[nabs-l] Braille versus technology.

[Dave Webster]

Hello listers.  I found the article listening to braille quite interesting.  One of the things that was and is talked about quite frequently is blind people using speech rather than braille.  Before I went to the louisiana center I mostly relied on my braille 'n speak to do my school work.  This was while I was in high school and at the time was a very inovative piece of technology.  I knew braille and read it when I needed to, but I also used speech more than I used braille.  that changed at the center.  I learned there that some times technology can go down and it is not good to depend on technology because sometimes it breaks and then braille is the only thing left that we have.  In learning that I'm happy to say that I now read braille at about 100 words a minute.  I think blind people should use what ever is available to them.  If they have the opportunity  to learn braille then it should be learned but they also should be able to use technology as well.  My roommate uses all three when braille isn't available he uses the old method of looking at the screen.  When speech is available he uses that.  So I think blind folks should know all three methods.  Braille, large print if they've got some vision  and  modern technology such as jaws or windoweyes as well.