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

[Jedi]

Hi.

Here is my measuring stick in regards to literacy. Is a sighted person 
deemed literate if she or he only reads via speech? In other words, is 
a sighted person literate if he or she doesn't know how to read print? 
I personally would say no. I would further add that my feelings on 
literacy are easily translated to Braille and its role in a blind 
person's tool kit. Does that mean that using audio material is bad? No. 
Of course not. The sighted are beginning to understand the value of 
audio access in their daily lives just as we have. And for us, audio 
has been a large part to our access to material since Braille has been 
in such short supply in comparison to print. Since we now have 
unprecedented access to electronic material, it's up to the reader as 
to which should be used: Braille or audio. increasingly, the same 
choice is being granted to the sighted reader.  in short, i don't think 
using audio is selling out. However, I do believe that it's easier to 
be lazy and not read when reading for oneself might be the best option, 
and that goes for anyone blind or sighted. What troubles me most about 
the literacy debate for the blind is that audio access is being used as 
an excuse not to teach or learn Braille. That to me, is the real 
travesty. It sounds to me like you use Braille. If you're frustrated 
with your reading speed, you're certainly welcome to improve it just as 
is anyone (blind or sighted). The Braille literacy campeign isn't about 
restricting access to a person's chosen reading methods. It's about 
making sure that Braille isn't denied to students based on the ease of 
access to audio materials or visual acuity or any other reason. When a 
population's literacy rate is as low as ours, there's good reason to 
man the baracades and get busy fighting for the right to read. After 
all, this matter of choice is a non-issue if a person has no access to 
Braille, right?


Original message:
> 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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-- 
REspectfully,
Jedi

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