[NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases

Wed Mar 15 19:09:10 UTC 2023

Sahar,

Thank you. Agreed on all counts. I really want to move to reading
everything in braille as long as it isn't time-sensitive, but I've
been using my screen-reader at 850 words a minute for almost twenty
years. Going back to 40 or 60WPM is incredibly difficult--especially
given the neurological fatigue that comes with.

Sanho

On 3/15/23, Sahar Husseini via NFB-Braille-Discussion
<nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Practice really is key. I used to tell my students. Sighted people see print
> everywhere. It is literally on everything. You have to read braille every
> day. Some people tell me that's hard to do, but that really is what it
> takes. I never understood how kids took braille class for one day a week. I
> was lucky that everything in school was in braille. For me to get faster, I
> had to read everything in braille. Of course, now, I am 110 years old, so I
> don't know that kids get everything in braille these days. It's sad how much
> focus is on audio. Some of us don't comprehend as well on audio. Ok, I'm not
> quite 110, lol.
>
> Warm regards,
> Sahar Husseini
> Sahar’s Beaded Creations
> For hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry, please visit my Website at
> www.saharscreations.com
> Find me on Facebook at
> www.facebook.com/saharscreations
> And remember, “Obstacles don't have to stop you.  If you run into a wall,
> don't turn around and give up.
> Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."
> Michael Jordan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFB-Braille-Discussion <nfb-braille-discussion-bounces at nfbnet.org> On
> Behalf Of David Andrews via NFB-Braille-Discussion
> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 1:26 PM
> To: 'NFB Braille Discussion List' <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: dandrews920 at comcast.net
> Subject: Re: [NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases
>
> I am not an expert in Braille learning -- however, I remember some articles
> in the Braille Monitor in the 90's about adults learning Braille and
> increasing their speed.  I think the recommendations are generally that you
> need to read each and every day, for an hour if possible. I remember one
> person saying it took them two years to build up their speed.
>
> I am not trying to discourage you, but if you go weeks or months without
> reading Braille, you won't get faster.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFB-Braille-Discussion <nfb-braille-discussion-bounces at nfbnet.org> On
> Behalf Of Sanho Steele-Louchart via NFB-Braille-Discussion
> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 10:56 AM
> To: NFB Braille Discussion List <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Sanho Steele-Louchart <sanho817 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases
>
> Right now, approximately zero minutes a day on average. I have weeks where I
> read 10 pages a day and months where I don't touch braille at all. I
> definitely need to build consistency there. I'm currently reading at about
> 60WPM. Enough to enjoy and understand what I'm reading, but nowhere near
> what I read when I was sighted.
>
> On 3/15/23, marianne denning via NFB-Braille-Discussion
> <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Do you know anyone who can watch you as you read and make suggestions?
>> Many people have increased reading speed. How much time do you spend
>> reading each day?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NFB-Braille-Discussion
>> <nfb-braille-discussion-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sanho
>> Steele-Louchart via NFB-Braille-Discussion
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 11:13 AM
>> To: NFB Braille Discussion List <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Sanho Steele-Louchart <sanho817 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases
>>
>> Mike,
>>
>> Thanks. I'm compiling the list now in text and braille for people to
>> use as they wish.
>>
>> To clarify, I'm not looking for techniques. I'm looking for how long
>> it takes to increase speed and by what amount we can do so.
>>
>> Warmth,
>> Sanho
>>
>> On 3/15/23, Mike Jolls via NFB-Braille-Discussion
>> <nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> I have been working on increasing Braille reading speed as well …
>>> here are my tips
>>>
>>> Don’t scrub
>>> Light touch
>>> Read things that don’t have words that are too difficult at first All
>>> fingers on the Braille as you read.
>>> Both hands start the line and move together across the line  –  but
>>> right eventually separates from left and finishes while left goes to
>>> next line ready to read (this means there’s no time lost between
>>> right hand finishing and next line starting to be read)
>>>
>>> Hmmm … practicing the frequently read words … I’d be interested in
>>> getting a list of those myself.
>>>
>>> Another tip, make sure you practice reading every day.
>>>
>>> And here are a couple of more things (if you’re reading on a braille
>>> display with a screen reader such as Jaws) Put the braille display in
>>> “auto advance” mode and read a document.  The screen reader will
>>> automatically advance to the next line and refresh the display with
>>> the next line of text.  This will force you to keep up.
>>> You may need to set the auto advance speed so it’s slow enough at
>>> first so you can keep up with it.  Then as you get better, set it a
>>> bit faster.  It’s like taking a shorthand class where the teacher
>>> keeps making you go faster.
>>> You do get faster as time goes on.  I’m still working on this.
>>>
>>> Second tip for the braille display.  In your screen reader software,
>>> set the left and right panning buttons so that forward panning is the
>>> LEFT button, not the right button.  By default (at least in Jaws),
>>> Jaws has assigned the forward pan function to the right panning
>>> button on the display.  But this means that you have to move your
>>> hand to the right side of the display in order to pan.  And when
>>> you’re on a short line, it takes a second or two to do that.  Result
>>> is that you lose a couple of seconds every time you have to move your
>>> hand to the right side of the display.  By switching the forward pan
>>> function to the left button, you don’t have to move your right hand
>>> to the end of the display to press the pan forward button.  Your left
>>> hand is always there on the left button, so it takes less time to pan
>>> forward.  This will save a little time (every bit helps) but the
>>> majority of your time savings will be in the tips before this one.
>>> This one will take a bit of getting used to, but I have it from
>>> another blind user that this is the way to go.  Saving the second or
>>> two on each line seems to make sense, so give it a try.
>>>
>>> Hope I’ve explained this adequately and good luck.
>>>
>>> Incidentally, for those in the NFB group, any comments are welcome
>>> regarding what I’ve said.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
>>> Windows
>>>
>>> From: Sanho Steele-Louchart via
>>> NFB-Braille-Discussion<mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 8:15 AM
>>> To: NFB Braille Discussion
>>> List<mailto:nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Sanho Steele-Louchart<mailto:sanho817 at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: [NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases
>>>
>>> Hi, all,
>>>
>>> Is there any kind of a science to when and by how much significant
>>> reading gains will happen? I'm currently reading braille at about a
>>> fifth the speed I want to. I'll practice as much as I need to.
>>>
>>> Warmth,
>>> Sanho
>>> --
>>> He/Him
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> He/Him
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-- 
He/Him