[blindkid] Teaching toddlers Braille: (blindkid Digest, Vol 58, Issue 27)

Fri Feb 27 11:59:00 UTC 2009

Many thanks to everyone for their suggestions, and also the cool websites.
Really appreciate it and also just getting the daily e-mails.  Everything
discussed helps give me a frame of reference for our situation.

Regards

Margie Smith

-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of blindkid-request at nfbnet.org
Sent: 26 February 2009 08:00 PM
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Subject: blindkid Digest, Vol 58, Issue 27

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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
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Today's Topics:

   1. parents need to learn braille too (Joy Orton)
   2. Announcing the New KnfbReader Mobile Sales Program
      (Michael Hingson)
   3. Re: parents need to learn braille too (Debby B)
   4. Brand New Braille note PK With Blue Logger GPS for Sale
      (Don and June)
   5. Re: parents need to learn braille too (Carrie Gilmer)
   6. Re: Teaching toddlers Braille (DrV)
   7. Re: parents need to learn braille too (DrV)
   8. Re: parents need to learn braille too (Bonnie Lucas)
   9. Re: parents need to learn braille too (Andy & Sally Thomas)
  10. Re: can I get the other side? (Leah)
  11. Re: can I get the other side? (Carrie Gilmer)
  12. Re: can I get the other side? (Steve Jacobson)
  13. Re: parents need to learn braille too (Barbara Hammel)
  14. Re: can I get the other side? (Dr. Joseph Taboada)
  15. Re: parents need to learn braille too (EJ Buhrke)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:04:14 -0600
From: Joy Orton <ortonsmom at gmail.com>
Subject: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Message-ID:
	<265f5e390902251804k9683a3au7b127eee640e92ee at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Just a personal experience on why parents need to learn braille...

Today I was looking over my daughter's school papers and found one with
grade of 75. I was surprised, because most of her work is at the 95 to 100
level. ( yes, we are proud of her.)
The teacher had counted off for spelling.
The first circled word was Minnesota. Ahbee wrote it correctly in braille,
but the transcriptionist incorrectly left out one N when interlining
it--writing it for the teacher to read.
Another place, Ahbee had correctly capitalized the word Lake, but the
interlining did not show the capital.

Anyway, I was able to catch these because I can read braille for myself.
Ahbee deserved a 95--she did misspell "uper" instead of upper.
The teacher will give her credit for it--I'm so glad I could read it.

 Joy Orton
mom of Ahbee, Grade 2

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:24:19 -0600
From: "Michael Hingson" <info at michaelhingson.com> (by way of David
	Andrews	<dandrews at visi.com>)
Subject: [blindkid] Announcing the New KnfbReader Mobile Sales Program
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Message-ID: <auto-000090457911 at mailfront2.g2host.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; Format="flowed"

Announcing the New KnfbReader Mobile Sales Program

National Federation of the Blind Sales Initiative

Fellow Federationists and Friends:

On last month's presidential release Dr. Maurer 
announced the launch of a new program through 
which the NFB would be selling the KnfbReader 
Mobile.  I am excited to announce that the 
National Federation of the Blind KnfbReader 
Mobile sales program is now under way.  Beginning 
at the Washington Seminar the KnfbReader Mobile 
became available under this program.  All 
attendees of Washington Seminar had an 
opportunity to see the reader and to purchase 
it.  We got off to a good start at the seminar 
with several sales and a lot of demo time.

As you may have heard, the price for the Reader 
has dropped significantly over the past few 
months.  The price for the Reader software is now $995.

By the time you receive this announcement all 
readers will be shipping with a new and improved 
version of the KnfbReader Mobile software.  This 
latest edition of the program offers many fabulous improvements including:
?        significantly better character recognition,
?        a new and improved user interface,
?        language translation with the purchase 
of an extra language package, and
?        Support for the new Nokia 6220 Classic cell phone.

Add the cost of the cell phone for $350, thus 
making the cost for the complete KnfbReader 
Mobile $1,345 and you have the most affordable 
and portable reading system available on the market.

Under our sales program we will also be offering 
both Talks and MobileSpeak screen readers for the 
KnfbReader Mobile.  With either Talks or 
MobileSpeak, all of the standard functions of the 
cell phones used in the KnfbReader Mobile system 
become fully accessible to blind people.  We are 
excited to be able to offer not only the Reader 
but several ways to make the rest of the cell 
phone?s functions talk.  The price for either 
Talks or MobileSpeak is $295.  This means that 
for $1,640 you can have the latest and most 
advanced reading system available on the market 
today, as well as a fully accessible cell phone.

After you have purchased your new reader, the 
support team and I will be ready to give you all 
the technical assistance and encouragement you 
need.  We're always ready to answer any questions.

You can purchase your KnfbReader Mobile with 
MasterCard or VISA or by check.  Please contact 
me with any questions you may have at (888) 965-9191.

There?s even more great news to share:  The 
purchase of your KnfbReader Mobile can be 
financed under the NFB Technology Loan 
Program.  If you wish to finance your purchase 
under this program, the interest rate for your 
loan will be 3 percent (the best rate in 
town!).  To learn more about the loan program and 
to download an application, or to learn anything 
else about the NFB sales effort and the 
KnfbReader Mobile visit the special KnfbReader 
Mobile Web page at 
<http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com>http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com.

Finally, I'm pleased to tell you that I will be 
looking for some people to help sell the 
KnfbReader Mobile.  If you're looking for extra 
income or something that can turn into a 
full-time job and if you believe that you can 
sell this product, please call me.  I can be 
reached at (888) 965-9191 any time from 8:00 AM 
to 5:30 PM Pacific Time.  If you need to leave a 
voicemail, rest assured that I will call you back 
as soon as possible.  You also may reach me at 
<mailto:info at michaelhingson.com>mailto:info at michaelhingson.com.

I look forward to hearing from you and to helping 
you with your purchase of a KnfbReader Mobile as 
well as to supporting you as you learn to use 
your new device.  I believe that this is a very 
exciting program that promises to be fruitful for 
the NFB.  We all helped make the KnfbReader 
Mobile a reality.  Because of the unwavering 
commitment of the National Federation of the 
Blind and Ray Kurzweil, the dream of a 
pocket-sized reading machine has now come to 
life.  We have the opportunity to make this 
revolutionary technology available to blind 
people everywhere.  I look forward to your help 
in making the KnfbReader Mobile the most 
widely-used product among blind people in the United States.

Best wishes for your success,

Mike Hingson

The Michael Hingson Group
      ?Speaking with Vision?
                  Michael Hingson, President
                          (415) 827-4084
                    <mailto:info at michaelhingson.com>info at michaelhingson.com
                    www.michaelhingson.com

for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
<http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com/>http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
<http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com/>
http://michaelhingson.com/images/knfbReader-michael_hingson.jpg

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------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:35:06 -0800 (PST)
From: Debby B <bwbddl at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,	\(for parents of blind children\)"
	<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <549060.75025.qm at web90501.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

We have run into this often, especially in math! My knowing Braille, and
having Winona go over a paper with me when she does poorly usually results
in the proper grade. Often the aides don't know Braille very well, or they
are rushing. Often we discover the problem happened in the Brailling.
Sometimes when they adapt things they neglect to adapt the answer key.
Winona recently received an F on a test. In looking it over we discovered
the questions didn't even match the choices Winona had. We're meeting to
discuss that and show the classroom teacher next week.

 Debby 
bwbddl at yahoo.com
www.nfbflorida.org/parents

Please support Braille literacy and programs for our youth by sponsoring me
in
the Motor City March for Independence! Better yet, join the team of the FL
Parents of Blind Children!
http://www.marchforindependence.org/goto/debbyb

________________________________
From: Joy Orton <ortonsmom at gmail.com>
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 9:04:14 PM
Subject: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too

Just a personal experience on why parents need to learn braille...

Today I was looking over my daughter's school papers and found one with
grade of 75. I was surprised, because most of her work is at the 95 to 100
level. ( yes, we are proud of her.)
The teacher had counted off for spelling.
The first circled word was Minnesota. Ahbee wrote it correctly in braille,
but the transcriptionist incorrectly left out one N when interlining
it--writing it for the teacher to read.
Another place, Ahbee had correctly capitalized the word Lake, but the
interlining did not show the capital.

Anyway, I was able to catch these because I can read braille for myself.
Ahbee deserved a 95--she did misspell "uper" instead of upper.
The teacher will give her credit for it--I'm so glad I could read it.

Joy Orton
mom of Ahbee, Grade 2
_______________________________________________
blindkid mailing list
blindkid at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindkid:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/bwbddl%40yahoo.com

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:36:52 -0600
From: "Don and June" <dnj.galloway at starpower.net> (by way of David
	Andrews	<dandrews at visi.com>)
Subject: [blindkid] Brand New Braille note PK With Blue Logger GPS for
	Sale
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
Message-ID: <auto-000087361214 at mailfront1.g2host.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

For Sale: A Brand New Braille note PK with Blue Logger GPS

This unit has never been used. Asking $2,500 for both

Don Galloway
Please contact @ <mailto:Dgalloway at starpower.net>Dgalloway at starpower.net
Phone: (202) 882-3816
Mobile: (202) 441-6140

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:14:36 -0600
From: "Carrie Gilmer" <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too
To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,	\(for parents of blind
	children\)'" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <49a6091e.1d3e400a.1e60.ffff9bd2 at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

 Us too Debbie, I am sure it has been over a dozen times in Jordan's school
career that when he failed a test (in fact it was pretty much 100% this was
discovered the answer to a very low grade) it was because either the Braille
was different than the print or the answer key did not match up. Make sure
Braille copies of tests are kept after for this very reason!

Thanks for sharing that Debbie! 

Carrie Gilmer, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
Home Phone: 763-784-8590
carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
www.nfb.org/nopbc
-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Debby B
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 8:35 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too

We have run into this often, especially in math! My knowing Braille, and
having Winona go over a paper with me when she does poorly usually results
in the proper grade. Often the aides don't know Braille very well, or they
are rushing. Often we discover the problem happened in the Brailling.
Sometimes when they adapt things they neglect to adapt the answer key.
Winona recently received an F on a test. In looking it over we discovered
the questions didn't even match the choices Winona had. We're meeting to
discuss that and show the classroom teacher next week.

 Debby 
bwbddl at yahoo.com
www.nfbflorida.org/parents

Please support Braille literacy and programs for our youth by sponsoring me
in
the Motor City March for Independence! Better yet, join the team of the FL
Parents of Blind Children!
http://www.marchforindependence.org/goto/debbyb

________________________________
From: Joy Orton <ortonsmom at gmail.com>
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 9:04:14 PM
Subject: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too

Just a personal experience on why parents need to learn braille...

Today I was looking over my daughter's school papers and found one with
grade of 75. I was surprised, because most of her work is at the 95 to 100
level. ( yes, we are proud of her.)
The teacher had counted off for spelling.
The first circled word was Minnesota. Ahbee wrote it correctly in braille,
but the transcriptionist incorrectly left out one N when interlining
it--writing it for the teacher to read.
Another place, Ahbee had correctly capitalized the word Lake, but the
interlining did not show the capital.

Anyway, I was able to catch these because I can read braille for myself.
Ahbee deserved a 95--she did misspell "uper" instead of upper.
The teacher will give her credit for it--I'm so glad I could read it.

Joy Orton
mom of Ahbee, Grade 2
_______________________________________________
blindkid mailing list
blindkid at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindkid:
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_______________________________________________
blindkid mailing list
blindkid at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindkid:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/carrie.gilmer%40gm
ail.com

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:50:43 -0800
From: "DrV" <icdx at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Teaching toddlers Braille
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,	\(for parents of blind children\)"
	<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <AE8723A0E8E441FF9E6BE2272158AA52 at CSMC.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Hi Margie & Deryck,
This is a great question. There really is no right way to do this.
As Sue describes, you want to immerse your child in braille.
I have an almost 8 y/o & a 12 year old. They read & write in English & 
Lithuanian braille.
Kids who are exposed early to braille literally can eventually learn to read

as fast or even faster than their sighted peers. This is a fact.
There are a number of organizations that produce inexpensive print/braille 
books for toddlers, including www.seedlings.org, www.nbp.org, & the Braille 
Institute in Los Angeles.
It is easy to add braille labels to toys & other items to make them more 
interesting & accessible.
I have written about early braille exposure. I wont claim that this is the 
right way to do it, but it is one approach & these are things that have 
worked for us.
If you want to read more on this for ideas, here are the direct links. I 
have included links to specific resources in the articles.
1. "Braille Literacy -- It's A Family Value" 
(www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=61&SnID=44365653).
2. "Equal Expectations: A Belief Paradigm or Politically-Correct, Feel-Good 
Phrase" (www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/fr/fr27/1/fr270107.htm)
3. "Enriching Your Blind Child's Life via Foreign Language Braille: 
Practical Suggestions for Families and Educators Seeking Out Foreign 
Language Braille and Other Foreign Language Resources with a Special Focus 
on Spanish" 
(http://knol.google.com/k/eric-vasiliauskas-md-drv/enriching-your-blind-chil
ds-life-via/2fo8us37li3cv/1)
Best wishes & Good luck!
Eric V

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Margie & Deryck Smith" <deryck at mweb.co.za>
To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 23:58
Subject: [blindkid] Teaching toddlers Braille

> Good morning from South Africa
>
> Can anyone give advice on how to begin teaching a toddler Braille, or
> Braille+letters.  Is there a published procedure on how to go about this?
>
> Regards
>
> Margie Smith
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/icdx%40earthlink.n
et 

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:55:17 -0800
From: "DrV" <icdx at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,	\(for parents of blind children\)"
	<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <BD135A0F83024264A7587E005018CE37 at CSMC.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

How true!
This has come up several times this year with each of our boys.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Debby B" <bwbddl at yahoo.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 18:35
Subject: Re: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too

> We have run into this often, especially in math! My knowing Braille, and 
> having Winona go over a paper with me when she does poorly usually results

> in the proper grade. Often the aides don't know Braille very well, or they

> are rushing. Often we discover the problem happened in the Brailling. 
> Sometimes when they adapt things they neglect to adapt the answer key. 
> Winona recently received an F on a test. In looking it over we discovered 
> the questions didn't even match the choices Winona had. We're meeting to 
> discuss that and show the classroom teacher next week.
>
> Debby
> bwbddl at yahoo.com
> www.nfbflorida.org/parents
>
> Please support Braille literacy and programs for our youth by sponsoring 
> me in
> the Motor City March for Independence! Better yet, join the team of the FL

> Parents of Blind Children!
> http://www.marchforindependence.org/goto/debbyb
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Joy Orton <ortonsmom at gmail.com>
> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
> Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 9:04:14 PM
> Subject: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too
>
> Just a personal experience on why parents need to learn braille...
>
> Today I was looking over my daughter's school papers and found one with
> grade of 75. I was surprised, because most of her work is at the 95 to 100
> level. ( yes, we are proud of her.)
> The teacher had counted off for spelling.
> The first circled word was Minnesota. Ahbee wrote it correctly in braille,
> but the transcriptionist incorrectly left out one N when interlining
> it--writing it for the teacher to read.
> Another place, Ahbee had correctly capitalized the word Lake, but the
> interlining did not show the capital.
>
> Anyway, I was able to catch these because I can read braille for myself.
> Ahbee deserved a 95--she did misspell "uper" instead of upper.
> The teacher will give her credit for it--I'm so glad I could read it.
>
> Joy Orton
> mom of Ahbee, Grade 2
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/bwbddl%40yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/icdx%40earthlink.n
et 

------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:34:01 -0500
From: "Bonnie Lucas" <lucas.bonnie at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,	\(for parents of blind children\)"
	<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <39299A4C90DE40C28470F52D418B87FE at Lucas1>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Wow, Debby, Aubrie has been getting different grades than she thinks she 
should in math. I think we are going to innerline her work ourselves to see 
if there is a difference.
Bonnie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Debby B" <bwbddl at yahoo.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 9:35 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too

> We have run into this often, especially in math! My knowing Braille, and 
> having Winona go over a paper with me when she does poorly usually results

> in the proper grade. Often the aides don't know Braille very well, or they

> are rushing. Often we discover the problem happened in the Brailling. 
> Sometimes when they adapt things they neglect to adapt the answer key. 
> Winona recently received an F on a test. In looking it over we discovered 
> the questions didn't even match the choices Winona had. We're meeting to 
> discuss that and show the classroom teacher next week.
>
> Debby
> bwbddl at yahoo.com
> www.nfbflorida.org/parents
>
> Please support Braille literacy and programs for our youth by sponsoring 
> me in
> the Motor City March for Independence! Better yet, join the team of the FL

> Parents of Blind Children!
> http://www.marchforindependence.org/goto/debbyb
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Joy Orton <ortonsmom at gmail.com>
> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
> Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 9:04:14 PM
> Subject: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too
>
> Just a personal experience on why parents need to learn braille...
>
> Today I was looking over my daughter's school papers and found one with
> grade of 75. I was surprised, because most of her work is at the 95 to 100
> level. ( yes, we are proud of her.)
> The teacher had counted off for spelling.
> The first circled word was Minnesota. Ahbee wrote it correctly in braille,
> but the transcriptionist incorrectly left out one N when interlining
> it--writing it for the teacher to read.
> Another place, Ahbee had correctly capitalized the word Lake, but the
> interlining did not show the capital.
>
> Anyway, I was able to catch these because I can read braille for myself.
> Ahbee deserved a 95--she did misspell "uper" instead of upper.
> The teacher will give her credit for it--I'm so glad I could read it.
>
> Joy Orton
> mom of Ahbee, Grade 2
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/bwbddl%40yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/lucas.bonnie%40gma
il.com 

------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:40:32 -0600
From: "Andy & Sally Thomas" <andysally at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,	\(for parents of blind children\)"
	<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <9322F57E7FBA4B2384320104D7ACF6AE at andysallyhome>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Yes, parents can make a big difference for their kids when they know 
braille.

We continually found errors in our son's braille which the TVI and school 
district would not acknowledge.  After 3 years of "discussion" with them 
denying a problem existed, I created a PowerPoint presentation of the errors

in the homework alone.  After 88 pages of documentation and still no change,

we filed a complaint with the Texas Education Agency.  The braille my son 
receives now is of much higher quality.

Sally Thomas
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joy Orton" <ortonsmom at gmail.com>
To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 8:04 PM
Subject: [blindkid] parents need to learn braille too

> Just a personal experience on why parents need to learn braille...
>
> Today I was looking over my daughter's school papers and found one with
> grade of 75. I was surprised, because most of her work is at the 95 to 100
> level. ( yes, we are proud of her.)
> The teacher had counted off for spelling.
> The first circled word was Minnesota. Ahbee wrote it correctly in braille,
> but the transcriptionist incorrectly left out one N when interlining
> it--writing it for the teacher to read.
> Another place, Ahbee had correctly capitalized the word Lake, but the
> interlining did not show the capital.
>
> Anyway, I was able to catch these because I can read braille for myself.
> Ahbee deserved a 95--she did misspell "uper" instead of upper.
> The teacher will give her credit for it--I'm so glad I could read it.
>
> Joy Orton
> mom of Ahbee, Grade 2
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/andysally%40comcas
t.net

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Message: 10
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:00:32 -0600
From: Leah <leah at somazen.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] can I get the other side?
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Cc: leah at somazen.com
Message-ID: <C3075093-DCF2-4C6A-B76A-13A1C5F297C4 at somazen.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

Carrie and Bonnie, thank you for replying. That press release is kind  
of what I was looking for.

I know I have mentioned this before, but I hear the NFB criticized so  
by people in my area. I am always trying to understand what it is like  
out there, where the resources are, what is the position of the  
different institutions and resources, etc.  There is no local chapter  
of NOPBC in our city.

People tell me that folks from the NFB never let their cane out of  
their hand and force their kids to be like that. People complain that  
the local rehab center will only teach things one way - the "NFB way"  
and that they aren't exposing clients to alternatives. I don't know  
about the rehab program, but I know that I didn't see any cane  
extremists at the state convention we attended. I saw plenty of blind  
people walking across the room without their canes if they chose to,  
and holding print up by their face to see if if they chose to. I also  
saw them organizing an enormous, inspiring and useful event using  
whatever means worked, because doing it was important. I have read  
Carrie's story about trying to get an older child to try, just try the  
cane. I have a lot of objections to force, and I didn't see that story  
as "forcing."

On the other hand, we have a TVI who has to look on a chart while she  
is teaching my son his Braille letters. She personally doesn't believe  
that he needs Braille because he has a lot of vision, but she wants to  
support our wishes. She comes out every week and works those Braille  
letters with him and maintains an open dialogue as much as possible.  
When she taught blind kids for the past several years she never had to  
use Braille, and still doesn't have any Braille kids in a new teaching  
setting.

I just wonder, if my son lives long, or stays in good enough health to  
go to school, and if he becomes a skilled enough reader to need the  
convenience of Braille, who is going to be there making materials for  
him, who is going to be double-checking the Braille quality or helping  
him with a formatting issue in a text book? The NFB philosophy seems  
pretty straightforward to me, but when I sit in my local environment,  
I feel as though I have joined some fringe ultra-conservative religion  
just because I think Braille sounds practical. (The good news is, I  
can identify about half of my Braille alphabet by feel now!)

Can the challenges of life really polarize people so much? I guess so.  
I tend to be naive, and want diplomacy and for sides to work together  
for communication and sharing of what does work. I see the anger at  
the challenge of blindness, wrongly directed at "the other side."  
Isn't the anger really about the frustration of the inconvenience of  
blindness, the difficulty interacting with a world that doesn't  
understand, and the extra medical problems?

I think I have a lot to learn. I just hope that I will develop a tiny  
bit of patience and ability to clearly communicate with others along  
the way as I raise my son.

I'm not trying to complain, just put out my thoughts that resulted  
from reading about the case. I think, as a parent of a still-young  
child, that I still have so much hope when talking to professionals of  
all sorts, and that I haven't quite shifted the authority to myself as  
parent yet. Sometimes I wish someone else would fix it all, and  
sometimes I try to fix it all. I'll bet that maybe the extra energy  
for communication and teambuilding might come from letting go of  
trying to fix...but that is not really the topic of this list. I'm so  
impressed by the maturity and communication ability of people on this  
list.

Anyway, thanks again for the comments.

Leah
mom to John, 4, who has visual impairment and severe eye movement  
limitations, with multiple other issues, and who is super-smart and  
learned to talk this winter!

------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:56:40 -0600
From: "Carrie Gilmer" <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] can I get the other side?
To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,	\(for parents of blind
	children\)'" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <49a6bbbb.1d078e0a.4271.1cc0 at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"

Very eloquent Leah. Pretty much all of us who have been in this a few years
have had the same struggle, and sometimes it continues. Especially with the
rumors, myths and innuendo that abound about the NFB, NOPBC, and its
philosophies.

It helped me to learn the history of blind people and organizations in the
world. It helped me to learn about and come to understand: the nature of
prejudice, the tenacity of tradition (whether it is based on fact or
fiction-has no bearing on the tenacity or practice of it), and the
resistance in humans to change, the resistance in humans who are stigmatized
(the trying to fit in and the denial), what happens to the psyche of people
who are oppressed or marginalized, and the idea of people who have a
difference (especially physical) being "damaged goods" who need fixing.

It helped me to realize that once people believed the world was flat. This
belief was in science and religion, and it was fundamental to people's
understanding of the world and the place of humans and the place of God.
People who dared to wonder about roundness, or question the accuracy of the
flatness, and who went so far as to find out for themselves, and then
discovered the INACCURACIES and then dared to talk about it that way-RISKED
THEIR LIVES. People were tried, judged and sentenced to death for saying the
earth was ROUND. Today we know it is! People who at that time thought the
world was flat are seen by us today as na?ve, and just plain wrong. We see
those who dared to question as BRILLIANT, not heretics. 

I believe someday people who are doubters about Braille and uncomfortable
with blindness as people who just don't believe yet that the earth is round.

Carrie Gilmer, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
Home Phone: 763-784-8590
carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
www.nfb.org/nopbc

-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Leah
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:01 AM
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Cc: leah at somazen.com
Subject: Re: [blindkid] can I get the other side?