[nabs-l] How you read, Braille or voice

[Antonio M. Guimaraes]

Hello all,

I am a braille reader, though not  a very fast one. I'd like to throw some thought in about reading and literacy.

First, what is literacy? Is braille the only way to literacy? Is getting reading done part of being literate, and informed, no matter the method?

I have as many questions as I think I have the answers. 

First, for me literacy is the ability to read and right, and the discernment to stay informed by reading a wide variety of books, articles, magazines, journals, and any other form where words are conveyed.

By my definition, literacy can and does include spoken language, an text to speech. 

I am a firm believer that braille is an integral vehicle for literacy, but not the soul vehicle. Without braille, one can not learn to spell properly. I am also tempted to argue that perfect spelling is not indicative of, or a prerequisit for literacy. 

I should disclose, in case you didn't notice, that I am not the best speller, and that I do make quite a few spelling mistakes in my writing. 

Still, the literate person does not read in braille only, even though she or he needs a good amount of it to be a good, reputable communicator.

I use speech on my computer, and was able to get through 300 nabs messages in one sitting. I think this was done on less than two hours, and without braille. I wanted a quick and efficient way to get at these mailings, and with my braille reading speed, I would only be able to read a small fraction of the material.

A well-read person is more literate, and best exposed to the world than the passive listener who has no developed interests. So, the literate person is by some measures a more interesting person because she or he is better informed, and can discuss with some authority about a wider array of topics. To this effect, I have set out a reading list with books on topics of interest to me. I limmited myself to learning about one topic for a month, then moving on to something else.

So, March might be Antonio's philosophy month, and not the kind we tipically talk about. April could be birds month, may would the the time to read about religion, and so fourth.

I feel some reservation and small amount of guilt for not devoting as much time to reading in braille. After all, braille for some is the only way to being literate, and if I sell out and read on Kurzweil, or in spoken media, I would not be aquiring knowledge, or practicing good literacy skills.

Do you see the hole in the argument of braille as the only way? Do you see that I would still be accessing and gaining knowledge by reading an electronic file with my text to speech features?

What are your thoughts as we embark on the biggest braille literacy promotion campaign? Keep it honest, and inspiring if you can.

Antonio Guimaraes
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