[nabs-l] questions about reading braille, labeling, and canes

Wed Aug 11 03:42:28 UTC 2010

Hi, Kerri,
  Regarding your first question, I'm pretty sure nLS does not have a
central site for ordering books on-line, but as others suggested
definitely check with your state library to see if such a system is
available. An alternative would be to browse the books on Web Braille,
locate the ones you like, and call in to request the specific titles.
You are right that it is difficult to browse by category on Web
Braille, but you can search for specific authors, and I have always
found the bi-monthly Braille Book Review very helpful. I'm also a very
fast braille reader, but I read almost exclusively on my braille
note-taker (I have a Braille Note MPower with 32 cells), and  am glad
to do without the bulky hard-copy braille. I don't know what type of
note-taker you have, but if you ever invest in a new one in the
future, you may want to consider the ease of reading on the braille
display (how cumbersome it is to move the cursor around, the number of
cells on the braille display, etc.), as more and more of the braille
media will be in electronic form (for example, Bookshare has  an
amazingly large collection of books) and it would be best if you find
reading on your note-taker a pleasant rather than cumbersome
experience.
  I can't help you much with the latter two questions, as I haven't
had much experience labeling canned food and i haven't use any of the
NFB canes before. I use a folding cane from the Ambutech website and
it has worked well for me.
   Katie

On 8/10/10, stacy timberlake <guitargirl89 at windstream.net> wrote:
>     I label cans by buying magnetic sheets (available in the wal-mart craft
> section for a couple dollars) loading them into the Braille writer and
> typing the label.  I then cut them down to size and clip off the top right
> corner so I can easily tell which side is up.  The labels stick to the tops
> of the cans and  you can store your labels on the fridge (creating a grocery
> list)
> -Stacy
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tamika Williams" <tamwill009 at comcast.net>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 10:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] questions about reading braille, labeling, and canes
>
>
>> Hello Kerri,
>>
>> I don't have any help really on the cane and braille situations only
>> because
>> I don't read braille enough and I only have had experience with the
>> telescope cane and the straight nfb cane,  but I will tell you how to
>> address the can labeling situation I have done it before. To hold the
>> label
>> onto the rubber band you will have to insert one end of the rubber band
>> into
>> the hole of the label and take the other end and take it over the end that
>> you inserted into the label and tighten it and that will hold the label on
>> the rubber band. If that makes any sense.
>>
>> HTH,
>> Tamika
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 8:24 PM
>> Subject: [nabs-l] questions about reading braille, labeling, and canes
>>
>>
>>> Hi All!!
>>>
>>> I have a couple of questions.
>>>
>>> First, for braille readers out there, do you find you read more on
>>> your note-taker and braille displays and get your books from Bookshare
>>> and Web Braille or do you still call your library and order hard-copy
>>> books? Also, can you order hard-copy braille books either online or
>>> through email?
>>>
>>> I have been blind from birth and am a very very fast braille reader. I
>>> used to get books from the library and loved reading hard-copy
>>> braille, but then in 2007 when I got my notetaker which had a braille
>>> display on it I stopped having them send me hard-copy books. But, I
>>> find I miss reading hard-copy braille, and though reading on the
>>> braille display is nice it's kind of cumbersome.
>>> I am trying to figure out whether I should do the easy thing and just
>>> download my books from Bookshare and Web Braille and reading them on
>>> my display or go through the hassle that is calling the library,
>>> picking categories of books, and ordering them hard-copy.
>>> I really wish NLS had an online system where you could just go online,
>>> fill out a form, enter in the book title/author, submit it
>>> electronically, then just wait for the book to come through the mail.
>>> Even on the Web-braille website, it is very hard to browse...they
>>> don't have it set up so you can browse by category...I know you can
>>> type in keywords but for whatever reason every time I try this I don't
>>> get any relevant results.
>>> So I thought I'd ask what you all do!
>>>
>>> My next question has to do with labeling canned foods. A blind friend
>>> told me to use dymo tape, then get a hole puncher and some rubber
>>> bands, punch a hole in the tape, and somehow thread the rubber band
>>> through the hole? She explained to me how to do this...but I'm not
>>> getting it...the rubber band is round...I don't understand how you put
>>> the round rubber band through the hole in the label?
>>>
>>> I saw that you could order these pre-made labels with rubber bands
>>> already on them...so all you have to do is write what you want the
>>> label to say...then stick it on the can.
>>> Which way do you prefer/use? I'm very confused by the dymo tape way...
>>>
>>> My final question has to do with canes. I need to get a backup. I got
>>> a free white cane in January and really like it. However, I've been
>>> told that the Iowa Canes (the canes you get from the Iowa Center) are
>>> much sturdier and can last pretty much forever. What should I get as a
>>> backup...one extra nfb cane and then one Iowa one? I've never used an
>>> Iowa cane...but my friend has had hers for over three years and it
>>> hasn't broken yet...and my NFB one though I like it a lot because how
>>> light it is is already chipping.
>>> What do you prefer? What are the pros/cons of the Iowa canes? What are
>>> the differences between the Iowa canes and the fiberglass NFB canes?
>>> Also...does anyone know how much the Iowa canes cost if you order them
>>> and are out-of-state? I'm not from Iowa.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Kerri
>>>
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>>
>>
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