[blindkid] braille qwerty usb keyboard needed

[Richard Holloway]

Thanks,

I've heard that too but I disagree. I suspect that just as a sighted  
typist may learn to type visually, then later by "touch" alone  
("touch" meaning location, not like touching braille in this case), so  
it may work, at least for my daughter with the braille caps. Kendra is  
very fast and capable on a braille keyboard but far too tentative on a  
conventional keyboard. It doesn't matter if JAWS is on and calling out  
the keystrokes either, Kendra wants to "know" what key is going to be  
pushed before she pushes it.

I see this as a learning aid. Once the skill is mastered, it can go on  
the shelf or we can switch her back and forth for a while if needed to  
build up confidence. Long-term, I think it is not a good strategy.  
Short-term, I think it is worth a try, at least in our case.



> We were advised against putting braille on the keyboard.  My son  
> just learned by orienting to the home row and he's a good typist.
>
> Sally Thomas
> ----- Original Mess