[stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

Fri Feb 8 19:41:07 UTC 2013

I have met blind people who lost their ability to spell when they lost their
sight because they couldn't see the words anymore.  Personally, I think it
practicing and skill will counter in spelling inability. Lacking sight makes
it more difficult, but not impossible.  I rarely accept that blindness is a
good reason for bad performance.  
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 3:29 AM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: [stylist] To ponder- taken to another level

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.

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