[nabs-l] Taking Action to Improve Braille Literacy

[Brian Hatgelakas]

I was fortunate enough to learn braille at an early age.  While being 
mainstreamed full time my parents and dedicated TVI worked hard with me and 
took the time to teach and help me!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Salisbury, Justin Mark" <SALISBURYJ08 at students.ecu.edu>
To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2012 3:35 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Taking Action to Improve Braille Literacy


I agree with the points that Arielle made, and I particularly think that we 
need to focus on the proper training of Braille teachers at this point in 
the game.  I don't think we currently have enough good Braille teachers in 
the United States to fulfill the needs of an optimal system.

I was fortunate enough to grow up in Connecticut, so I was urged to start 
learning Braille by my high school and state agency at the beginning of my 
junior year, only a few months after I became blind.  I wanted to resist it 
at first because no kid likes the idea of more classes that aren't dominated 
by the opposite sex or physical activity, but I soon realized that my school 
and state agency were right; Braille is important!

I just finished 4 years of college in North Carolina, where I am also 
finishing my second term as President of the NC Association of Blind 
Students.  I have learned a lot about both states' systems, and I observe a 
vast difference in the prioritization of Braille.  There are often trained 
Braille teachers in the wealthy and densely-populated school districts in 
NC, but students with residual vision are encouraged to depend on what they 
have left.  I wouldn't know Braille today if I had grown up in North 
Carolina.  In my understanding, students who are not from equipped school 
districts who wish to receive Braille instruction are often forced to attend 
the residential school for the blind in Raleigh.  Veteran teachers at the 
residential school for the blind have told me that it has become the place 
for students with multiple disabilities or from impoverished backgrounds 
(while anyone who can be mainstreamed is), and they have seen a decrease in 
the morale and expectations as this shift has occurred.

I bring up the residential school topic because, if we were able to make the 
shift tomorrow to a most efficient system, I believe we would need all of 
the students and Braille teachers to be located in centralized hubs.  I 
believe attending a residential school should be a choice, but it seems to 
currently be a requirement for many students if they want a shot at learning 
Braille.

We need more Braille teachers who are properly trained.

The Next Step:
To inspire people to enter the field, we need widespread budgetary 
allocations for the positions of Braille teachers.  North Carolina Central 
University consistently struggles to fill its TVI program because people 
aren't applying.

We should all write a book on this topic.

Justin

Justin M. Salisbury
Undergraduate Student
The Honors College
East Carolina University
salisburyj08 at students.ecu.edu

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change 
the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”    —MARGARET MEAD


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