[stylist] Braille

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Jackie,

I too have neuropathy and therefore it takes a very long time to read
Braille. This has been very difficult when reading to Declan and Penny.
I will make stories up when it's too tedious to read Braille books to
them, but with Penny, it's getting to that point when this doesn't work
so well anymore, sigh. I'm a huge supporter of Braille education though,
and despite the exceptions like you and me, I encourage all blind
people-- totals and partials-- to learn the system. Despite my
"handicap" with Braille, I still use it for things like labeling and
it's a life-saver, grin.

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter, editor, Slate & Style
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
 
"If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can
satisfy, we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for
another world."
C. S. Lewis

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2013 11:19:28 -0700
From: "Jacqueline Williams" <jackieleepoet at cox.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] CNF/blindness prompt (Aine)
Message-ID: <9E69BD33AC94494A996130AF140AA2D4 at JackiLeePoet>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Ain,
So nice to get your reply. I will make this brief from necessity. I
don't recommend bungee jumping since finding  that the retina can detach
it there is too much of a snap at the bottom of the jump. In fact, the
gentleman who did it said that he would never repeat it. My visual
condition is a mix of dry and wet macular degeneration, and surgery and
poor results from cataract surgery. I have a little peripheral vision in
my left eye. In the right, little flecks of vision that when I scan, I
can pick up information. I could use a CCTV after that surgery, until
they replaced a cataract in an effort to maximize my vision. Thereafter,
the left and right had totally different planes making me unable to
decipher letters. They gave me a pair of glasses which failed to do
anything. I took Braille for about three years, but because of
peripheral neuropathy, it was jumbo Braille, and then still taking 12
minutes for a page that had to written by my instructor, and increasing
numbness, I gave it up. I am still a great supporter of Braille
education. 
I am so glad you have at least a little light perception. I count my
blessings every day that I do have that.  Have you ever seen colors? 
My son who is fifty-three now still swims at least every other day, and
has taught swimming to many children including his son. He recently had
a melanoma removed, and has to be vigilant now. I know Australia has a
sun like Arizona! I do use JAWS and will soon learn to use an upgraded
system for everything. So I am winding down on e-mails for a time, but
probably will not be able to resist reading  selected ones. I hope the
learning curve does not take too long. My greatest good wishes for both
your music aspirations, and a full life. Jackie