[blindkid] slate and stylus

[Bonnie Lucas]

I do not use the slate and stylus as I once did. When I was in college, I
only took notes using a slate and stylus so I think I was pretty good at it.
Braille writers are, of course, to noisy and too big. I am not a person who
could stand to go back to a tape to pick out the worthwhile notes again.
Tried that for about a week and decided it was way too much work. Sometimes
I am amazed that I used a slate and stylus because at this point in my life,
it is very difficult to focus on what the speaker is saying as well as what
I'm writing. When you forget what you are writing, hapapens all the time
with me, then you have to quickly check and then you are no longer listening
to the speaker. I truly appreciate digital technology but I always have a
slate with me in case my battery isn't charged for some reason or something
else unexpected happens. Also, sometimes it is easier to get a slate set up
than it is to get to the right file to start writing with a note taker. AS
far as being confusing, I just tell new learners that everything you do with
the slate is on the right except for the reading. Therefore, it opens on the
right, dot 1 is on the right and you start at the right end of the slate. I
like the idea of using the slate to identify assignments as Eric mentioned
in his post. I havent' convinced Aubrie that that would be a good idea but I
guess she manages to get everything handed in without getting things mixed
up. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Penny Duffy [mailto:pennyduffy at gmail.com] 
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 5:36 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
Subject: [blindkid] slate and stylus

I think i have decided I want to teach Abby how to use a slate and
stylus.(now mind you I am clueless) I want to give her another tool she can
decide if its something she wants to use or not.  I have heard from a few
people that they hate/hated using it. She loves writing.  She writes little
notes, stories. books, She prefers to write in braille now since she can't
see what she writes in print.  Encouraging her to write helps her become a
better reader.

I have spoken to her TVI about it and she is more then willing to teach her
it but I dont' want to take away from what she is learning right now.
I thought she would get confused with it being 'backwards' but I was just
speaking to her about it and she got it in less then a minute.  (at least I
think she was understanding it we have never seen a slate and stylus.)  She
said so an A would be a 4 instead of a 1.  (right? LOL or am
i completely confused? )

Is there some kind of resource that can help with this?   She may like using
it she may not like using it but it seems like something that should be
introduced.  I can actually think of quite a few time it would be a better
tool then a brailler.

Whats a good slate and stylus to get?

In case you are aware. Abby didn't start braille till November so much of
this is new to us.(she didn't' suffer her vision loss till last summer)  I
enjoyed helping her learn her letters (she moved on mommy needs to catch up)
 I think it would be fun to be part of introducing something to her.

-- 
--Penny
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Adventures with Abby - visionfora.blogspot.com