[stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Lynda,

I agree with you on this topic. Despite my blindness, I'm a very visual
person. I lost my sight nine years ago, but I continue to be an
extremely visual person.

I have learned Braille though, and studies have shown that when learning
Braille, even when not able to see at all, the brain is using its visual
aspect.

Each Braille character represents a letter in the alphabet and the exact
punctuation as print. Essentially it's a tactile form of print. People
assume it's paramount to a foreign language, but Braille is the exact
same language using the same rules for grammar, punctuation and
spelling, just in a tactile form. Various languages have their version
of Braille since many languages have nuances.

I too have wondered how people who have never been able to see visualize
things. I once asked a friend if he "saw" his dreams, and he said he
dreams with his other senses, which is very interesting.

I also met a fellow Federationist who is totally blind and always been,
and she was an art major at one of the big universities in Texas. Of
course there are blind medical doctors and engineers along with others
working in what would seem like very visual fields, and this doesn't
cover all the interests and hobbies like crafts, cars and athletics.

I think more and more blind people are facing challenges, and instead of
thinking about limitations, they are figuring out how to hurdle that
obstacle.

I do agree that I've met several blind people who misspell words
frequently, but I don't know if this is due to an inability to spell, if
they were not taught correctly or if they just don't edit before sending
material. I think a lot of people have this problem, blind and sighted.
JAWS is great for this because you actually hear the word, that is if
you take time to read through what you wrote, grin. But yes, I think
people who only know Braille can find difficulties when switching to
print on a keyboard. Many choose to use a Braille display and/or Braille
keyboard. I' not saying all Braille users are like this, but I have met
many who are.

Ultimately, these things are most likely unique to individuals and not
necessarily a result of a disability. If you can't spell when blind,
chances are good you couldn't spell if sighted, smile.

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: Fri, 8 Feb 2013 13:02:00 -0500
From: "Lynda Lambert" <llambert at zoominternet.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Quote to ponder - taken to another level
Message-ID: <D52994C7F7964817A957168910B552B3 at Lambert>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

This is a really good question, Robert.
I have noticed that so many blind people spell things so wonky, and
maybe 
this is why. I always wonder is spelling is  really taught and learned 
visually. I really have no experience with any of the discussion on
Braille 
because I do not use it - I do everything with electronics and some
things 
with a CCTV.   I have only had sight loss for 5 years, so I really have
no 
idea how blind children learn things like spelling, grammar, formatting,
and 
punctuation. To me, they are all visual, and it is very hard for me to 
understand it any other way - well, I really don't understand it any
other 
way. When I am reading (listening to a voice on a machine) I am still 
listening visually. I see it in my mind, and if I cannot see it that
way, 
it's confusing to me.  Auditory skills  would rate very low  for me. 
Everyone has strength in certain skills and ways of learning - and I am
a 
Visual learner above all else. That did not change - I still have to be
able 
to SEE it to remember it - I have to stop and SEE a picture in my mind 
before it sticks with me.
Writing and reading, for me, has always been a visual experience.  This 
makes me wonder, can a person who has always been blind be a Visual
learner? 
And, then, I wonder, how does a blind person visualize things?  These
are 
some things I am thinking about and working with a blind painter friend
to 
put together an exhibition on how people  see and visualize.