[NFB-Braille-Discussion] Reading Speed Increases

Wed Mar 15 19:27:39 UTC 2023

Sahar,

No neurological conditions yet. Just still at the place where the
cognitive load around braille, and therefore, the threshold for
neurological fatigue, is extremely low.

Sanho

On 3/15/23, Sahar Husseini via NFB-Braille-Discussion
<nfb-braille-discussion at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> There certainly are challenges to building up speed. It can be frustrating,
> especially if you were a fast reader sighted. It really does take a lot of
> practice. I have been reading all my life, but it is true that I read faster
> with Jaws since I set it at the speed of light and go. I wish I could read
> braille as fast. However, I don't know too many sighted people who can read
> as fast as Jaws can. You definitely have to be patient with yourself, and
> that can be one of the hardest things to do. If you have a neurological
> condition, it is even trickier. I couldn't tell if that's what you meant at
> the end of your message. I had a student who had neuropathy, and she
> insisted on reading braille. She could not build much speed, but the woman
> read books--volumes of books. I have a lot of respect for her. That took
> commitment. I love braille, and I don't know that I would have had her
> determination. I told her she had to practice every day, and she did even
> though her condition exhausted her. That took endurance.
>
> 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 Sanho Steele-Louchart via NFB-Braille-Discussion
> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 2:09 PM
> 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
>
> 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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>>>
>>>
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>>>
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>
>
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>
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He/Him