[Pibe-division] Students' Braille Reading Preferences?

[Allison Hilliker]

Thanks folks for your responses.

Just some follow-up questions...

What are students finding is the best way to read Braille on an iPad? Do they have a favorite app that they use, or are they simply opening a BRF file using a program like Google Drive or Dropbox. How is Braille access in mainstream book apps like iBooks and Kindle? Do those work well, or are aaccessibility-specific book apps better?

I have  a similar question for computers. When a student connects a Braille display to a computer, whether it is through a note-taker or through a stand-alone display, are they typically using standard formats like MS Word or HTML that is displaying in Braille, or are they preferring to open BRF files?

I realize that the most common answer likely is that it depends on what the class assignment is, but my question is more about preferences. I realize that most blind students do whatever it takes to access their texts.

Amanda mentioned Chromebooks. I know folks can't install JAWS on them, but I thought Chromebooks had a screen reader on them already. Are blind kids using that? I think it's called ChromeVox, but I haven't used it personally. Does the Chromebook's screen reader allow for Braille display access?

Just more food for thought. Please keep the responses coming.

Thanks,
Allison

From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amanda Gough via PIBE-Division
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2015 2:04 AM
To: 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'
Cc: Amanda Gough
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Students' Braille Reading Preferences?

I would say all of the above except Chrome Books.

The problem with ChromeBooks is that you can't store anything on them (including Jaws), so they rely almost entirely on aps.

We have a number of students with multiple devices which they use for different purposes.

The Braille Sense is popular with sighted teachers, because it comes with a monitor that transcribes everything into print.

Each student is different, and once they are old enough to thoroughly explore and trial the technology themselves, they will often be the best judges of what they need.

Amanda

From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Allison Hilliker via PIBE-Division
Sent: Wednesday, 2 December 2015 11:12 a.m.
To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List (pibe-division at nfbnet.org<mailto:pibe-division at nfbnet.org>)
Cc: Allison Hilliker
Subject: [Pibe-division] Students' Braille Reading Preferences?

Hi Everyone,

A colleague asked me a question today that I didn't have a clear answer for. Since you guys talk to way more blind students on a daily basis than I, I thought I'd ask here.

What is the most common way that K-12 students are preferring to read electronic Braille these days? Are most students still using note-takers like a Braille Note or Braille Sense? I suspect this method is still very common, but I would guess that it is less popular than it used to be. Is that true? If kids use note-takers, do they prefer BRF, DAISY, or another file type for reading texts?

If your students are not using a note-taker, are they using iPhones/iPads with Braille displays, are they hooking displays up to computers and using their screen reader with the display, or a combination of those? Are Macs, PCs, Chromebooks, or tablets most common?  And if the answer is that it varies, then which option are your Braille readers liking best? Does the answer change depending on whether they are reading a textbook or a recreational title?

Lastly, are any students preferring embossed hardcopy Braille these days, or is electronic the norm?

Just curious. Thanks in advance.

Best,
Allison


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