[Ohio-talk] Are Blind People lemmings?

Sat Nov 10 22:59:28 UTC 2012

Hi all,

I'd like to comment on the Braille thing.

In my home state, Massachusetts, I  was taught Braille at a very young
age, and will use it if I have to.

I prefer speech over Braille.

Yes, we all have to stand by the nfb no matter what, because, we are a family.

Just my thoughts,

Chantel

On 11/10/12, Aleeha Dudley <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>  I agree entirely with what Colleen has just said. Even though I am young, I
> don't think I will give up my 9 contractions either. That's just  the way I
> have been taught. this, however, should not be your  reason to not renew
> your membership with NAPUB. I have two points to make for my reasoning for
> this. The first is that since so many children are going without Braille
> education and so many newly blind adults or adults who have been blind for
> years do not use Braille or simply do not have the opportunity to learn it,
> it needs to be promoted and taught as much as possible, no matter what code
> it's in. Braille is still a very important tool for the blind, especially in
> terms of literacy and education, and therefore should be promoted.
>   The second point I have to make is about standing behind your Federation
> family, even though you may not agree with everything they say. I know
> someone at the convention, I do not remember who, talked for a bit about
> this. This is not made as an anger-provoking statement, and I hope it is not
> seen as such. Though you may not agree with everything your Federation
> family stands for, you should always stand by your family in the eyes of the
> public and other organizations of the blind. We are, after all, a family,
> and one's responsibility is to stand by one's family in all decisions, is it
> not?
> I hope this message has not offended anyone and I apologize if it has.
> Please feel free to reply with your comments.
> I hope all are recovering from whatever was so generously shared at
> convention! I myself did not get it, but I hope everyone who did is faring
> well.
> Best Wishes,
>
> Aleeha dudley
>
> On Nov 10, 2012, at 2:39 PM, Colleen Roth <n8tnv at att.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi Milena,
>> I wasn't hapy about the proposed changes years ago when we first heard
>> about them.
>> I am not happy we are going to change to UEB but I still think we should
>> promote Braille.
>> If my notetaker continues to support translation from Grade 2 Braille to
>> text I will continue ! use that.
>> I will probably learn UEB because I still want to teach Braille to
>> others.
>> I love all of my contractions too.
>> I find certain things rather cubersome and we do not need to have things
>> take up more room.
>> However, we were outvoted and must live with this.
>> I gues for me I will write in Braille with all of my friend contactions
>> when it is for my personal use or when I write to someone who can read
>> Grade 2 Braille.
>> We still need to promote Literacy and for many of us that means Braille.
>> Yes sometime in the future we can let children in on our nine
>> contractions.
>> I personally do not plan to retire any of my current books.
>> I just hope that when I can no longer use them someone will still want
>> them.
>> Let's promote Braille Literacy no matter what our feelings are about UEB.
>> I guess I better look for a hardcopy of some Study Materials.
>> I actually want to read the changes in a hardcopy book.
>> I really do not want to go to a Website because I am not sure I can access
>> Bana's Website with my Braille Sense.
>> Enjoy writing braille as long as you draw breath.
>> We have always experienced changes to the codes and have survived them.
>>
>> Colleen Roth
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From:  <mzavoli at roadrunner.com>
>> To:  Ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
>> Date: Friday, Nov 9, 2012 08:41:40 PM
>> Subject: [Ohio-talk] Are Blind People lemmings?
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>
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