[gui-talk] Is Braille truly obsolete: was: Re: Fw:Article: Restaurant Menus That Talk

[Baracco, Andrew W]

Most of those who lose their sight lose it because of conditions that
run parallel to old age.  I worked for one year at a VA blind rehab
center.  Most of the participants were over 60 years of age.  in the
time I was there, I did not encounter one person who advanced to the
grade II level.  Those who achieved any compentancy at all planned to
use it to make short notes, lists, etc.  There are many reasons for
this.  One is lack of patience, but some others are lack of sensativity
in the fingertips due to peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes, and
the effects of ostio arthritis.

Andy
 

-----Original Message-----
From: gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of George and Pamela Dominguez
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:24 AM
To: NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Is Braille truly obsolete: was: Re: Fw:Article:
Restaurant Menus That Talk

I don't think so, either.  Unfortunately, though, not as many
newly-blinded people take the plunge as we might hope.  That doesn't
mean, though, that none do.  Even some old people do.  I heard about
some of them in NFB.  Pam.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ray Foret Jr." <rforetjr at bellsouth.net>
To: "NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 11:07 PM
Subject: [gui-talk] Is Braille truly obsolete: was: Re: Fw: Article:
Restaurant Menus That Talk


> Joel, with all respect to your reply, I must disagree with you about
one
key
> factor here.  Yes, it's true that many are becoming (as you put it)
> "visually impaired"; but, come now.  Do you really and truly believe
that
> Braille is obsolete?  Sir, I must take issue with you on that one.
Print
is
> the way sighted people read; yet, so far as I am aware, we hear now
only
the
> slightest rumblings from futurists who no next to nothing that print
may
be
> obsolete one of these days.  Even they concede there is a way to go
yet
> before this happens.  Joel, again I ask you sir.  Do you really and
truly
> believe that Braille is so obsolete that those who lose their sight
will
> have no use for it?  I respectfully submit that in this, you could not
> possibly be more mistaken.  True, my own reading skills may not be
what
they
> should; but, I do not for one single instant believe that Braille is
done
> for.  To put it plainly, Technology isn't going to replace Braille;
> so-called blindness experts and insecure blind people's protestations
to
the
> contrary not withstanding!!!  Again, I say to you, Braille is not now,
nor
> shall ever be obsolete!!!
>
> Sincerely yours,
> The Constantly Barefooted,
> Ray
> Home phone and fax:
> (985)853-0139
> E-mail:
> rforetjr at bellsouth.net
> Skype Name:
> barefootedray
> Blog:
> www.raysworld.blogs.com
> Podcast .rss Feed:
> http://feeds.feedburner.com/worldofray
>
> God bless President George W. Bush!
> God bless our troops!
> and God bless America
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Joel Deutsch" <jdeutsch at dslextreme.com>
> To: "NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 9:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Fw: Article: Restaurant Menus That Talk
>
>
> Ray,
>
> Without any disrespect to your opinion, there are far more people than
you
> may realize who are becoming vision impaired (by which I do not mean
blind,
> but low vision) late in life as well as functionally blind, in ways
that
are
> difficult to describe in practical terms if you can't visualize what
I'd
> describe. In any case, very, very few of them, even the most
enterprising
> and robust, are going to learn Braille,. Nothing against Braille, but
it
has
> little or nothing to do with quite a lot of people who need help with
things
> like this. Again, with all respect for your wonderful skill and for
the
> importance of kids learning Braille in order to have a chance to be
truly
> literate and understand language as a system of symbols and patterns,
> instead of just listening to everything. Someone like me doesn't need
> Braille for almost anything, certainly not for literacy, nor for
gaining
> knowledge I need. But I sure could use some help with menus, whatever
form
> it takes. I speak for a lot of people when I say that. We're living in
> different cultures of sight loss or no-sight.
>
> Just to think about. Hope you ain't stepped on no rusty nails or water
> moccasins lately.
>
> Best,
>
> Joel (now wearing leather slippers, was wearing New Balance cross
trainers
> earlier and  Bostonian leather loafers last night. Will go without
footwear
> when I tumble into bed and when I take a shower. Maybe tomorrow I'll
wear
my
> Timberland deck shoes. Will keep you posted.)
>
>
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