[blindkid] Nemeth

Carlton Anne Cook Walker attorneywalker at gmail.com
Tue Jan 3 22:06:36 UTC 2012


Laurie,

What your TVI is telling is something that she was taught as a general rule
of thumb in school.  In my experience (as the parent of a blind child and
as a TVI), this rule of thumb is wrong.

Like Carol said, all too often, blind children are held back in math
because their TVIs do not believe that they are capable of discriminating
between literary and Nemeth Code.  While TVIs may have this difficulty, I
have yet to find a blind child struggle in this manner.

In fact, in some cases, I have had children who struggle with literary
braille take on Nemeth Code with gusto.  One of these students has even
tackled the Music Braille Code while still experiencing occasional
reversals in the literary code.


I am not certain where the idea that Nemeth Code can be confusing to
literary braille learners came from.  Perhaps it would for students
learning braille in the high school years -- where mathematics and, thus,
Nemeth Code is far more complex.  However, for an intellectually typical
early elementary student, all math is pretty simple (numbers, addition,
subtraction, signs of in/equality, etc.).  The best way to ensure that a
braille reader does not fall behind in math is to teach him/her the Nemeth
Code signs before they are taught to the class (perhaps only a few days
before so that some practice may occur) and permit the child to keep up
with his/her peers.


Carol alluded to the expectation of sighted peers.  She is absolutely
right!  If the print readers are permitted to read the numbers and write
them out, your daughter should be as well.

Additionally, consider asking the TVI about abacus training.  The abacus is
to a blind student what paper and pencil are to sighted students.  Even my
students with intellectual delays revel in their abacus use, and one of
them (who has some fine motor delays) finds the abacus easier to use and
more accurate than the talking calculator he has.


In sum, your child should be allowed to experience her education just as
her print-reading peers do.  If they are reading something, she should read
it too.  If they are performing calculations or using manipulatives, the
same should be offered to your daughter.  Blind children have been
successfully learning and using Nemeth Code for years and years.  Your
daughter has that same right!


Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.


Carlton



-- 
Carlton Anne Cook Walker
Attorney at Law
Teacher of Students with Blindness, Visual Impairment
National Certification in Literary Braille
Voice: 717-658-9894
Twitter: braillemom



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