[Blindmath] Blindmath Digest, Vol 67, Issue 2

Fri Feb 3 14:22:02 UTC 2012

Why should someone not be allowed to skip large amounts of home work just 
because they are blind? The answer is that being blind is not the reason why 
it is a problem.

Using what you said about writing Braille, well the issue there is the 
perkins Brailler is physically tiring to use for long periods of time not 
the fact you are blind. There may be alternative ways which may be 
acceptable to provide work, ways which may be less tiring. As an example for 
most exams I have dictated to a scribe for what should be written on the 
exam paper, but I also had a Braille copy of the exam paper for reading and 
a perkins Brailler for writing notes I needed for working out.

Michael Whapples

-----Original Message----- 
From: Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 1:50 PM
To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Blindmath Digest, Vol 67, Issue 2

With reference to the skipping large amounts of homework "just because they 
are blind" what is your solution if the use of the Braille writer is 
literally exhausting and painful?
This is my issue. I read and write Braille well. I just cannot write using 
the manual Perkins for very long periods without it causing me pain and 
without wearing me out.
I find the way you phrased this a little offensive, because it presumes that 
people who are blind are looking for ways to skip the homework.  I don't 
think that's true.  I do think that circumstances related to the tools you 
use due to your blindness can impact the need to shorten assignments to a 
level that meets the needs of both student and instructor.

It's like saying "You shouldn't be allowed to take a large chunk of time off 
work just because you're a woman"  only to realize that women who have 
babies do generally take a large chunk of time off work when the baby is 
born, and nobody bats an eye.

So, can you explain your statement and provide tools to meet your need? Note 
"Toughen up you blind wimp" is not the right answer, because you wouldn't 
tell a sighted student to use a device that takes far more muscle strength 
and indurance then most of us are accustomed to using. -----Original 
Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
Behalf Of Maylene Bird
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 6:42 AM
To: blindmath at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Blindmath Digest, Vol 67, Issue 2

Dear Ruchi,
You might want to get the APH Math Builders Unit 6 kit.  It has all kinds
of hands-on items.  I would also suggest getting the APH Graphic Aid for
Mathematics soon if you don't have one.  You will need it when he starts to
learn how to do anything on a graph.  Another APH item for drawing is the
APH Draftsman Tactile Drawing Board.  The last thing I will say is to make
sure he learns his Nemeth code.  I teach high school math at the TX School
for the Blind, and the students who really learned their Nemeth well and
were exposed to lots of hands-on tools are my top students.  They should
not be allowed to skip large sections of homework either just because they
are blind.

Good luck!  Our Website for TSBVI has a lot of tools listed under Susan
Osterhaus' math section.

Sincerely,
Maylene Bird

On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 12:00 PM, <blindmath-request at nfbnet.org> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. Re: Arithmetic and Geometry tools for kids (Gaylen Kapperman)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:02:48 -0600
> From: Gaylen Kapperman <gkapperman at niu.edu>
> To: ruchi_patil at samruddha.net,  Blind Math list for those interested in
>        mathematics <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Arithmetic and Geometry tools for kids
> Message-ID: <201202011802.q11I2s9B016782 at essmail.ess.niu.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
> Dear Ruchi
>
>
>
> My colleagues and I have written a text on teaching math to blind
> youngsters. We have posted  it on the Texas School site at
> www.tsbvi.edu
> Go there and search for project math access
> or search for
> Gaylen Kapperman
> and you can find lots of suggestions of all types.
> Good luck.
> Gaylen Kapperman
>
> At 11:17 AM 2/1/2012, you wrote:
> >Dear All,
> >
> >
> >
> >I am a mother of a 8 year old blind child. My son uses Vp Arithmetic from
> >Henter math for Math at school and Marvel Math from marvelsoft for mental
> >math polishing at school.
> >
> >
> >
> >He would be going to grade 3 now and while adapting his school textbook I
> >realized that Vp Arithmetic may not be sufficient any longer for the
> >following reasons:
> >
> >1.       There are word problems, for which he will have to make the
> problem
> >and the workspace and then solve it.
> >
> >2.       Problems now involve addition and subtraction both which again 
> >is
> >not possible.
> >
> >
> >
> >Eagerly waiting to hear some suggestions from you.
> >
> >
> >
> >Warm regards,
> >
> >Ruchi
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> End of Blindmath Digest, Vol 67, Issue 2
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