[blindkid] Braille Notetakers "vs" iPad in Elementary School

DrV icdx at earthlink.net
Thu Mar 7 22:04:07 UTC 2013 

There has been a gradual shift over the last decade.
In California, & it seems elsewhere, more & more elementary school kids
are starting to use electronic notetakers, even in the early grades like
1st grade & kindergarden. An increasing number of school districts are
using iPads. 
I propose that if an iPad is being used as a tool for reading & writing,
then that would be a very appropriate time to introduce an electronic
braille notetaker as well.
In many ways a braille notetaker serves similar functions & by pairing the
devices, maneuvering an iPad can (with training) be much faster using
commands than finger gestures. Sighted kids see the words & pictures. Just
listening is not really the same experience as "seeing" what is on the
screen with their fingers. Typing on an iPad or iPhone or iPod is much
faster & more accurate with a paired broiled display than the iPads
keyboard. 
Eric

On 3/7/13 11:19 AM, "Shepherd, Amy" <amyshepherd at mpvi.org> wrote:

>Rita,
>
>It is great that you are already researching what types of tools are out
>there for your son!  Braille note takers are powerful and expensive
>devices.  They are huge asset to students in that they have word
>processing, contacts, calendars, and the ability to read or listen to
>braille books all in one device.  Most kids start to use a braille note
>taker in the middle to late elementary years or middle school years when
>the amount of reading and writing starts to increase and when the other
>students start to more of their work digitally as well.  Some students use
>laptops with JAWS and others are now opting for I-Pads instead.  Each
>device has it's pros and cons depending on what you are trying to
>accomplish. As you son gets older you will get a better feel for what he
>needs in school including what technology the teachers and other students
>are using and that will help to drive your decision.
>
>The pre school and early elementary years are a time when kids are
>learning
>to read and write.  Sighted kids are immersed in print rich environments,
>learning to identify and read and write letters, words and eventually
>beginner books.  Likewise braille readers should have braille all around
>them.  Let him experiment with a Perkins Brailler and a slate and stylus.
>Create braille labels all around your house. Look for educational toys
>that
>have tactile and auditory feedback.  Leap Frog used to have great pre
>reading toys that were relatively easy to braille.
>
>Continue to let him experiment on the computer. If you have an I-Phone or
>I-Pad kids tend to figure our the Voice Over   commands quickly because
>they are not as complicated as JAWS.  My son is a MAC user so we don't use
>JAWS, so I can't really speak to that part of your question.
>
>Keep up the good work!  School moves fast and it is always great for
>parents to try to stay one step ahead.  Feel free to contact me on my
>personal e-mail if you want to chat more or interested in more resources.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>Amy Shepherd
>amyshepherd at mpvi.org
>
>On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 1:06 PM, Rita Barrett <atirjoybear at yahoo.com>
>wrote:
>
>> Hi all! I am the proud mommy of my brilliant baby boy, Paul. He is only
>> 2&1/2 but is already enrolled at our public school in an early
>>intervention
>> program.  He has some light perception, we did the teller acuity test at
>> the ophomologist and they said his vision is 20/800 with glasses on.  I
>> have been observing the discusssions here for the last month or so.
>>Just
>> wondering what is the earliest age anyone has started their child with
>>the
>> braille notetaker? I am very unsavvy when it comes to technology. I have
>> downloaded the JAWS demo on my laptop but am basically at a loss when it
>> comes to trying to operate it. I only did try to get it to read me some
>> webpages but it seemed like it would stop shortly after it started. Not
>> sure if my lack of patience and click happiness may have been to blame
>>or
>> not.  Paul is already wanting to play on the computer, we go to you
>>tube a
>> lot and listen to different animal sounds and instruments but I
>>definitely
>> do
>>  not want to hold him back in any way.  I  have already filed my first
>> official complaint with the school system and altho  I dont enjoy it I
>>am
>> more than willing to go to the school and insist he get some technology
>> goals in his IEP if anyone thinks it is even remotely possible that
>> I have a chance of succeding at a such a young age?, maybe at the start
>>of
>> the next school year? Meanwhile any helpful hints or links on how to
>>start
>> learning more about JAWS would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Many Thanks, Rita Joy
>> --- On Thu, 3/7/13, Sally Thomas <seacknit at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> From: Sally Thomas <seacknit at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Why JAWS?
>> To: "Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Date: Thursday, March 7, 2013, 1:43 AM
>>
>>
>> I agree with Arielle's comment on self teaching a new OS.  Technology is
>> changing all the time so it's probably most important to foster an
>>attitude
>> of experimenting and discovery.  The TVI's I've encountered haven't been
>> experts in assistive technology.  Much of the learning my son has done
>>has
>> been through just trying it out and talking with others using the
>> technology.  It's the way I've learned most of my computer skills too.
>>
>> One comment about the netbook option--just make sure it has enough
>>memory
>> to make JAWS useable.  I'm not sure how powerful netbooks are these days
>> but some of the original netbooks weren't powerful enough to run JAWS.
>>
>> Sally Thomas
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 8:42 AM, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com
>> >wrote:
>>
>> > I think part of it depends on what size Braille display she would get
>> > if she went the JAWS plus Braille display route. If it's a portable
>> > display like RefreshaBraille, she probably doesn't need a notetaker on
>> > top of that. But if the Braille display they want to get is a huge 40
>> > or 80-cell one, she may need the notetaker for portability. Personally
>> > if I were the one doing the tech assessment, I would probably
>> > recommend getting a small Braille display and a lightweight PC like a
>> > netbook or ultrabook.  Netbooks are inexpensive, portable and have
>> > long battery lives and I don't know of anything an elementary student
>> > would do that couldn't be done on a netbook. RefreshaBraille from APH
>> > can connect to the computer via USB or bluetooth if the computer is
>> > bluetooth-enabled. It can also connect very easily with Macs and Apple
>> > devices like iPhones, so if she were to get a Braille display she
>> > could potentially have Braille access on your home computer as well,
>> > though I suppose the same could be said of notetakers. While I haven't
>> > used a notetaker since 2010, my experiences surfing the Internet with
>> > Braille Notes has not been great. She definitely needs access to
>> > either a Mac or PC though I'm not knowledgeable enough to comment on
>> > which one is more critical to learn first. I do think once she learns
>> > one operating system, she can self-teach another one if that becomes
>> > necessary.
>> > Arielle
>> >
>> > On 3/6/13, Allison Hilliker <AllisonH at benetech.org> wrote:
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Hi folks,
>> > >
>> > > Just a note to mention that one doesn't have to use JAWS in order to
>> > become
>> > > proficient with using Windows with a screenreader. While I agree
>>that
>> > > understanding Windows and MS Office is important for future success
>>in
>> > the
>> > > business world, JAWS isn't the only screenreading solution for
>>Windows.
>> > > Serotek provides its screenreader, System Access, for free to K-12
>> > students.
>> > > And the screenreader NVDA is free for everyone. Either of these may
>> work
>> > for
>> > > a student whose teacher is reluctant to pay $800+ for JAWS.
>> > >
>> > > Just my thoughts.
>> > >
>> > > Allison
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> > Brandon and
>> > > Sarah
>> > > Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2013 3:28 PM
>> > > To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> > > Subject: [blindkid] Why JAWS?
>> > >
>> > > I'm trying to make sense of a recent conversation with our
>>daughter's
>> > > TVI, who I realize is not up speed on technology - to be fair,
>>neither
>> > > am I. We were discussing a braille notetaker vs. braille display +
>> > > computer. The TVI thinks she can justify the cost of a notetaker to
>> > > the district by not having to get JAWS. Her impression is that JAWS
>>is
>> > > only for screenreading of internet material, which a notetaker can
>> > > theoretically do. Here is my question for those who are ahead of us
>>on
>> > > this issue: If you have a notetaker at the elementary level and home
>> > > computer access with Voiceover, is there a strong reason to
>>have/learn
>> > > JAWS? We have the MS Office for Mac on the home computer, so I'm
>>less
>> > > concerned about Emilia missing out on the Windows experience than I
>>am
>> > > about her getting more acquainted with accessing school curriculum,
>> > > doing school work, etc. by electronic means. Thanks. Brandon
>> > >
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>>.org
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
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>
>
>
>-- 
>Amy Shepherd
>MPVI President
>Visit our Website www.mpvi.org <http://www.mpvi.org>
> Join us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/groups/48271986241/>
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