[Ohio-talk] UEB--Not A Laughing Matter

[Marianne Denning]

It is not being changed because it is too difficult to learn the
contractions.  It is being changed because the introduction of
computers has created all kinds of issues for our current braille
code.  Technology can make it difficult to know if a dot 6 followed by
n represents a capital n or the ation sign.  We also use the italics
to represent all special print styles.  That is no longer true and
there is no way to represent that in our current braille code.  Debby
Baker and I have completed the UEB course through Hadley and, yes, it
is a major adjustment.  I believe it will be okay once the changes are
made.  It certainly is not the first change in the braille code since
its introduction to the U.S. in the early 20th century.  I may not be
thrilled with the changes but I must and will adjust.  I have a note
taker and have set it to UEB so I can make the adjustment and I don't
find it very difficult to read.  I will probably continue to use
American English Braille when brailling for personal use.



On 5/10/15, Milena Zavoli via Ohio-talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I don't see the validity of this story.  The loss even of one contraction
> saddens me.  I see no reason why we needed to change our present system of
> Braille.  Many point out that our American Braille system does not compete
> with today's technology, but I believe that improvements in Duxbury or other
> translation programs would remedy such discrepancies.  Many say that the
> existing Braille code is too hard to learn and that they feel intimidated by
> all its varied contractions, but I believe that with time and patience, this
> difficulty can turn into triumph.  Is math easy?  Yes, for some, but we
> don't go around changing the system.  Is physics easy?  Yes, for some, yet
> we don't change the methodology which brought us to understand the mysteries
> of our universe.
>
> In closing, might I say that the death of one contraction means the ruin of
> our beautiful Braille code?  Yes, I will.
>
> Milena Zavoli
>
>
>
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053