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

Fri Aug 7 00:43:42 UTC 2009

Frames are useful devices for producing small amount of braille. 
They're handy for taking notes, given enough practice.
A braille display will give you instant access to a world of 
information through your computer. You don't need to wait for anyone 
to transcribe the text for you, it's there for the taking. I can't 
think of a bigger incentive to get a child to learn braille!

I should point out that some people have an irrational fear of 
braille based on the notion that it makes them look more blind in the 
eyes of the public. So money isn't the only factor.

Regards
Paul

>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 Â£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 Â£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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