[blindkid] Using Sleep Shades in Chapter and StateAffiliate-Sponsored Braille Classes

[Heather Field]

Hello Mary,
I always use sleep shades when teaching braille to persons with some 
residual vision. As you are running the class then you are the one who can 
choose methods. You may want to make a brief explanation as to why you use 
sleep shades before asking students to put them on. I always explain that 
there brain is currently using vision as a primary information mode. This 
diverts precious brain resources away from other sensory input. when one is 
working with a tactile code of reading and writing it is a brand new 
experience for the brain. So, we want as many brain resources available as 
possible to focus and learn. We put sleep shades on to let the brain retrain 
its focus and divert resources, create new pathways and, in line with latest 
brain research, retrain the brain to be able to focus primarily on tactile 
input.

It's extremely unlikely that you'll get any argument with this research 
based rationale.

Warmest regards,
Heather Field

-----Original Message----- 
From: Mary Donahue
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 7:57 PM
To: napub at nfbnet.org
Cc: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children) ; 
rehab at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blindkid] Using Sleep Shades in Chapter and 
StateAffiliate-Sponsored Braille Classes

sHello everyone,

    Our chapter in San Antonio will be starting a Braille class this coming
Saturday in which I will be the lead instructor, and several members will be
assisting me. Lately, a question came up whether to use sleep shades. I've
studied both _The _McDuffy _Reader and _The _Slate _Book. I agree with both
Jennifer Dunnam and Sharon Monthei that using sleep shades is a must. Our
president, however, seems to think that we should not make the students wear
sleep shades unless students continuously bend down to look at the Braille.
The class planning committee met by telephone conference earlier, and all of
us on the call agreed we should use sleep shades. (Our president was absent,
and definitely in the minority.)So far, those four students who are coming
on Saturday have some or total vision.

    My question is do any of you know of chapters or state affiliates who
have sponsored Braille classes, and have the students worn sleep shades?
Please let me know as soon as possible before this coming Saturday so I can
forward your responses to the other committee members.

    Thank you in advance.

Mary Donahue, a nervous aspiring Braille teacher

"Be well, do good work, and keep in touch."
Garrison Keillor


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