[Cccnfbw] how to fight disparaging comments about braille

[eden]

As I am beginning to embark on a plan to train for medical 
transcription, i was quite surprised and stunned to hear the trainer say 
that she felt blind people should not use their braille devices because 
it lowered productivity.  Many users are wonderful with speech, but I 
keep mine at a speed slow as molasses compared to most of you folks, but 
i read 500 wpm in braille.  How is using a braille device going to make 
me less productive?  i also type almost 200 wpm on a braille keyboard.  
Is it wrong to want to use an input method that works just because it is 
not the way a sighted person would enter it?  Fortunately, Mario is 
recommending a braille display, and i have not been told by trainers I 
can not use it, but I have been amazed at the comments i have heard in 
private messages on twitter about braille being dead.  I guess i have 
always believed if a blind person can use their hands and does not have 
lack of sensitivity, it makes them somewhat illiterate.  i realize 
people have developmental issues that keep them from reading, but those 
aren't who I am talking about.  Also, it has been pointed out to me 
that, why should blind people as they can't afford it.  I felt like I 
should be apologizing for the fact that voc rehab or my family have 
helped me gain the things best suited for my needs.  My preferred method 
is to use braille mostly with a little guide from speech when needed, 
and I respect others preferences.  i guess I just feel like many in the 
community and some trainers feel like one size fits all.

Frustrated,
Eden