[Nfbmo] Fw: Why is Braille Dying?

Tue Mar 2 22:09:34 UTC 2010

Well done, Jim.

Fred Olver

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Moynihan" <jamesmoynihan at kc.rr.com>
To: "NFB of Missouri Mailing List" <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 3:02 PM
Subject: [Nfbmo] Fw: Why is Braille Dying?

> FYI
>
>
> This was my response to an article that appeared in the February 15, 2010 
> issue of Syndicated Columnists Weekly Published by the National Braille 
> Press.
>
>
> Cordially,
>
> Jim Moynihan
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Diane Croft
> To: James Moynihan
> Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 2:25 PM
> Subject: Re: Why is Braille Dying?
>
>
> Thank you for your thoughtful outline of the state of braille today, and 
> why it's important. We couldn't agree more!
>
>
> It's a tad late to run in SCW and, anyway, you'd be preaching to the 
> choir - but I will pass it along to development for them to use in their 
> proposals. It is so succinct. Thanks, Jim.
>
>
> Diane
>
>
> Diane Croft
>
> VP/Publishing
>
> National Braille Press
>
> 617.266.6160 ext. 421
>
> www.braille.com
>
>
>
> On Mar 2, 2010, at 1:24 PM, James Moynihan wrote:
>
>
>  Diane, This is my response to the article in the February 15, 2010 SCW 
> issue entitled Why is Braille Dying by Stephen Towey and Helen Cota
>
>
>  At first it may seem beneficial that braille should die because there are 
> alternative sources of information available to blind readers.  Although I 
> have read braille since the first grade I benefit from reading The Week, 
> Sports Illusttrated, and National Review on tape.
>
>
>  I enjoy reading these magazines and books from the Library of Congress on 
> tape but I have never deluded myself in to thinking that I have actually 
> read these publications.  Various readers have read these publications to 
> me and I have listened to them with enjoyment.
>
>  In the 1950's most blind children attended residential schools for the 
> blind where blind children learned to read braille. I attended 
> LavelleSchool for the Blind in the Bronx in New York City.  At Lavelle 
> Totally blind and partially sighted children were required to read and 
> write braille.  Those children who were partially sighted also learned to 
> read and write print.
>
>  The situation changed with the passage of P.L.94-142, the Education of 
> the Handicapped Act.  Parents of children with disabilities demanded that 
> their children attend schools with their nondisabled peers.  With the 
> availability of recorded books and computers with synthesized speech it 
> was not deemed necessary to instruct blind children to read and write 
> braille.
>
>  Since fewer and fewer blind children were learning to read and write 
> braille there were fewer competent teachers available to instruct blind 
> children to read and write braille.  The situation grew worse so that 
> today only %10 of blind adults know how to read and write braille.
>
>  If braille is dying blind people are in big trouble.  The American people 
> are worried when the national unemployment rate reached %10.  The 
> unemployment rate for the blind is either %70 or %80 depending on who is 
> providing the statistics.  We have heard this shocking statistic for so 
> many years so it has no impact on our brains.  If you were fortunate 
> enough and were taught to read and write braille the employment rate for 
> the blind is %80 to %90.  In other words if a blind child is taught to 
> read and write braille their chance of being gainfully employed rises to 
> %80.
>
>
>  After reading this interesting article I began to wonder why it would not 
> be appropriate whether reading and writing print should also be dying. 
> America would save billions of dollars if sighted children did not learn 
> to read and write print.  We know that sighted children have access to 
> digital recorders, computers, DVD's, cellphones and Iphones.
>
>  Parents would revoltif it were seriously suggested that their children 
> not be taught to read.  Nevertheless it is perfectly acceptable for 
> braille to die because it is easier for blind children and adults to 
> listen to recordings and computers  with synthesized speech.         More 
> to the point,  it is cheaper for school districts not to provide 
> specialized teachers and special books and equipment  than it is to take 
> the time and effort to teach blind children to read and write braille.
>
>  If blind children are taught to read and write braille when they grow up 
> they can become employed members of our society. Thank you for considering 
> my comments to this article.
>
>  Cordially,
>
>  James Moynihan
>
>  SCW Reader
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.435 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2718 - Release Date: 03/02/10 
> 07:34:00
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbmo mailing list
> Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfbmo:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/goodfolks%40charter.net

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2718 - Release Date: 03/02/10 
01:34:00