[blindkid] TSBVI Assessment Kit Braille Reading Rates

Thu Mar 22 15:55:19 UTC 2012

We seem to be the only ones thinking in this 
way.  That is what makes us activists and not just observers of the status quo.

We are definitely onto something here!

Carol

Carol Castellano
President, Parents of Blind Children-NJ
Director of Programs
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.blindchildren.org
www.nopbc.org

At 10:33 AM 3/22/2012, you wrote:
>Hi Eric,
>Thanks for this information. It is perhaps a relief that the Braille
>reading rates given are meant to be minimums, not standards. However,
>are the print reading rates given alongside the Braille rates minimum
>print-reading rates or are they average print-reading rates? If they
>are averages, then they should not be presented alongside minimum
>Braille reading rates.
>Clearly there is a lack of hard data on Braille-reading potential to
>parallel the data on print-reading potential. Academics can choose to
>answer the "easy question" of what is the average reading speed? But
>good researchers, in my opinion, will utilize the methodological and
>statistical skills they have to measure educational factors that might
>affect Braille reading rates and assess how much these rates change in
>good vs. poor educational circumstances. A quasi-experiment comparing
>Braille reading rates for kids who learned Braille under ideal
>conditions (while young, with daily instruction and ongoing practice)
>vs. kids who learned Braille under more typical circumstances would be
>very useful. It is a shame that the few researchers studying this
>issue are stopping at the easy question (regarding averages, or what
>statisticians call "main effects") and ignoring the more functional
>questions of how improvements in the educational system surrounding
>Braille teaching might benefit blind children (and reduce their need
>for services later on).
>Arielle
>
>On 3/22/12, DrV <icdx at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > 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
> >>
> >> The Missouri Bar Disciplinary Counsel requires all Missouri attorneys
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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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> >>>
> >>> 
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> >>>>  >
> >>>
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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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> >
> >
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