[Nfb-science] Hello

[Nathanael T. Wales]

I have been legally blind since birth.  In college completing my B.S. in 
civil and environmental engineering--and later studying for and passing the 
Professional Engineer licensing exam--I used Braille (including a Perkins 
Braillewriter), a reader, and a tactile drawing board as low-tech as Mike 
described on this list yesterday.  I would often have my reader trace over 
handout or photocopied diagrams to make a tactile image which my reader 
would also describe.  I found the combination of both the description and 
tactile image very useful, especially for the more complex.  I will often 
use verbal descriptions of diagrams in my work as a civil engineer today.

Since I did grow up in elementary and secondary school with a little vision 
I have been able to appreciate drawing with perspective (that is, with the 
illusion of 3-D) and able to do it to a passable degree.  I have found 
perspective harder to interpret in tactile diagrams.

Best,
Nathanael Wales