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

[Mary Donahue]

Thanks, Heather. I will keep that in mind.

Mary Donahue

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Heather Field" <missheather at comcast.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 9:35 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Using Sleep Shades in Chapter 
andStateAffiliate-Sponsored Braille Classes


> 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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