[NFB-Muslims] discussion of learning the Arabic braile code

[Khalil Abdul-Majid]

As salaamu alaykum,
A discussion about Arabic Braille on Zoom is a good idea in my opinion.
Insha Allaah, I will search for Arabic punctuation marks in Braille. Also,
I will share the search results with this group insha Allaah. Salaam,
Khalil Abdul-Majid

On Mon, Jul 26, 2021, 5:20 AM Selahattin Aydın via NFB-Muslims <
nfb-muslims at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Yes, we have some time difference, but I would be happy to make some
> make self-sacrifice to join the meeting inshaAllah.
>
>
> 2021-07-26 10:06 GMT+03:00, heather Albright via NFB-Muslims
> <nfb-muslims at nfbnet.org>:
> > asalamu alaykum,
> > Inshallah that would be great just remember he is 7 hours ahead  US EST
> time
> > zone. But we can surely ask him inshallah if everyone agrees maybe we can
> > change the time just for that meeting inshallah. Salaam wa-nor
> > Sister Heather
> >
> >
> > Sent from Mail for Windows 10
> >
> > From: Yasmin Reyazuddin via NFB-Muslims
> > Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2021 9:21 PM
> > To: NFB Muslims Group list
> > Cc: Yasmin Reyazuddin
> > Subject: Re: [NFB-Muslims] discussion of learning the Arabic braile code
> >
> > SalaamAlaykum brothers and sisters,
> > As Nasma stated in her email, I have a basic knowledge of the Arabic
> Braille
> > code. I also have in print the Arabic Braille code from NLS World Braille
> > usage book. The page has all the languages that use the same script.
> > However, I know that different countries have different ways of having
> the
> > same letter.
> > The Urdu Script is very similar to Arabic with some additional letters.
> The
> > language is used both in India and Pakistan.
> > I got hold of a word document in Urdu. I used Duxbury software to print
> it
> > in Braille. There were two Urdu options. I printed the document both
> ways.
> > Most of the documents were the same but there were differences. It will
> be
> > important to know what we will learn.
> > I suggest that we as the muslim group invite DR. Aydin to our meeting
> > soon.
> > Yasmin
> >
> > On Sun, Jul 25, 2021 at 3:45 PM heather Albright via NFB-Muslims
> > <nfb-muslims at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > Wa Jazaakum Allaahu Khair wa-Salaamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa
> > Barakaatuh,
> > Brother Selahattin Aydin yes, this is wonderful to know.
> > My late imam used to use istishara when he was leading discussions in the
> > muslim students association in their planning for events in our group.
> > Does IBQS use trained braille teachers who are familiar with the american
> > English braille code?
> > I ask as it is important to know something about the code that most
> people
> > are currently using. One needs to make a connection and or corlation
> between
> > the codes for a frame of reference for the student.
> > For example, a student is trying to learn the letter sod in arabic so,
> one
> > could say, "the letter sod is like the and sign in ENglish grade 2
> braille."
> > or one of the haa is like the braille w h sign and the other ha is like
> > letter h. The other ha letter is like the it sign in english grade 2
> > braille.  The lettter shen is like the braille symbol for sh sign.  The
> vad
> > is all 4 braille cells that is inglish braille a 4 sign. the ghrin  sign
> is
> > the gh sign in English grade 2 braille code. The vowel sign fatha  is the
> > english braille code for a comma  and haza alif is the st sign, etc.
> > I read braille all the time and this made the connection for me as I
> wanted
> > to be able to remember the Arabic code.
> > So my teacher when I was learning, made these connections for me
> mashallah.
> >
> > I believe if you are teaching some the arabic code and they use French
> > braille, the accent sign for the french letter e is like the arabic sign
> for
> > the vod I think. So if one was working with some who one who is using
> > French, that would be their frame of reference between the codes.
> > Is the course structured  in to lessons? For example, each letter first
> and
> > the next lesson would be the vowel signs and the next lesson would be
> other
> > accent signs. Do they have rules you can learn like, in English braille,
> no
> > dropped letters in grade one braille in the middle of words. One uses to
> dot
> > sixs for all caps etc.
> > What type of materials, do they have plastic traning cards so one can use
> > them for reference when learning the arabic braille code?
> > In American schools our VI, visually impaired,  teachers often times had
> > plastic cards to help guide the student in recognizing their braille
> > symbols.
> > One can use these cards over and over so if they got wet, they simply
> wiped
> > the card off again.  The braille lasted a long time. Some teachers used
> > thermoform plastic paper for older students trying to learn braille. Some
> > felt like the cards were more geared to little children. So they would
> have
> > the letters, punctuation symbols, how different letters look next to the
> > punctuation symbols. And I remember they had one that showed the print
> > letters and the braille below on this thermoform plastic paper. I do not
> > have this as it belonged to the VI program that they used with their
> > students.
> > I did see the nfb had something like what I am referencing to in their
> > independence market and I just ran across a site that also has this:
> > https://www.cal-s.org/
> > Note, it is geared to English speaking students learning braille.  I do
> not
> > think they have other languages.
> > I used to love thermoform plastic  paper when I read my books, I still
> have
> > some at home and they look like  knew and the braille stays sharp. The
> cards
> > and thermoform plastic paper with the braille symbols was made in the
> 80's
> > when I used it in school back in the 90s and I think they are still
> useing
> > something like  it today at the school. As it is quite easy to disinfect
> > between students. Unlike regular braille paper that when it gets wet, it
> no
> > longer can be read very well or not at all.
> > Is the quranyour using  just plain arabic letters or does it use extra
> > markings for recitation purposes?.
> > I look forwerd to getting a sense of what these materials are and how
> they
> > are being presented for an audience  of English speaking blind students
> > wanting to learn the Arabic braille code.
> > I have put a link to  the use of thermoform  paper for future reference.
> I
> > did not know what other people call it over seas.
> > https://www.braillists.org/braille/consumables/
> > I read some where some one  was complaining that this paper does not do
> well
> > if your hands sweat. as I always advise even reading regular braille, to
> > make sure your hands are clean and dry. The oils on one's hand can affect
> > your reading of braille. Also as every blind person should know, keeping
> > items away from  inclement weather to preserve the braille is always
> > recommended.
> > fee amanAllah
> > Sister Heather
> >
> >
> > Sent from Mail for Windows 10
> >
> > From: nesma aly
> > Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2021 2:01 PM
> > To: NFB Muslims Group list; selahattinaydin2006 at gmail.com
> > Cc: heather Albright
> > Subject: Re: [NFB-Muslims] discussion of learning the Arabic braile code
> >
> > salam all,
> >
> > In 2011, my mom and I found a place where we purchased the Arabic quran
> in
> > braille. I am not sure where we got it from, as it was a really long time
> > ago. But since then, I have just kept the books as I don’t know how to
> read
> > Arabic, I only know how to speak it.
> > I would love to learn Arabic braille.
> > I am sorry to be saying this publicly on this list, but I know that
> sister
> > Yasmine knows how to read arabic braille.
> >
> > On Sun, Jul 25, 2021 at 5:01 AM Selahattin Aydın via NFB-Muslims
> > <nfb-muslims at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > Wa alaikum salam dear sister,
> > I like being part of such brain stormings as they are a kind of
> > consultation that is called "istishara" in Islamic language. Istishara
> > is highly suggested by Prophet PBU.
> > I would like to come up a tangible proposal as below:
> > We at International Union of Braille Quran Services (IBQS) have been
> > carrying out online Braille Quran training programs for several years.
> > Currently we have several online platforms where we provide training
> > in religious topics including Arabic courses in English and French.
> > Thus, I can take responsibility on organizing Arabic Braille course
> > for brothers/sisters in this NFB Muslims group. I can provide Braille
> > materials needed including the Arabic Braille codes and licanced Zoom
> > account. IBQS has just prepared a Braille Quran training book
> > containing planty of examples for each topic and cleare explanations
> > for each concept. We can produce Braille copies of such document
> > easyly and share with participants. After completing the course, IBQS
> > can provide 1 set of Braille Quran with each trainee who has completed
> > the course. If the management of this group/community accepts, I would
> > like to suggest coming together online with sister Reem and propose a
> > very effective and simple plan to be discussed. Of course sister
> > Reem's approval is also crucial for my above proposal.
> > I will be looking forward to hearing regarding the above.
> > Salams to everyone.
> > Your brother Selahattin Aydin
> >
> >
> > 2021-07-25 6:00 GMT+03:00, heather Albright via NFB-Muslims
> > <nfb-muslims at nfbnet.org>:
> >> Asalamu alaykum wa Rahmatullah  inshallah, I hope everyone is well.
> >> I was just brain storming about how we can start an Arabic braille
> >> learning
> >> class via zoom.
> >>  SO what do you guys think. First off, does anyone know where to obtain
> >> the
> >> Arabic code as the NLS here does not have a braille copy of the Arabic
> >> braille code,  it is only in print!
> >> I had received my copy from the RNIB who got it from  Bahrain in
> braille.
> >> Inshallah, if there is someone who can produce the Arabic braille code
> in
> >> the states, it would be much better.
> >> I did obtain a copy of the Arabic Braille  Quranic primer however, it is
> >> lacking in coherent structured lessons.
> >> Even my Quran teacher who was teaching me the braille Arabic code did
> not
> >> like it. It did not make sense even to her a native Arabic speaker.
> >>  One can not teach a code without teaching all the rules that go along
> >> with
> >> that code.
> >> I have read a few  foreign braille language codes, French and Spanish.
> >> They
> >> all had structured lessons so your learning the process of the Language.
> >> The
> >> primer does not tell you what the lesson is and all the rules of why you
> >> read a letter a certain  way, they left that part out.
> >>  It would be like telling some one dot six is a  capital sign but, if
> you
> >> have two dot  6s it means all the letters are capitalized. And in
> >> American
> >> English, the dot 6 goes before a sentence, proper names.  While british
> >> braille, they do not use dot six at the beginning of  sentences. At
> least
> >> when I had to read British braille, some correct me if this is  no
> longer
> >> the case.
> >> I am hoping someone knows how  to produce arabic braille plastic flash
> >> cards
> >> to show all the positions of the Arabic braille letters. I used to have
> a
> >> plastic print letter set and it last forever. If you spill something,
> you
> >> just wipe them off. Here is an idea from the independence market it is
> >> for
> >> little kids but the idea is still the same:
> >> "
> >> BRAILLE/PRINT ALPHABET FLASH CARDS WITH TACTILE ILLUSTRATIONS:
> >> Young Braille learners will enjoy interacting with these Braille flash
> >> cards
> >> with their tactile illustrations. Each of the twenty-six 7 × 7-inch
> white
> >> plastic cards features a tracking guide that leads to the Braille
> letter,
> >> a
> >> tactile illustration starting with the letter being introduced, and a
> >> raised
> >> representation of the print capital letter. The pictures are labeled in
> >> lower case uncontracted Braille. The cards are fastened by a removable
> >> ring,
> >> so they may be easily separated during use.   AIG81B  $22.00"
> >> I was thinking about putting the print arabic letter on one side how it
> >> is
> >> connected and the braille letter on the other side with the various
> >> letter
> >> positions.
> >> I wish we, the blind, had something like alif baa and al kitab  for
> >> braille
> >> readers as it seems to me we read the Arabic braille code differently
> >> that
> >> someone trying to learn it in print?
> >> These  two books are currently published by George Town Press and they
> >> are
> >> used by most universities and Islamic centers.
> >> I tried to obtain a copy when my Islamic center was going to use this
> >> book
> >> for their Arabic class and I thought we could use it for this group.
> >> Even though  the USA sign the Marrakesh treaty in 2017, George Town
> >> Press,
> >> the publisher of these books,  still refuse to give   me the electronic
> >> copy
> >> to the books even though I offered to purchase a print copy of the book
> >> and
> >> send them the receipt.
> >> It was not my first time making this request to obtain a electronic copy
> >> of
> >> a print book.
> >> I noticed, if I am dealing with a publisher out of states like
> >> California,
> >> they are the most willing to accommodate my request.
> >> I would think  a publisher attached to a world famous law school would
> >> know
> >> that, print disabled individuals in the USA have this right to obtain
> >> access
> >> to printed materials.
> >> That is when I thought about, how we the blind need to create our own
> >> teaching lessons to learn the Arabic braille code when Arabic is not our
> >> native language. We read it differently than print readers and we do not
> >> use
> >> symbols above letters.
> >> Correction, I believe  Egyptian Braille still puts their vowel signs
> >> above
> >> the braille arabic letters.
> >> I am not sure but, I think they still have not joined the unified Arabic
> >> Braille  code along with a few other countries.
> >> I am only basing it on what I have read online.
> >> I am hopeful for this thread to focus on the best way to teach non
> native
> >> Arabic speakers the Arabic Braille code.
> >> A code that so far is not being taught in North America.
> >> First, what is the best way to get a massive production of the Arabic
> >> braille code for anyone who is blind? Second, where is this class going
> >> to
> >> be tought?Thirdly, which Arabic Braille Qurans are going to be used?
> Some
> >> have miscellaneous markings for recitation purposes. I think the others
> >> do
> >> not have this marking, it is just the Arabic Quran. It would be good to
> >> know
> >> what the student has so they do not become confused with the extra
> >> markings.
> >> I would like to find out off our list, which Qurans have the markings
> and
> >> which do not so we can tell someone before they ask for an Arabic
> Braille
> >> Quran.
> >> It would be good to ask the braille Quran holders to let the individual
> >> know
> >> if they use the markings or if they do not.
> >> Please let me know what everyone thinks of this e-mail and is there an
> >> idea
> >> how we should proceed inshallah with teaching and learning the Arabic
> >> braille code in North America?
> >> Also who wants to teach the Arabic braille code, that can be another
> >> discussion for anyone who knows the Arabic braille code and thinks they
> >> can
> >> teach it to someone else most likely over zoom inshallah. And if they
> >> themselves can use the Qurans with the extra markings or prefer the ones
> >> without the markings. We also have to state which Arabic braille code we
> >> will be using as some nations have not joined with the usage of the
> >> unified
> >> Arabic braille code.
> >> fee amanAllah
> >>
> >> sister Heather
> >> "Blindness is a characteristic, not a handicap!" Dr. Kenneth Jernigan
> >> contact:
> >>
> >> 512  680 3985
> >> google number:
> >>
> >> 512 710 7667
> >> e-mail:
> >> halbright1981 at gmail.com
> >> sites
> >> National Federation of The Blind:
> >> www.nfb.org
> >> NFB blind Muslim devision page:
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-muslims_nfbnet.org
> >>  an accessible library for the blind:
> >> www.bookshare.org
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
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