >> >faster I get. I learn a lot about topics I didn't know much about
> >> >before.
> >> >The
> >> >
> >> >more I read, the more I learn. This will help me to become a teacher
> >> >someday. Braille has definitely made a positive difference in my
life."
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >The NFB fosters Braille literacy by offering mentoring programs in
which
> >> >experienced Braille readers teach and encourage beginners. NFB also
> > offers
> >> >education
> >> >
> >> >for children, research in effective methods of teaching and learning
> >> >Braille, and formal instruction in its residential training centers.
The
> >> >Federation
> >> >
> >> >emphasizes Braille literacy throughout its programs and services.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >Louis Braille, born in 1809 in France, was blinded as a young child
> > during
> >> >an accident in his father's workshop. His thirst for knowledge and
love
> > of
> >> >reading
> >> >
> >> >fostered his determination to create an efficient reading system that
> > could
> >> >be inexpensively reproduced in book form. The resulting Braille
reading
> >> >method
> >> >
> >> >used different formations of six distinct raised dots to denote
> >> >different
> >> >letters. Because of Louis Braille's contributions, Braille readers
today
> > can
> >> >
> >> >read up to 400 words per minute, comparable to the reading rates of
most
> >> >sighted people.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >Reps. Robert Ney (R-Ohio) and Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) introduced the
> > House
> >> >companion bill, which passed in February of this year. The coins,
which
> > go
> >> >on
> >> >
> >> >sale in 2009, will emphasize Braille literacy by featuring Louis
> > Braille's
> >> >image and raised dots that spell out "Brl" -- the Braille contraction
> >> >for
> >> >the
> >> >
> >> >word "Braille." This will be the first coin ever minted by the United
> > States
> >> >Treasury with a Braille symbol. To learn more about the Louis Braille
> >> >commemorative
> >> >
> >> >coin, Braille literacy campaigns, or for general information, contact
> >> >the
> >> >NFB at (410) 659-9314, or visit
> >> >
> >> >http://www.nfb.org.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >About the National Federation of the Blind
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is
> > the
> >> >largest and most influential membership organization of blind people
in
> > the
> >> >United
> >> >
> >> >States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy,
> > education,
> >> >research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and
> >> >self-confidence.
> >> >
> >> >It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of
> >> >the
> >> >nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation
> >> >of
> >> >the
> >> >
> >> >Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in
the
> >> >United States for the blind led by the blind.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >Source: National Federation of the Blind
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
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> >> >
> >> >
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