[blindkid] TSBVI Assessment Kit Braille Reading Rates

Thu Mar 22 06:50:38 UTC 2012

Hi Chantel, Carol, &  All,
I think I can shed a bit of light on the TSBVI Assessment Kit numbers. I
have seen 2 sets of numbers, used in different editions of the Assessment
Kit. 
I actually explored their origin in preparation for the Braille Reading Rate
workshop presentation I did with Jerry Whittle at the 2010 National
Convention. A mutual acquaintance put me in touch with Bill Daugherty, the
TSBVI Superintendent. I pointed out to Mr. Daugherty how the Assessment Kit
numbers are being (mis)used, citing several examples similar to your
situation, Chantel.
He prefaced his explanation by pointing out that the Braille Reading Rates
in the Assessment Kit predated him taking over as TSBVI Superintendent. I'm
going to paraphrase, but in a nutshell, he put it together as follows:

€   The reading rates in the TSBVI Assessment Kit were based upon two
primary sources of information, 1) the rates for print readers by Hasbrouck
and Tindal 2) anecdotal information by educators in the blindness field
nationally. With respect to the latter, he explained that there was a
general sense that most of the K-12 braille readers around the country
seemed to be reading close to the half way point for print readers.  He
shared that TSBVI made a determination that this rate would make a useful
minimum reading rate below which might be kids who should be identified as
struggling readers & that it was never intended to set the bar for what they
believed to be an acceptable level for reading speed--just to give some sort
of benchmark that seemed to be lacking.  He stated that TSBVI is & has
always been absolutely certain that barring other factors, a typical learner
who is a braille reader should significantly exceed these rates if their
exposure to and instruction in reading parallels the experience of print
readers--mainly immersion in braille from a very early age and consistent
access to quality braille reading instruction.
€   He also wanted to reassure me that neither these newer figures in the
more recent version of the TSBVI Assessment Kit, or the old figures, will be
included in the TSBVI Assessment Kit moving forward.  He expressed that he
looked forward to the arrival of better hard data.  He said that TSBVI's
goal was to put out something that teachers in the field might find useful &
that never in the school's wildest imagination was it ever considered that
the rates in the Kit might become a symbol of low expectations.

My commentary is:
- Kids reading at those numbers will have a hard time keeping up in school.
- We have used the district reading rates as our goal. I know of some very
fast braille readers.
- The problem also in part in how the question is asked & answered.
- I think the question should be "How fast can a child read braille?"
- The academics & studies however will respond with the answer to the
question "What is the average speed that children read braille?" - This is a
totally different question. The ABC study was small, had lots of
flaws/confounders & looked at beginning braille readers & was not designed
to answer that question of "How fast can a child read braille?"
- We don't need another study of "What is the average speed that children
read braille?" (this is a self-fulfilling prophecy -> low expectations will
demonstrate low reading rates).
- To answer question of "How fast can a child read braille?" -> What we need
is a study or series of videos that shows fast-braille reading kids & adults
in action -> I my opinion, that is was is needed to definitively show what
can be achieved. If you have enough examples, the results will be impossible
to refute as aberrations. I think a good place to start is the summer NFB
Convention & State Conventions. This would make for a very nice project for
a TVI student, perhaps someone in the Teacher of Tomorrow Program? This
would make for a nice study for the Journal of Blindness Innovation and
Research.

Respectfullly,
Eric Vasiliauskas

On 3/20/12 8:50 AM, "Chantel Alberhasky" <chantel at alberhaskylaw.com> wrote:

> I just received the Braille skills evaluation report for my 8 year old son.
> Drake is in 2nd grade.  His oral Braille reading rate for second grade level
> is 50 WPM,  36 WPM for 3rd grade level and 34 for 4th trade level. The report
> goes on to say that Drake is "on track to achieve the norms as identified by
> the Texas School for the Blind (TSBVI) Assessment Kit Braille Reading Rates."
> The Texas School for the Blind's braille reading rate for 3rd grade is only 51
> WPM and for college it is only 115 WPM!  For print reading a 3rd grader should
> be reading 110 WPM.  So college Braille readers should be reading at the same
> level as a third grade student?!
> 
> 
> Can anyone give me information on the Texas School for the Blind Assessment
> Kit Braille Reading Rates?  How did they arrive at these rates as being the
> "norm" for the various grade levels?   I know there hasn't been any recent
> studies that would indicate the reading rates for Braille so how did Texas
> School for the Blind come up with these very low rates?
> 
> I will of course be arguing these rates are much too low.  I also have a great
> state law I will rely upon which requires schools to provide instruction so
> that a child can communicate effectively and efficiently in Braille at a level
> commensurate with his sighted peers of comparable grade level and intellectual
> functioning.   To rely upon the Texas School for the Blind reading rates would
> be inconsistent with our state law.
> 
> In any event, any information anyone can give me regarding TX School for the
> Blind Assessment Braille Reading rates would be appreciated.
>  
> Chantel L. Alberhasky, Esq
> 419 Boonville Avenue
> Springfield, MO 65806
> 417.865.4444
> 
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> 
> ________________________________
>  From: Dr. Denise M Robinson <deniserob at gmail.com>
> To: "Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)"
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, March 19, 2012 10:51 AM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] IQ testing
>  
> The WWJIII is now in a braille format to access blind children and is
> adapted appropriately--You can get it from APH
> Denise
> 
> On Mon, Mar 19, 2012 at 8:43 AM, Patricia <bcsarah.fan at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>>  As a blind aspiring counsellor who has my Bachelors in psychology, I
>>  am familiar with these IQ tests and have always been curious, has
>>  there been any attempt to make these tests accessible to blind and
>>  visually impaired children? Or is the answer just "they're not, and
>>  that's the way it is." I don't expect a definitive answer on this as
>>  I'm sure no one here would know, but it's always been one of those
>>  things that I've been curious about.
>> 
>>  Patricia
>> 
>>  On 3/19/12, Tom and Deb OConnor <toc6642 at charter.net> wrote:
>> 
>>>  > Is a vision impairment a valid reason not to give a child a "complete"
>>>  > Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-fourth edition?  The final
>>>  > conclusion was that it would be inappropriate?  Given 5 subtests only.
>>>  >
>>>  > Thanks for any information on this.
>>>  >
>>>  > Tom & Debbie O'Connor
>>>  > toc6642 at charter.net
>>>  >
>>>  > _______________________________________________
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>>>  > blindkid:
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>>  
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/bcsarah.fan%40gmail.com
>>>  >
>> 
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Denise
> 
> Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.
> CEO, TechVision, LLC
> Specialist in Technology/Training/Teaching for blind/low vision
> 509-674-1853
> 
> Website with hundreds of informational articles & lessons all done with
> keystrokes: www.yourtechvision.com
> 
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it." --Chinese Proverb
> 
> Computers are incredibly fast, accurate, and stupid: humans are incredibly
> slow, inaccurate and brilliant; together they are powerful beyond
> imagination.
> --Albert Einstein
> 
> It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
> --Walt Disney
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