[blindkid] Braille reading speed

Wed Mar 11 14:44:10 UTC 2009

I do a lot of "timings" with my students.  In the past, I have had
students who read Braille around 150 wpm in mid school and close to 200
wpm in high school. It can be done! And has been done! And will continue
to be done IF we keep pushing and encouraging and working with our
students, families, schools and TVIs. These people that don't believe
it's possible need to meet some competent, awesome Braille readers! (I
know, I'm preaching to the choir!) 20+ years ago I was part of a group
presenting on our programs in Albuquerque at a 'conference'. I shared
about our successful Braille readers and how fast/competitive they were,
and that I knew many blind adults who read over 200 wpm (NFB people!).
The "expert" who spoke after me totally disregarded her prepared speech
- on the brain or something - and spent 30 minutes blasting me,
basically calling me a liar, and said that it's impossible for someone
to read Braille at 200 wpm. Then she had the audacity to send me some
written 'stuff' in the mail proving her point! 

We can't give up - we have to keep working hard.
Best wishes,
Gail

-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Carol Castellano
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 5:32 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Braille reading speed

I think there is some good footage of Dr. Jernigan reading braille 
rather fluently (!) in the video That the Blind May Read.  Perhaps 
that would be helpful as an example
Carol

At 06:48 PM 3/9/2009, you wrote:
>Even something that shows how fast braille can be read would be 
>helpful. Our school district insists that it is not possible to read 
>braille as fast as print.  I can give them anecdotal information 
>about the fast braille readers I know but they choose not to believe 
>it could be true.  While I don't expect my son to read as fast as 
>the fastest readers, I think that the teachers and administrators 
>should know that it is possible.  Everything that they find 
>published shows slower speeds for braille readers than print 
>readers.  The expectations for blind kids are based on this data.
>
>Sally Thomas
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Craige Snader"
<craige at homeopac.com>
>To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind 
>children)'" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 11:32 AM
>Subject: Re: [blindkid] Braille reading speed
>
>
>>The problem I see with not having reasonable expectation values is
that our
>>VI can get by with no accountability for speed of reading and
comprehension.
>>They can tell you your kid is doing great and reading 10 words per
minute!
>>
>>So I think we would benefit of some sort of yardstick.
>>
>>Craige
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On
>>Behalf Of Mike Freeman
>>Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 3:06 PM
>>To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
>>Subject: Re: [blindkid] Braille reading speed
>>
>>Ultimately, I see no way for any study on braille reading speed to be
>>truly statistically valid -- too many problems with controls and not
>>enough people for a representative sample.
>>
>>However, anecdotally, I suspect that anyone from our three NFB
training
>>centers could show you plenty of people who can read as fast as they
can
>>speak and quite a number who can read a good deal faster!
>>
>>Mike
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Debby B" <bwbddl at yahoo.com>
>>To: "Multiple recipients of NFBnet BlindKid Mailing List"
>><blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 11:32 AM
>>Subject: [blindkid] Braille reading speed
>>
>>
>>Do we have a source or study on Braille reading speeds? That question
>>has been posed on another group I'm on and I would like to pass on
that
>>info. And have it for Winona's school use as well.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>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
>>
>>
>>
>>
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