[Blindmath] How many children in America are not taught to read?

[Michael Whapples]

The cost of Braille production is such a problem. I am speaking as 
someone with a Braille display, something which I probably would never 
have bought out of my own funds (even if I had the money available to 
buy it) but got through my disabled student allowance. Also the Perkins 
Brailler I have is something which has been passed down to me through my 
family.

However all is not quite that gloomy on the price of Braille production 
if you are prepared to do a bit of work, how about Braille frames? You 
can get one which can do a4 paper for £20 from RNIB 
http://onlineshop.rnib.org.uk/display_item.asp?n=11&c=86&sc=334&id=837&it=1&l=3&d=0 
<http://onlineshop.rnib.org.uk/display_item.asp?n=11&c=86&sc=334&id=837&it=1&l=3&d=0>.

And if all that writing back to front and having to turn the page over 
is too much (although it does a lot for making you concentrate on what 
you are writing) then help is at hand with the upwards writing Braille 
frames, which RNIB do for about £30. More info at 
http://onlineshop.rnib.org.uk/display_item.asp?n=11&c=86&sc=335&id=4049&it=1&l=3&d=0 
<http://onlineshop.rnib.org.uk/display_item.asp?n=11&c=86&sc=335&id=4049&it=1&l=3&d=0>.

Also if you only want to produce smaller pages then the smaller frames 
are cheaper and more portable.

By the way, before people ask does anyone still use a Braille frame to 
write stuff, yes I do, they are so much more portable than a Perkins 
Brailler. In fact the one I have (first of the two links) is hardly more 
than a sighted person would have to carry if they carried a pad of a4 
paper for writing notes.

Michael Whapples
On 06/08/09 22:17, P. R. Stanley wrote:
> You forgot the high cost of braille production. Braille displays, 
> embossers, and even the old fashioned mechanical braillers are still 
> far too expensive for the average blind person who has to live on a 
> meagre income on social security.
>
>
>
>> --------
>> From: Marc Maurer [mailto:outreach at nfb.org]
>> Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 3:14 PM
>> To: Maurer, Patricia
>> Subject: How many children in America are not taught to read?
>>
>> The answer is 90 percent if the children are blind. Most Americans 
>> are shocked to hear this statistic. And we should be. The blind read 
>> and write using Braille, so why is our educational system failing to 
>> teach Braille to so many children? Why are these children being 
>> denied the opportunities that come with a proper education? What if 
>> you could not read and write? Where would you be today?
>>
>> There are three primary reasons for this educational crisis: (1) 
>> there are not enough Braille teachers; (2) some teachers of blind 
>> children have not received enough training; and (3) many educators do 
>> not think Braille instruction is even necessary.
>>
>> To bring critically-needed attention to this educational crisis, the 
>> United States Congress authorized the minting of the 2009 Louis 
>> Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar with a portion of the sale of each 
>> coin going toward a revolutionary and comprehensive Braille literacy 
>> campaign.
>>
>> Learning to read and write is fundamental to education, which in turn 
>> is paramount to full and equal participation in American society. 
>> This coin, the first U.S. coin to have proper tactile Braille, 
>> symbolizes independence, opportunity, and the potential of blind 
>> people to make significant contributions to society when they are 
>> taught to read and write using Braille. To learn more, read our 
>> report 
>> <http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=yeymcYhMheQ-y7-mcNDRWg..>The 
>> Braille Literacy Crisis in America, or watch our video 
>> <http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=8AWBxYZpjpELqegcgZlFhg..>Making 
>> Change with a Dollar.
>>
>> <http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=oU7TznrVm6kt3P1O7AWYDg..>Please 
>> purchase this unique and beautiful coin now and help solve this 
>> educational crisis for blind children in America.
>>
>> The law authorizing this 2009 silver dollar requires that any coins 
>> not sold by midnight on December 31, 2009, be melted down. Time is of 
>> the essence--a 90 percent illiteracy rate is not acceptable and the 
>> opportunity to purchase this coin will soon be gone.
>>
>> Be part of the solution. Give the gift of literacy. Create new 
>> opportunities. 
>> <http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=nMVjIeI1iave6Nk717B4dA..>Buy 
>> the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar today.
>>
>> Marc Maurer, President
>> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
>>
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>
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