[blindkid] kindergarten assistive technology

Fri May 6 23:35:21 UTC 2011

I see Mountbattens on various sites priced from $2750 to $4000 and also $4500, though I suspect the $2750 may be an outdated price. I think there are at least a couple of models. The thing is, an 18 cell BrailleNote Apex with the 18 character display is only $4500. (I know, "only" is a relative term.) I can't imagine a Mountbatten being terribly useful for most kids after early elementary school, and as you mention Sally, they're not easy for kids to move around. (I also get the impression that they might be a little fragile? Can anyone speak to that concern?) Kendra takes her BrailleNote to and from school every day and probably moves it around the house, to & from the car, etc. a half-dozen times a day on average. A Mountbatten for her would just sit at school or at home; this is not something you stick in your backpack to move around.

They're totally different tools-- the BrailleNote is like a light-duty and very portable laptop computer while the Mountbatten is sort of an electric Perkins Brailler with some memory features. There are electric Perkins units available for around $1000, BTW, but they are just braillers-- no memory or edit features. There are also key extensions for a conventional brailler to make the keys easier to press if that is an issue.

I have no doubt that Kendra will be using something like an Apex throughout school, and possibly into college where the Mountbattens seem good for a couple if years at best. (Just for reference, it looks like the 32 cell Apex is about $6400 now.)

On the other hand, Mountbattens do produce paper output where you'll need an embosser for a BrailleNote if you want more output than speech or refreshable braille. We find that mostly we print out plain old text from BrailleWriters for sighted teachers to grade, but Kendra is generally quite happy with the built in display to review classwork and such. You can also hook an Apex up to a VGA monitor very easily if you need to see what your child is typing or looking at on a BrailleNote. That has come in handy several times for us here.

On May 6, 2011, at 6:53 PM, Sally Thomas wrote:

> I agree that they do not replace a notetaker.  They are too cumbersome for a small child to move from place to place. But they are especially good if pushing down the keys on the Perkins is difficult for a child and erasing is much easier!  It is sort of like an electric typewriter.  It is much easier to set up math problems on a Mountbatten than it is on a Perkins but that doesn't really come into play until the child is doing long division or multiplication in the hundreds.  Last I heard they were around $4000 but that was a while ago.
> 
> Sally Thomas
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway at gopbc.org>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 06, 2011 3:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] kindergarten assistive technology
> 
> 
>> Mountbattens are nice machines. The complaint I hear over and over is that while they are a cheaper than a BrailleNote they are far less powerful and versatile and still quite expensive, yet they're much more quickly outgrown than most any notetaker.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On May 6, 2011, at 3:58 PM, Brandy W wrote:
>> 
>>> I would suggest either a Braille not very easy for young children to learn
>>> the basics, or a mount Batten (not sure of spelling.) Take advantage of
>>> having the funds now!
>>> 
>>> If you want to talk more about the needs of a kinder age kid and why I
>>> recommend one or the other of these I'd be happy to.
>>> 
>>> Bran
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> "Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most
>>> accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers."
>>> ~Charles W. Eliot,
>>> 
>>> Brandy Wojcik  Discovery Toys Educational Consultant and Team leader
>>> (512) 689-5045
>>> www.playtoachieve.com
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>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Roxanne Hug
>>> Sent: Friday, May 06, 2011 1:59 PM
>>> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [blindkid] kindergarten assistive technology
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Hello to everyone.
>>> I have really found the kindergarten transition posts to be so helpful as we
>>> will be transitioning my daughter, Mara from preschool to kindergarten in
>>> the fall.  Thank you so much to all who have contributed to those posts!
>>> Your advice/comments have been so greatly appreciated!
>>> 
>>> My question... what type of assistive technology/equipment would be useful
>>> for a child going into kindergarten?  I know all kids are different, but I'm
>>> just looking for some general ideas.  We have some money to spend for this
>>> purpose that has to be turned in (with justification) by next week and her
>>> teachers and I are having a difficult time deciding what would be most
>>> appropriate.  We have been pouring over all kinds of websites, etc. but are
>>> having trouble pinpointing age appropriate equipment that won't be obsolete
>>> by the time she is ready to really use it (hopefully that makes sense). She
>>> is legally blind with lp in one eye and aprox. 20/400 in the good eye
>>> although doesn't see anything beyond maybe 5-10 feet.  She most likely will
>>> be a dual (large) print/braille reader.  She will be the first child with a
>>> visual impairment at this particular school, so we are all learning as we
>>> go.  I know there are a lot of products that are available that will read to
>>> her, but we feel it is important that she learn to read (both print and
>>> braille) before depending on such devices.
>>> 
>>> It would be easier if we could go through a month or two of school before
>>> deciding what to get, but unfortunately, we don't have that option.
>>> 
>>> Any comments/ideas are greatly appreciated!!!
>>> Thanks.
>>> Roxanne Hug
>>> mom to Mara Jane
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