[humanser] Tips on Presentations & Braille

Wed Oct 30 20:41:33 UTC 2013

One problem I experienced as a young child was knowing that contractions 
stood for whole words.  We had spelling contests in which I would be asked 
to spell, for example, the word "little," so I said, "l l," and the teacher 
(not knowing Braille) said I was wrong.  I honestly don't remember spending 
a bunch of time on Grade I, though I could be mistaken.

Sandy

--------------------------------------------------
From: "justin williams" <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 3:02 PM
To: "'Human Services Mailing List'" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [humanser] Tips on Presentations & Braille

> I agree with kaitai on the braille part.  I would not want to read 
> anything
> in grade aloud because it is so much more cumbersome than grade two.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
> Shelton
> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 9:21 AM
> To: Human Services Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Tips on Presentations & Braille
>
> I won't say anything beyond this, as I do not wish to get this thread too
> far off-topic, but here are a few thoughts.  Perhaps my perception is
> different since I learned braille at an early age.
>
> 1.  I do think grade 1 needs to be learned before grade 2, but if you read
> grade 2 you're going to see everything that would be in grade 1.
> I did not say grade 1 should not be learned, I just think working to be
> fluent in it is a waste of time, especially since there are so many
> contractions and getting fluent in grade 2 is difficult enough.  Also, it 
> is
> common that once a person becomes fluent in grade 2 that they have a very
> difficult time reading grade 1 because it is so much more cumbersome.  (I
> know I would certainly not feel comfortable reading allowed from a page of
> grade 1 braille, and I know others who are the same but then again they
> learned braille when they were young).
> 2.  I can see the spelling thing for children learning braille, but I feel
> like adults would know how to spell words already.  So far the 
> conversation
> has been specific to people who have learned braille as adults and have 
> been
> literate in the past.
>
>
> On 10/30/13, Shannon Cook <SCook at sccb.sc.gov> wrote:
>> P. S. I have learned Grade 2 Braille.  I also used Braille notes to do
>> my Treasurer's report at my local chapter meetings.  Such a big help.
>> I am kicking myself for not seeing the value in learning earlier, even
>> when I had more usable vision.  It would have proven to be helpful all
> along the way.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
>> Shelton
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 8:33 AM
>> To: Human Services Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [humanser] Tips on Presentations & Braille
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I did learn braille as a child, but here are a few tips I have.
>>
>> First, I saw someone on the thread mention that it has taken them a
>> long time to get fluent with grade 1 braille.  While it is important
>> to know your letters, very few materials are written in grade 1, so
>> the time learning braille is best spent working on grade 2 and
>> contractions.  Those grade 1 letters are a part of grade 2, but
> contractions make all the difference.
>>
>> I like the suggestion of checking around your state.  See if someone
>> from the NFB will teach you.  If not, I know a woman in my affiliate
>> who does it as a TVI and as a tutoring type service, and even does
>> distance learning/teaching through Skype.
>>
>> Read braille every day, even if it's just a little.  Don't not use the
>> skills you're working to learn and use them.
>>
>> The audible teleprompter has a couple of issues.  First, it is a way
>> of bypassing braille and discourages people from learning it.  Giving
>> presentations with braille is a great way to work on fluency, even if
>> you're just reading an outline and verbally expanding upon it.  It
>> also doesn't look the most professional to have a wire trailing from
>> your ear every time you get up to speak.
>>
>> Just some thoughts.  Hope they help.
>>
>> On 10/30/13, Shannon Cook <SCook at sccb.sc.gov> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I have learned Braille through Hadley later into adulthood also.  I
>>> was not taught as a child, but it surely would have been handy then.
>>> It has taken me several years to learn, but I have been working
>>> during that time and have not pushed to learn quickly.  I pick up
>>> materials in Braille along the way and test what I can read versus
>>> what I still need to learn.  I work at an agency for the blind, so
>>> there are some materials around quite often.  It has been a really
>>> fun venture.  I label all of my files in Braille, make notes that
>>> way, and I have also used it to make notes for presentations.  It has
>>> totally improved my level of confidence as, with a lot of us, my
>>> vision loss has progressed to the point that big print is not
>>> feasible anymore.  I joke that at home, if something does not move
>>> quickly enough, it gets a Braille label slapped on it.  I've tried
>>> using my Stream for presentations, but that did not work as well for
>>> me.  The flow was not good.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Shannon
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>>> Alyssa Munsell
>>> Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 4:28 PM
>>> To: humanser at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [humanser] Tips on Presentations & Braille
>>>
>>> Hi everyone!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have a question about handling presentation notes. Since I lost my
>>> vision (about 8 years ago), I haven't had to give presentations
>>> often, but it's been challenging when I have. I don't have an easily
>>> accessible way of creating and reading presentation notes. I don't
>>> know braille because I didn't understand the importance of learning
>>> it until about a year ago. I really wish I had realized how that
>>> skill could help me, especially in doing any task that requires
>>> reading materials to someone or presenting a topic.
>>> In the past, I've written large  presentation notes with sharpie
>>> markers on pieces of paper and memorized most of the material. This
>>> has always ended up working for me, but the process is exhausting and
>>> definitely not an ideal way of giving presentations!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have 2 questions. First, does anyone have any tips about how to do
>>> presentation notes, aside from braille? I saw an e-mail from an NFB
>>> member who stated that using the Victor Reader Stream to make audible
>>> notes has worked well for him. Does anyone have experience with that?
>>>
>>> Second, for anyone who has learned braille later in life- any advice
>>> about techniques for learning braille would be immensely helpful. How
>>> long did it take for you to learn it and be able to effectively
>>> utilize it?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> Alyssa
>>>
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>>> October is Home Eye Safety Month. Over half of all eye injuries occur
>>> while doing everyday household chores. The South Carolina Commission
>>> for the Blind offer the following tips if you get a chemical in your
>>> eye: flush you eye with water for 20 minutes, wash your hands with
>>> soap and warm water, seek emergency medical assistance. For more
>>> information about how the SC Commission for the Blind can help you or
>>> a loved one, please visit us at www.sccb.state.sc.us or give us a
>>> call at 803-898-8731.
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Kaiti
>>
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>> gov
>>
>> October is Home Eye Safety Month. Over half of all eye injuries occur
>> while doing everyday household chores. The South Carolina Commission
>> for the Blind offer the following tips if you get a chemical in your
>> eye: flush you eye with water for 20 minutes, wash your hands with
>> soap and warm water, seek emergency medical assistance. For more
>> information about how the SC Commission for the Blind can help you or
>> a loved one, please visit us at www.sccb.state.sc.us or give us a call at
> 803-898-8731.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> humanser mailing list
>> humanser at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> humanser:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/crazy4clarinet10
>> 4%40gmail.com
>>
>
>
> --
> Kaiti
>
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