[BlindMath] I need some ideas and encouragement for doing braille calculus

[Nicolas Spohn]

Hi Emily, 
I think it is interesting that I got your message today because today I have been thinking a lot about how frustrating calculus is. I am a high school senior taking advanced placement calculus. My blindness occurred a few years ago so I am not up to par with braille. I have been using math player to read my equations. One of my biggest struggles is interpreting tactile graphs. Another one of my struggles is making sure I am typing my work on Microsoft word in a way that my teacher understands it. Keep putting forth the effort with calculus! I always say to give something a try and figure out whether or not it’s possible or whether or not it’s something worth trying. Keep at it! I’ll try to keep at it too! 

Nick 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 19, 2019, at 7:05 PM, Emily Schlenker via BlindMath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Thank you so much. I am very lucky in that we have an office at my university where I get all of my tactile diagrams done for all of my classes. They also do my braille, and if I need a graph at the last minute, they will make it. Awesome idea about the calculator.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Sep 19, 2019, at 5:36 PM, Doug and Molly Miron via BlindMath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Dear Emily,
>> 
>> 
>> When I learned calculus I was a low vision person, not totally blind.  I did not use braille.  Now that I am totally blind I can understand the desire to work in braille, but there is a problem in that so much of calculus instruction is based on graphs, which are poorly supported in the tactile display world.  One thing you have described is a shortage of braille display space for your equations.  There are several braille displays available that will handle many lines of braille that might ease your problem.  The TI84 graphical calculator abailble from APHB might help also. Good luck.
>> 
>> 
>> Regards,
>> 
>> Doug Miron
>> 
>>> On 9/19/2019 2:52 PM, Emily Schlenker via BlindMath wrote:
>>> Hi, everyone. I am in first semester calculus, and I am really struggling. I
>>> understand the processes,  but I am having trouble staying organized while
>>> working problems in braille. I use a braille notetaker with 32 cells, and I
>>> am having trouble with things like the chain rule that require lines and
>>> lines of equations. The actual line on my braille sense is not long enough
>>> to accommodate some of my equations, and I get flustered and lost scrolling
>>> between so many lines. Ho do those of you who are braille users stay
>>> organized? Do you have any strategies for keeping parts of the same problem
>>> organized? I am not opposed to breaking out the Perkins Brailler with wide
>>> paper, but I am also wondering if there is anything else I can do to be
>>> successful. I have a great instructor who always goes step by step and
>>> doesn't mind repeating things, but I always get lost about half way through
>>> big problems.
>>> 
>>> Thanks for any help you can give me.
>>> 
>>> Emily
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
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