[blindkid] Braille notes for school age children, was Re: Mountbatten Brailler

Sat Jan 23 16:45:28 UTC 2010

Mike,
I entirely agree with you. As it is, I'm not an extreme math genious , 
however I would be worse off than I am now if it were not for the Perkins 
Brailler. The problem with performing mathematics equations on a single line 
braille display is that one has a harder time learning spatial concepts. 
Later on in life, this will be important if the student has a desire to 
study in the STEM fields. Please, please, please, teachers, do not teach 
your students math or science using a braille notetaker.

Best Regards:
Dave Wright
Work Phone: 347-422-7085
Email:
dwrigh6 at gmail.com
WebPage:
http://www.knfbreader.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 9:35 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Braille notes for school age children,was Re: 
Mountbatten Brailler

> Heather:
>
> I think your $0.02 is worth $0.01, at least for music. Much better to use 
> paper braille music because one can read the words with one hand and the 
> music notation with the other.
>
> And with regard to math, I don't think one should use the ability of a 
> Braille Note to erase parts of an equation to substitute for analytical 
> thinking. And it won't handle complex fractions. I still favor everything 
> up thru calculus on the Perkins Brailler.
>
> Yes, I'm a neo-Luddite. (grin)
>
> Mike Freeman
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Heather" <craney07 at rochester.rr.com>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 5:50 PM
> Subject: [blindkid] Braille notes for school age children,was Re: 
> Mountbatten Brailler
>
>
>> Other than a lap top with windows and JFW or a Mac, they already have 
>> free, built in screne readers, the next most useful thing I have found 
>> was a Braille note.  It is helpful because unlike a laptop, it makes very 
>> visual things that are not as simple as literary typing such as for 
>> social studies or language arts much easier.  Mathmatics, the sciences, 
>> the arts, in particular music, and foreign language are greatly aided by 
>> a braille note, vs a brailer, of any kind or a lap top.  .  For example, 
>> algebra is a synch, because the child can type out an equasion, like 3X 
>> plus 5 equals 2 x plus ten and then simply delete the two x on the right 
>> and delete the 3 before the x on the left, then delete the five on the 
>> left and change the ten on the right to a five.  That leaves them with x 
>> equals 5,  and they could interact right with the problem, unlike on a 
>> traditional brailler, and unlike a laptop it is much simpler than 
>> combining a num pad with a bunch of number row symbols and letter 
>> charictors.  A braille note is also very helpful for foreign language, as 
>> a screne reader will not read the text properly, unles you change your 
>> speech settings, but that will make english things like menus almost 
>> oimpossible to read, that and producing accent marks on the computer is 
>> much more difficult than simply typing them in braille into the braille 
>> note.  Also, if you are using braille only, and not speech, there is no 
>> need to use rediculous translation software.  For example the E acute in 
>> french braille is the same thing as a for sign in print grade two 
>> braille.  If they simply type in braille they could write t E acute l e 
>> acute and read it properly. Having it read with speech would try to make 
>> sense of tforlfor, but for quick note taking and short writing 
>> assignments in a foreign language class, that help to generate practice 
>> conversations, this is very valuable.  Finally, if your child sings in a 
>> choir, they can wear the braille note in it's case, over their shoulder, 
>> with it very securely in it's case, and have it hang at their side and 
>> simply read their words and music with one hand and the thumb keys.  This 
>> allows for a more normal descrete look, that is less stigmatizing than 
>> shuffling through pages and pages of braille embossed music.  Also, they 
>> can jot in performance notes, something they can't do with pre brailled 
>> music on paper, and the memo function does not have outstanding sound 
>> quality on the braille note, but it is good enough to take note of the 
>> proper pitches in a particularly troublesome passage.  Just my two cents.
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway at gopbc.org>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 12:41 PM
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Mountbatten Brailler
>>
>>
>>> They are neat, but from what I understand, kids also tend to "outgrow" 
>>> them rather quickly. When we first saw them, I was excited about them 
>>> and thought we should find a way to get one for our daughter but I 
>>> think we have been far better served by the combination of perkins 
>>> braillers and braillenote / pacmate devices combined with embossers, 
>>> computers with screen readers (Jaws in our case) and the like. We're 
>>> starting to make use of the detachable braille display from our  pacmate 
>>> now to let jaws show Kendra what is on her computer screen.   There are 
>>> so many possibilities now-- I'd say explore all your options  thoroughly 
>>> before you get anything and if you go to the national  convention, don't 
>>> miss the exhibit hall and look at all you can when  you're there.
>>>
>>> All of this other gear will (hopefully) last our daughter for many 
>>> years-- Kendra is using in first grade most of the key devices and 
>>> concepts that can take her clear through high school and college. No 
>>> doubt some well wear out or need upgrading, but not because she'd gone 
>>> beyond what her equipment can offer-- the sky is the limit there...
>>>
>>> If you find a great deal on a used piece in good condition or if  budget 
>>> is simply not a concern, I suspect you'd enjoy a Mt. Batten for  a good 
>>> while but long term it will probably end up collecting dust or  being 
>>> resold.
>>>
>>> Richard
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Jan 21, 2010, at 8:44 AM, Susan Harper wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>     I came across this new piece of equipment and was wondering if 
>>>> anyone
>>>> was using it.  It is called the Mountbatten Brailler sold by a company
>>>> called Humanware.  The Brailler is made in Australia.  Anyone using  it 
>>>> and
>>>> have any pros and cons to offer.  It is kind of expensive, so wanted 
>>>> some
>>>> feed back from anyone who might have used one.  Thanks.
>>>> Blessings,
>>>> Sue H.
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>>>
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>>
>>
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