[Nfbmo] Fw: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] Let's be careful

[Gary Wunder]

In light of our discussions about Braille, I share with you a most 
thought-provoking note regarding whether we can really show a correlation 
between the use of Braille and success in getting and keeping employment. 
One poster comments he thinks we can never prove the relationship using a 
double blind scientific study and here is a good response from Fred 
Schroeder.

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fredric Schroeder" <fschroeder at sks.com>
To: "'NFB Affiliate Presidents List'" <nfbaffiliatepresidents at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 5:51 AM
Subject: Re: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] Let's be careful


> Mike,
>
> I think you are right that there will likely never be a double-blind
> randomized study comparing blind braille readers and non braille readers 
> and
> its relationship to employment.  With that said, the positivist model is 
> not
> the only way of gathering defensible data.  Correlation is equally valid
> provided the question under investigation lends itself to a correlation
> comparison.  We know from the Ryles study that braille readers were nearly
> twice as likely to be employed as non braille readers.  Of course, we 
> cannot
> directly attribute the employment of these individuals to the fact that 
> they
> read braille, but it is more than conjecture that braille contributes to
> employment.  The qualitative study I did in the early 90's found that
> braille readers are more inclined to see themselves as blind people.  The
> significance of this finding is that they looked for non visual methods to
> accomplish the tasks at hand, rather than settling for subpar performance.
> I think it speaks to expectations and we see from our centers that raising
> an individual's expectations, supported by skills development, results in 
> a
> significant change in self-confidence and employment.  With that said, not
> everything that cannot be measured through a quantitative study is up for
> grabs.  For example there is a clearly documented correlation between
> education level and earnings in the general population.  That does not 
> mean
> that everyone with a masters degree will make more money than everyone 
> with
> no education beyond a high school diploma any more than it means that all
> braille readers will be employed and all non braille readers will be
> unemployed; but the fact is that there is a strong relationship between
> education and earnings and that argues for a policy of encouraging 
> children
> to gain as much education as possible.  Poor families have known this for
> generations in spite of the absence of a double-blind study proving a 
> causal
> relationship.  My purpose is not to argue with you, but to say that all 
> the
> available evidence points to a relationship between braille literacy and
> employment.  We should not be shy about proclaiming that braille is key to
> opening opportunities for education and employment for blind people.  It 
> is
> not just something that we think or hope is true.  Many things are not
> appropriate for a double-blind study: the relationship between NFB 
> training
> and self-confidence; the relationship between literacy in the general
> population and employment; the relationship between driving speed and
> accidents.  Is speed the cause of accidence or are poor drivers more 
> likely
> to speed.  Does literacy contribute to employment or are ambitious people
> more interested in reading and so on.  For that matter does smoking cause
> cancer or are people prone to cancer more likely to smoke.  A double-blind
> study is one way to investigate the question but not the only way or for
> that matter the best way.  Correlation does not prove causality, but it 
> does
> show clear relationships.  I feel confident in saying that braille gives
> blind people literacy and literacy is important to social and economic
> integration.
>
> Thanks for listening to my ranting.
>
> FKS
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbaffiliatepresidents-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nfbaffiliatepresidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike 
> Freeman
> Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 11:02 PM
> To: NFB Affiliate Presidents List
> Subject: Re: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] Let's be careful
>
> Barbara:
>
> Absolutely correct.
>
> But I'd go even further although most people in NFB won't like what I
> have to say. To my way of thinking, there has never been, is not now and
> likely never will be a truly definitive study linking knowledge and
> fluency of braille with employability. Why? Inability to set upt a truly
> double-blind study and inaibility to come up with truly valid controls.
> Also, sample size is too small.
>
> All that being said, however,there's plenty of anecdotal evidence that
> those who are fluent in braille function better on the job even if, as
> in my case, braille is not used much on the job.
>
> Mike Freeman, President
> NFB of Washington
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Barbara Pierce" <bbpierce at pobox.com>
> To: "Presidents" <nfbaffiliatepresidents at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:25 AM
> Subject: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] Let's be careful
>
>
> I just read a really fine newspaper article that Fred Wurtzel circulated
> to
> some of us. But the reporter made an error that I have seen made before.
> It
> could get us into real trouble, so we need to guard against saying this
> fact
> wrong. The actual statistic is that 80, 85, or 90 percent (I have seen
> all
> three figures) of employed blind people are Braille readers. This
> reporter
> said that 80 percent of Braille readers are employed. You can see the
> difference in the meaning of these two statements. Would that the second
> were true. It is so patently untrue, however, that readers will pick up
> on
> it, and our credibility will be questioned. We can't help it if the
> reporter
> makes the mistake, but let's help our members guard against leading them
> into the error.
>
> Barbara Pierce
>
>
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