[Ohio-talk] Some Amazing Misinformation

[Cathy]

Hello Coleen,
I met a newly blinded person when I was at my guide dog school, who told me
that he was told that he would be unable to learn Braille. I forget why. But
that got me so annoyed that I decided to teach him myself during our off
time. He learned very quickly by the way. I learned Braille over fifty years
ago myself and at that time we were taught to use our fingertips. I
literally do use only the very tips of my fingers. One thing that I wanted
to mention to you was that I was discouraged from using my left hand to read
braille and was also discouraged from using any other finger besides the
forefinger. Personally, I feel that this is limiting. People may have an
easier time using one hand as opposed to the other, and may find that they
have more sensitivity in one finger as opposed to another. I told this guy I
taught to read Braille to try reading it with different hands and fingers to
see what worked best for him. Personally, I read left-handed, although I am
a right-handed person. I also read best with my pinky and ring fingers and
can barely feel things with my forefinger. I have never heard of someone
reading with the sides of their fingers and can only surmise what others
have already suggested.
Oh yes, you mentioned that the person was told that Braille is read in one
direction and written in another. This is the case when a slate and stylus
is used to write braille. You write from right to left like, I believe the
Chinese do. Then of course you read from left to right. It is much easier to
learn to Braille on a braille writer. Of course I learned these skills when
I was very young, so it wasn't a problem for me.

 

I think it is wonderful that you will be teaching these folks braille.



Cathy