[Ohio-talk] Are Blind People lemmings?

[mzavoli at roadrunner.com]

Hello Everyone,

Although I wrote about Braille at the end of a previous message, it has been brought to my attention that many might have missed my comments, and so I am restating my thoughts under a separate subject line.

I amm expressing my displeasure at NAPUB for what's about to happen to our well-crafted, space-efficient and cherished Braille system.

I voted against the BANA Braille changes at this year's national convention because Braille is fine the way it is.  Braille will become more cumbersome to read the way BANA plans to change it.  This is all an attempt to placate those who say that Braille is hard.  By lowering our standards to become "team players" we are harming ourselves and future generations of blind children and adults.  

  I love all of my contractions, and to have nine of the most commonly needed ones gone, feels like I've suffered a Braille amputation!!!

Our complying with the demands of people in Europe or other parts of the world and settling for the inferior code they want makes us nothing more than lemmings.

Imagine how the “blindness professionals” will say that Braille is even more long and cumbersome than it used to be, and they will have more reason to argue that Braille should not be inflicted on blind children.  Democratizing Braille should not mean lowering standards.

NAPUB has lowered the standards for American braille, and I will not support or renew my membership in NAPUB.

I will be a Braille maverick.  As my way of silent protest, I will continue to write Braille the “old fashioned” way.  One day, I’ll be at a national convention telling blind youngsters about the good old days and showing them my secret Braille contractions.  As they gather around, I’ll say, “I know nine secret contractions that they didn’t teach you in school.”  I bet anything they’ll be very interested!!!  

Milena