[nabs-l] Obtaining electronic text

[bookwormahb at earthlink.net]

Hi Joshua,
No braille isn't the answer in college; college texts change every few 
years. A braille book is probably fifty volumes considering print text is 
small and the average text book is 400 pages.
Who would pay for the transcription of these braille books?  It would 
literally be thousands per book!

I want electronic books in a timely manner.  As to RFB they're not bad in my 
opinion; yes a few history books they stumbled over words but any reader 
would with foreign words, like names of Greek gods or kings.  Most books are 
fine and pretty impressive; they are volunteers.
Next, NLS readers are paid and professional; they may have had a background 
in tv or radio. That is not a fair comparison.
I couldn't have done college without RFB; they are a life saver.  I still 
turn to them for books as a life long learner.

I do agree braille should be learned though as a foundation for literacy and 
adults losing vision should learn braille.
But its not the answer for college unless you're studying math or foreign 
languages.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Joshua Lester
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 10:48 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Obtaining electronic text

I know the RFBND readers are volunteers. I appreciate all that they
do, but the last 5 or 6 recordings of textbooks haven't been their
best. They used to be better. The best book they recorded was my
Freshman English 1 book. I still believe that Braille is the answer.
I'm probably the only conservative NFB member on this list. I joined
the NFB last year, but I'm old school when it comes to Braille, and I
always will be. It's Braille or nothing at all! It bothers me that
most blind people that have just lost their sight in the past 8 to 15
years don't know Braille. That's in Arkansas. They won't take classes
at the Arkansas School for the Blind, or Lions World Services for the
Blind, they'd rather have computers read everything to them. I like
Jaws, and all of these computer programs, but Braille literacy should
come first. Maybe, I should join NAPUB, as well. Blessings, Joshua

On 2/7/11, David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com> wrote:
> Joshua, when you compare RFB&D and NLS readers you are comparing
> apples and oranges.  NLS readers, almost exclusively are paid
> professionals, actors, radio and TV people, etc.  RFB&D readers are
> volunteers, who by and large don't do badly.
>
> Dave
>
> At 02:26 PM 2/6/2011, you wrote:
>>I don't know who posted about the RFBD books. I found it funny that
>>the narrators keep tripping up on words. Even in my history and
>>Geography books, they have so many "ums," and "urs," that it's
>>laughable. They need better readers. The Library of Congress narrators
>>weren't that bad. Blessings, Joshua
>
>
>
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