[blindkid] Pre-braille?

Tue Mar 10 23:18:49 UTC 2009

An electronic notetaker with a braille display might be another 
option for writing for Jack.
Carol

At 06:31 PM 3/8/2009, you wrote:
>Dear Marie,
>Consider that your child is like a house or a building to be built. This is
>how I look at it. When building a house or building the foundation comes
>first, then the walls, then the ceiling comes last. For many children with
>disabilities people seem to want to put the ceiling on first. This takes
>away all creativity. I resist this in a visceral way.
>
>So, the foundation for your son is reading readiness and reading skills and
>tactile reading and tactile skills and developing his sense of touch and
>being able to distinguish by touch. This is foundational and a minimum to
>build the walls of all he can possibly learn. We don't want to say yet it
>can't be done--we want to find a WAY(s) for HIM that is best to definitely
>get that foundation.
>
>In the hand strength things you describe I have no personal expertise. Some
>of us do. I will pass on to some I know and others will answer here likely
>too. But one thing I know is that the strength and dexterity required for
>the hands for Braille has to do more with the writing of it than the actual
>reading of it. Yet you want to strengthen that in him as much as possible.
>And in creativity and in the reading of it I can tell you that it has been
>done for those with poor or no tactile sensitivity in the fingertips-I know
>two persons who have read Braille with their tongues. I am sure if a child
>had no arms or hands Braille could be read with the toes. This is what I
>mean by no ceiling first. Where there is a will there is a way. People get
>creative when there is a will.
>
>Maybe for writing the Mountbatten will be an answer and not the slate and
>stylus or the Perkins. Google Mountbatten Braillewriter. Or maybe there will
>be something else.
>
>Others here whose children have had poor hand strength and fine motor have
>found the Mountbatten to work. Maybe there is something else yet to be
>discovered for Jack, I do not know. Just don't let them deter you or deter
>yourself because of his weakness there.
>
>Our famous Dr. Jernigan used to say to your final question...
>"How do you eat an elephant?"
>"One bite at a time."
>
>
>Carrie Gilmer, President
>National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
>A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
>NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
>Home Phone: 763-784-8590
>carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
>www.nfb.org/nopbc
>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of empwrn at bellsouth.net
>Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 4:24 PM
>To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
>Subject: Re: [blindkid] Pre-braille?
>
>Thank you everyone! There is a ton of info out there. I'm a bit anxious.
>I have ordered Carol C's book. I also ordered one of those tactile
>workbooks. I have signed up for every braille book club I found. All this
>stuff is and will continue to add up and I'll take all the free help we can
>get.
>My son is fine motor delayed and does not have a lot of manual dexterity. He
>does not have a lot of range of motion where his fingers meet his palm. He
>does not have most of his finger joints. How does this impact his learning
>braille. It seems like a lot of pre-braille activities have to do with
>grasping and manipulating objects.
>Also I should clarify that Dr. DeCarlo said that 2-3 inch high print would
>be sufficient for near work (as in held in his lap or sitting on a desk). He
>can see smaller print by holding it in his hands close to his face. We plan
>on him being a dual media learner.
>I'm really trying not to be so anxious but gee whiz how did you guys all
>deal with trying to learn all this stuff on top of everything else going on
>with your kids?
>
>Marie-more about Jack- www.allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com
>www.apert.org
>www.thecraniofacialcenter.org
>Sent from my Palm Treo
>
>-----Original Message-----
>
>From:  "Carrie Gilmer" <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
>Subj:  Re: [blindkid] Pre-braille?
>Date:  Sun Mar 8, 2009 3:44 pm
>Size:  4K
>To:  "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,\(for parents of blind children\)'"
><blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>
>As always, Excellent Carol, I want to clarify something though that I said
>in view of a statement of Carol's. Because, I think our two statements on
>large print alongside each other to new people could seem confusing or not
>in sync-when they really are.
>
>The definition of "dual" is fairly broad, and I don't know that we or anyone
>has any such thing near a "it means child can use print 50% and Print 50%"
>or of that order. The definition of dual mostly means really capable of
>using both to some degree. In my mind in the truest sense-many considered
>dual on paper or in goals have not had enough tactile exposure to be truly
>dual (meaning they CAN ACTUALLY USE both)...and some blind kids do not get
>enough exposure and experience with print. When I said he will likely not be
>a large print READER with only being able to see 2 and 3 inches, what I
>meant is FOR READING, even large print will not be very accessible to him
>for reading. He will use his eyes when they work for him and should be of
>course encouraged and use them when they offer gaining info in pictures or
>words visually--even if a CCTV enhancement is needed. So I want to clarify
>that I mean he should yes be capable of "reading" print, but in my view with
>that kind of access problem it will not be an effective medium in day to day
>reading needs getting met (as we really think of reading compared to a
>sighted child)--or in enjoyment.
>
>I have never found trouble with a lack of encouragement or opportunity for a
>child to use ANY vision available. The trouble is a focus on it to the
>exclusion of tactile or an emphasis on tactile that nothing near the
>encouragement of visual.
>
>So..He should learn print. I want to clarify that I did not mean he should
>not. Many of us feel all our kids should be to some degree dual. Meaning
>that no one we know of has been hurt by learning Braille and children with
>no usable vision need and find it very beneficial to know the shapes of
>print letters and to write with a pen or pencil in print as well.
>
>But the point of tactile experience is very important that Carol made,
>tactile should not be mere "exposure" it needs emphasis, and I know Carol
>and I agree and have said it this way too, so much emphasis that it really
>needs to become a "way of life".
>
>
>
>Carrie Gilmer, President
>National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
>A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
>NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
>Home Phone: 763-784-8590
>carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
>www.nfb.org/nopbc
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Carol Castellano
>Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 10:48 AM
>To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
>Subject: Re: [blindkid] Pre-braille?
>
>Hi Marie,
>
>In addition to all the great resources and ideas Carrie and others
>have mentioned, you can also sign Jack up with your state/regional
>Library for the Blind.  They will send print-braille picture books to
>your home and to the school.  This is a free lending library which
>operates through the mail (and when he is older, via downloads from
>the internet).  It's a little scary that the VI teacher didn't know
>how to get him books.
>
>Regarding "concepts" that have to be understood before beginning
>braille instruction, usually teachers mean concepts dealing with the
>set up of a page, so top and bottom, and left to right.  These, as
>others have mentioned, are part of what is taught as "pre-braille"
>skills.  Just don't let these become an excuse to delay the
>introduction of braille.
>
>It sounds as though Jack may be a "dual media" learner--someone who
>learns both braille and print.  The key to this seems to be making
>sure that the child learns braille thoroughly and is completely
>proficient in it.  I think you may want to avoid just "exposing" him
>to tactile materials.  There should be a real EMPHASIS on them!  So
>as you discuss the issues with the team, make sure a sensible plan is
>put in place as to when braille (including pre-braille) will be
>taught and how often.  The line to measure against is--Is he keeping
>up with his peers?
>
>Another important factor will be to make sure his materials are ready
>in accessible form when he needs them, so that he can participate
>fully in every activity of the school day.
>
>--- message truncated ---
>
>
>
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