[humanser] Tips on Presentations & Braille

Fri Nov 1 13:35:05 UTC 2013

Kaiti,
good points. I learned grade 1 as well as a child first.
I really think you need to walk before running.

Adults who are learning to read english start with the alphabet first, the 
building blocks of words.
They build up to reading sentences and paragraphs.
After letters, they learn words. They learn concepts such as how to hold a 
book and reading direction if their first language did not teach this.
Words  are on flashcards.
After words, they learn to read simple sentences.
Then, they slowly build to reading
whole sentences and paragraphs.

So, why would it be different for a blind adult learning to read braille? 
Start with the basics and learn in order.
I was going to volunteer to teach ESL but at the time decided I did not have 
the time commitment, however, I did go to the training workshops. Basics, 
basics, and basics were stressed first. Oh, and lots of repetition.

Finally, I do see the need to review or teach spelling; we cannot assume the 
adult learning braille has a good grasp of spelling. Spell check has made us 
lousy spellers and besides, sighted people recognize whole words sometimes, 
and do not pay attention to individual letters that form words.

So sometimes we need to address spelling too in braille.

Okay, just had to repeat myself and get on my soapbox.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Kaiti Shelton
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 9:20 AM
To: Human Services Mailing List
Subject: Re: [humanser] Tips on Presentations & Braille

I won't say anything beyond this, as I do not wish to get this thread
too far off-topic, but here are a few thoughts.  Perhaps my perception
is different since I learned braille at an early age.

1.  I do think grade 1 needs to be learned before grade 2, but if you
read grade 2 you're going to see everything that would be in grade 1.
I did not say grade 1 should not be learned, I just think working to
be fluent in it is a waste of time, especially since there are so many
contractions and getting fluent in grade 2 is difficult enough.  Also,
it is common that once a person becomes fluent in grade 2 that they
have a very difficult time reading grade 1 because it is so much more
cumbersome.  (I know I would certainly not feel comfortable reading
allowed from a page of grade 1 braille, and I know others who are the
same but then again they learned braille when they were young).
2.  I can see the spelling thing for children learning braille, but I
feel like adults would know how to spell words already.  So far the
conversation has been specific to people who have learned braille as
adults and have been literate in the past.

On 10/30/13, Shannon Cook <SCook at sccb.sc.gov> wrote:
> P. S. I have learned Grade 2 Braille.  I also used Braille notes to do my
> Treasurer's report at my local chapter meetings.  Such a big help.  I am
> kicking myself for not seeing the value in learning earlier, even when I 
> had
> more usable vision.  It would have proven to be helpful all along the way.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
> Shelton
> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 8:33 AM
> To: Human Services Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Tips on Presentations & Braille
>
> Hi all,
>
> I did learn braille as a child, but here are a few tips I have.
>
> First, I saw someone on the thread mention that it has taken them a long
> time to get fluent with grade 1 braille.  While it is important to know 
> your
> letters, very few materials are written in grade 1, so the time learning
> braille is best spent working on grade 2 and contractions.  Those grade 1
> letters are a part of grade 2, but contractions make all the difference.
>
> I like the suggestion of checking around your state.  See if someone from
> the NFB will teach you.  If not, I know a woman in my affiliate who does 
> it
> as a TVI and as a tutoring type service, and even does distance
> learning/teaching through Skype.
>
> Read braille every day, even if it's just a little.  Don't not use the
> skills you're working to learn and use them.
>
> The audible teleprompter has a couple of issues.  First, it is a way of
> bypassing braille and discourages people from learning it.  Giving
> presentations with braille is a great way to work on fluency, even if 
> you're
> just reading an outline and verbally expanding upon it.  It also doesn't
> look the most professional to have a wire trailing from your ear every 
> time
> you get up to speak.
>
> Just some thoughts.  Hope they help.
>
> On 10/30/13, Shannon Cook <SCook at sccb.sc.gov> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have learned Braille through Hadley later into adulthood also.  I
>> was not taught as a child, but it surely would have been handy then.
>> It has taken me several years to learn, but I have been working during
>> that time and have not pushed to learn quickly.  I pick up materials
>> in Braille along the way and test what I can read versus what I still
>> need to learn.  I work at an agency for the blind, so there are some
>> materials around quite often.  It has been a really fun venture.  I
>> label all of my files in Braille, make notes that way, and I have also
>> used it to make notes for presentations.  It has totally improved my
>> level of confidence as, with a lot of us, my vision loss has
>> progressed to the point that big print is not feasible anymore.  I
>> joke that at home, if something does not move quickly enough, it gets
>> a Braille label slapped on it.  I've tried using my Stream for
>> presentations, but that did not work as well for me.  The flow was not
>> good.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Shannon
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Alyssa Munsell
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 4:28 PM
>> To: humanser at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [humanser] Tips on Presentations & Braille
>>
>> Hi everyone!
>>
>>
>>
>> I have a question about handling presentation notes. Since I lost my
>> vision (about 8 years ago), I haven't had to give presentations often,
>> but it's been challenging when I have. I don't have an easily
>> accessible way of creating and reading presentation notes. I don't
>> know braille because I didn't understand the importance of learning it
>> until about a year ago. I really wish I had realized how that skill
>> could help me, especially in doing any task that requires reading
>> materials to someone or presenting a topic.
>> In the past, I've written large  presentation notes with sharpie
>> markers on pieces of paper and memorized most of the material. This
>> has always ended up working for me, but the process is exhausting and
>> definitely not an ideal way of giving presentations!
>>
>>
>>
>> I have 2 questions. First, does anyone have any tips about how to do
>> presentation notes, aside from braille? I saw an e-mail from an NFB
>> member who stated that using the Victor Reader Stream to make audible
>> notes has worked well for him. Does anyone have experience with that?
>>
>> Second, for anyone who has learned braille later in life- any advice
>> about techniques for learning braille would be immensely helpful. How
>> long did it take for you to learn it and be able to effectively utilize
>> it?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Alyssa
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>> October is Home Eye Safety Month. Over half of all eye injuries occur
>> while doing everyday household chores. The South Carolina Commission
>> for the Blind offer the following tips if you get a chemical in your
>> eye: flush you eye with water for 20 minutes, wash your hands with
>> soap and warm water, seek emergency medical assistance. For more
>> information about how the SC Commission for the Blind can help you or
>> a loved one, please visit us at www.sccb.state.sc.us or give us a call at
>> 803-898-8731.
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
> Kaiti
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
> October is Home Eye Safety Month. Over half of all eye injuries occur 
> while
> doing everyday household chores. The South Carolina Commission for the 
> Blind
> offer the following tips if you get a chemical in your eye: flush you eye
> with water for 20 minutes, wash your hands with soap and warm water, seek
> emergency medical assistance. For more information about how the SC
> Commission for the Blind can help you or a loved one, please visit us at
> www.sccb.state.sc.us or give us a call at 803-898-8731.
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> humanser:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/crazy4clarinet104%40gmail.com
>

-- 
Kaiti

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