[Blindmath] Braille Graphs

[Connie Baker]

Hello, this is the first time I have replied to any question but this one I
think I know a little bit about.

I am a sighted Certified Braille Specialist and I work with the Board of
Education in my area and have worked with Elementary, Middle, and High
School students.

I often had to help the student I was working with decipher poorly prepared
tactile graphs and diagrams. This I notice seems to be the most frustrating
area for any of them.

I understand why the agency you mentioned states that their materials were
prepared properly. It's because there are no set rules or guidelines for
Tactile Graphics or diagrams. And because of this it's like viewing
something totally new to the student every time they view a diagram or
graphic.

The only positive thing I can say is that I was at a conference last summer
about this very subject. So many people present complained about the poor
quality and that there were so many differences between graphics. 

There is a group who is working on making the rules and guidelines for this
forgotten area. I know some students have been asked to give input into some
of the suggestions made my these people. (Ex. spacing allowance between
things)

Hopefully this will be something quick in the making and agencies that
prepare textbooks will begin to implement the new rules and quidelines
quickly.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Blind Collegian
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 10:40 AM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: [Blindmath] Braille Graphs

Hello,
I have my math book transcribed by a transcribing agency. But when the text
arrived, I noticed that almost each section contained mistakes in the form
of either missed numbers or wrong numbers or other characters. But what is
most annoying is that a lot of the graphs designed in Braille don't match
the print version. The lines and enclosures are too small to be easily felt
for even the most sophisticated Braille reader, with numbers often placed on
the tactile lines or dots to make the reading of the graph's contents
difficult. yet, the agency claims the transcription was correctly done.
is there anybody out there who had experienced something like this? If so,
what remedies dod you employ? Sighted help to read the graphs? And isn't
there a way to enlarge the tactile graphs so that numbers and variables can
be read with ease and efficiency?
Thanks,
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