[Jobs] OT: Braille research

Wed Apr 4 09:18:43 CDT 2007

Dear Liz,

I was discouraged from taking Braille, as an adult with RP.
They said that I didn't need to waste my time.  All of the new technologies 
were going to replace it.
I could just tape record what I needed or use a computer.
At the time, I bought into this because I was scared to death of learning 
Braille and was afraid that I could not do it.  You know; feeling all of 
those little bumps and stuff.
I slowly learned over time, and from very good examples of successful Bllind 
people, that I was wrong.
I had the mental block in my head that made it hard to see myself reading 
large books in Braille.
I did come to realize that everyone, sighted or not, needs a easy, reliable 
and convenient way to write messages to themselves.  I realized that as long 
as the sighted use paper and pen to communicate with themselves, the Blind 
will need Braille to do the same thing.
I saw that the sighted just used a piece of paper and a pen to do it.  I 
figured that the Blind needed a way just as simple.
Using a tape recorder is okay for something's, but Braille has its place 
too.
I asked myself if I could see myself reading something on a 3 by 5 inch 
card.  I would not have to be fast in reading it; I just needed to be able 
to read it anywhere and at anytime no matter what the light conditions.
I then decided to learn Braille because most of the working Blind that I 
knew, all used Braille in their work.
I tried getting a person from our local DBS to come and teach me, but they 
discouraged me from learning Braille too and just wasted my time so I 
dropped them after 4 visits.
I did not know what to do at that point so I asked someone I greatly 
respected about how I could learn Braille.
He told me about the Hadley School for the Blind and he also told me to 
learn how to write using a slate and stylist.
I signed up for the Hadley School course in "Relevant Braille" and it taught 
me basic Grade One Braille .
I was in such a hurry that I did the whole course in 3 weeks and was using a 
slate and stylist to write all of my personal communications in Grade One 
Braille in just 3 weeks.
I felt that if I went no father than this with Braille, I could at least 
handle all of my appointments and such.
Now I am learning Grade Two Braille the same way.
I have Diabetes and have trouble separating the cells, but I still do it 
with standard Braille, but mostly use Jumbo Braille for my personal 
communications because it is easier for me to read.  I own 6 different 
slates including 2 jumbo slates and always have one with me today.

I even wrote a Braille Monitor article that was in a November issue called, 
"What's in your tool box?"
It is all about how I came to realize that I needed to learn and know 
Braille.
I only wish I had been taught Braille in school.
Instead I had to learn it for myself as the schools have had the attitude 
that they will only teach Braille when and if they think it is needed, which 
they never do.
I had usable vision up to the time I started college and lost it during 
college.
I did finish college and earned multiple degrees, but it was hard.
Knowing that I had RP the schools just put me off hoping that someone else 
would have to teach me later.  They did not care about my long term future 
and ability to read and write.
I see the same thing today in the school system and they do everything to 
get out of teaching it to kids who either need it now or will need it later.
Back before World War Two, some 83% of all Blind people in the U.S. were 
literate and could read and write in Braille or print or both.  Today, that 
percentage is only about 8 or 9%.
After WW-2, the kids were main streamed into the Public schools to help 
adjust them socially.
In the old residential school model you had to learn Brail even if you had 
usable vision or not.  Braille was a given.
Since the time of main streaming began, schools and teachers have done 
everything to keep from having to teach Braille.
The children and parents have been sold a bill of goods and short changed in 
the process.
Here in Florida, we got a Braille Bill passed a few years ago to increase 
the teaching of Braille.
The teacher's union opposed language in that bill that said that teachers of 
the Blind would have to show  a working knowledge of Braille.
They would have 5 years to get up to speed before the bill would go into 
full effect.
They did nothing.
Now we are demanding that the teaching of Braille be the default in IEP's 
for students unless all members of the IEP team feel that Braille will never 
be needed.
We are not going to let the teacher's union strip the language out of this 
bill as they did before.
We are not asking for the Moon here, just that Braille be taught as it 
should be, to those students who do or will need it in their lives.  If the 
old teachers don't want to teach it, then they need to be replaced with 
those who will.  The teachers have a choice in this.  The children don't.
If they are not making our Blind children literate for life than it is not 
worth the money we are paying them anyway an we are better off without them.
Our kids must come first.

David Evans, NFBF
Nuclear/Aerospace Materials Engineer
Builder of the Lunar Rovers and the F-117-A Stealth Fighter
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Liz Bottner" <lizb at udel.edu>
To: <jobs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 10:21 AM
Subject: [Jobs] OT: Braille research

> Hey all:
>
>
>
> I'm going to be writing a research paper on Braille as it relates to the
> decision whether or not to teach it to young children. Since there 
> computers
> and
>
> screenreading technology is available now, I've noticed one side of the
> argument is that because of the new technology, it isn't necessary to 
> learn
> Braille.
>
> I would be looking for personal opinions and feedback on this issue, pro 
> or
> con. I'm interested in both sides of the argument. I'm going to be putting
>
> together a small questionnaire in a few days with questions relating to 
> the
> topic, and I didn't know of perhaps any of you in this community might be
> willing
>
> to fill it out for me or just provide me your input on this issue.  Also, 
> if
> you know if anyone who isn't on this list who might be willing to help me, 
> I
> would appreciate that, too.
>
>
>
> Thanks, take care, and I apologize for the off-topic post.
>
>
>
> Liz
>
>
>
> Email: lizb at udel.edu Visit my Live Journal:
> http://unsilenceddream.livejournal.com
>
>
>
>

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