[Pibe-division] Help with braille

Tue Nov 17 18:55:27 UTC 2015

Hello:

     There used to be places in the U.S. where gently used braille materials
could be sent for distribution abroad. The last I knew, the sites had
closed. 

Regards,

Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Smith, Pauline L via PIBE-Division
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 10:32 AM
To: 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'
Cc: Smith, Pauline L
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Help with braille

This is so true, the diminishing of hardcopy magazines and other materials.
As I mentioned in an message submitted to a local agency, the majority of
Braille users will not have access to refreshable Braille devices outside of
schools and/or rehabilitation programs.  This is due to cost, particularly
in developing parts of the world.  This is even the case in the inner cities
and other lower-income populations in the U.S.  We still need to have ready
access to hardcopy Braille materials.

Pauline Smith, TVI
Braille Instructor

-----Original Message-----
From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
adrijana prokopenko via PIBE-Division
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 12:26 PM
To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
Cc: adrijana prokopenko
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Help with braille

Just too bad we get less and less braille magazines, especially us who live
in other countries.

On 11/17/15, Eric Guillory via PIBE-Division <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
> Excellent words of wisdom, Amanda! Braille Rocks!
>
>
>
> Eric Guillory, PIBE President
> Director of Youth Services
> Louisiana Center for the Blind
> 101 South Trenton Street
> Ruston, LA 71270
> Voice: 800-234-4166
> Fax: 318-251-0109
> Twitter: ericguillory
> Skype: brllovingdad
> www.louisianacenter.org
>
> "Together, we are changing what it means to be blind."
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Amanda Gough via PIBE-Division
> Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 8:27 PM
> To: 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'
> <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Amanda Gough <amanda.gough at xtra.co.nz>
> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Help with braille
>
> Hi Pauline
>
> A couple of points you could try to push the validity and importance 
> of
> braille:
>
> - They will never be able to read their child a bedtime story using a 
> speech synthesiser.
> - Blind people who don't use braille are much more likely to end up 
> unemployed than braille users.
> - It is a much faster, and less obtrusive way to identify items by 
> braille labelling them than by using something like KNFB reader (Not 
> knocking KNFB Reader, it has a place and it's brilliant).
> - You'll never learn to spell well using a speech synthesiser.
> - You can't add your own 'voices' to characters whose words are read 
> to you in synthesised speech.
> - Braille and technology are not mutually exclusive... and you're 
> going to be far better off with BOTH.
> - And most importantly, sighted people are still learning to read 
> print, and until the day that is no longer deemed necessary, braille 
> is also necessary.
>
> I would also seriously look at ensuring they received plenty of 
> mentoring and role modelling from proficient braille users who use 
> braille as part of their everyday lives - people who are also 
> technologically literate, and could/do use synthesised speech for 
> certain tasks, but opt for braille in other circumstances because it is
the best tool for the job.
>
> There are plenty of stories on the NFB website and in other places 
> where blind people tell the readers why braille is so important to 
> them, and how it enhances their lives.  Perhaps you could get your 
> students to read these?
>
> I am also interested that you say a lot of your students have reduced 
> finger sensitivity and need jumbo braille.  I'm just wondering why 
> this is?  Do you have a lot of diabetic students? I have never taught 
> jumbo braille (except when teaching a symbol using the swing cell with 
> marbles or similar, then it's mega-jumbo!)
>
> Good luck
>
> Amanda
> (in New Zealand)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Smith, Pauline L via PIBE-Division
> Sent: Tuesday, 17 November 2015 9:02 a.m.
> To: 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'
> Cc: Smith, Pauline L
> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Help with braille
>
> Good Afternoon,
>
> I face the same issues Adrijana raises here when working the 
> adults/young adults I teach.  It is very difficult to get most of them 
> to do practice/homework assignments.  Most of them don't take my class
seriously.
> Also, many don't see a reason to learn or use Braille since there are 
> talking devices that can accomplish tasks with less effort.  Also, not 
> much outside material is produced in jumbo Braille, which many of my 
> students require due to reduced sensitivity in hands and fingers.
>
> Any tips for motiviating and improving of my Braille instruction are 
> appreciated.
>
> Pauline Smith, TVI
> Braille Instructor
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of adrijana prokopenko via PIBE-Division
> Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 2:34 PM
> To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
> Cc: adrijana prokopenko
> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Help with braille
>
> When you think about it, that is how we did it as children, just kept 
> reading, reading and reading, even though not much was available, I 
> remember our alphabet book was about 40 years old when we got it for 
> the first time and our teacher often gave us notebooks of former 
> students she had we could read stuff from. Nowadays students are never 
> going to take what we did, many talk back at their teachers or 
> protest, which makes things even more difficult and it is even harder 
> when they read articles of how braille is staying backwards and then 
> try to beat us up with those arguements, I really wish and hope that 
> when editors and others write such articles, they have in mind that 
> students are also reading them, so that they could get a more positive 
> point reach them.
>
> On 11/16/15, adrijana prokopenko <adrijana.prokopenko at gmail.com> wrote:
>> That is what I think as well, but in my country of Macedonia you 
>> can't really find much braille to read in English and they can't even 
>> master grade 1, let alone grade 2.
>>
>> On 11/16/15, Marianne Denning via PIBE-Division 
>> <pibe-division at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Or just like reading print.  Read, read, read.  Braile must be under 
>>> the fingers regularly.
>>>
>>> On 11/16/15, rjaquiss via PIBE-Division <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>> Hello Adrijana:
>>>>
>>>>      I am not a teacher, but it is my understanding that if you 
>>>> want to get good speed reading braille, you have to read braille. I 
>>>> use a braille display, but I often use embossed braille materials.
>>>> Reading braille takes practice just like learning a musical instrument.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Robert
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: PIBE-Division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>>>> Behalf Of adrijana prokopenko via PIBE-Division
>>>> Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 10:28 AM
>>>> To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
>>>> Cc: adrijana prokopenko
>>>> Subject: [Pibe-division] Help with braille
>>>>
>>>> It seems as reading braille is becoming more and more difficult and 
>>>> slower and slower for many of my students as years go by. I am sure 
>>>> there are more reasons than one that causes this, ranging from lack 
>>>> of braille materials, bad quality braille, students with multiple 
>>>> disabilities, the influence of computers and other technology and 
>>>> so much more. I was just wondering how other teachers come to terms 
>>>> with this problem and what it is that they use to help themselves 
>>>> in the process. Besides my experience, I have tried using different 
>>>> games, aproaches and ways to improve their speed and make them love 
>>>> braille more, but it doesn't give me good results most of the time.
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>>> (513) 607-6053
>>>
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>>>
>>
>
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