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

[David Andrews]

Reading a Braille display is only one form of Braille reading, there 
is also paper braille, taking notes in braille and reading them, 
using braille to make a presentation etc.

Dave

At 09:48 PM 8/6/2009, you wrote:
>Is it possible that 70% of blind people not reading raile is not due 
>to lack of proper instruction or incompetence and has more to do 
>with the need simply not being there? I have a Braille display and 
>have never had even the slightest desire to use it. I really don't 
>think I'm missing out, but maybe some of you can help me out by 
>informing me of what I'm missing out on. My primary reason for not 
>using my Braille display is that taking my fingers off my keyboard 
>to read the display seems like a time consuming additional step to 
>what I can quickly do with the jaws cursor and alike. I didn't lose 
>my vision till I was an adult so maybe these posts are more relevant 
>to the issue of blind children first learning to read.
>
>Matthew
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Jason White" <jason at jasonjgw.net>
>To: <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 6:07 PM
>Subject: Re: [Blindmath] How many children in America are not taught to read?
>
>
>>>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 agree. If I had to name the single greatest braille-related 
>>invention of the
>>last 50 years, it would have to be the refreshable braille display. I know
>>high-speed braille embossers are also important and valuable, but I think
>>refreshable braille is the technology that really stretches the 
>>bounds of what
>>is possible.
>>
>>The Perkins brailler and similar devices are of course fundamental, dating
>>from earlier in the twentieth century.
>>
>>There is a real need for further advances in the design of braille display
>>hardware, leading, ideally, to devices that are not only more affordable, but
>>capable of presenting a full page of text and graphics. This would make many
>>mathematics applications much easier.
>>>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.
>>
>>What makes this worse (and I'll take your word for it - I've never met any
>>such person) is that it involves internalizing negative stereotypes about
>>blindness. this list isn't the place to discuss those issues, however.
>>
>>
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>
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