[humanser] Tips on Presentations & Braille

Fri Nov 1 15:08:26 UTC 2013

Hello all, it's awesome to see this list with so much activity. as someone
who has learned Braille later on in life, and has needed to make
presentations, I have the following advice on improving your Braille skills
and presenting.

If you want to improve on your Braille, make sure that you know your
uncontracted Braille before moving on to contractions. Most people know this
as learning grade 1 and then learning grade 2. Start off with reading daily,
only what you are able to handle. Add a little more each day, and continue
the process. The important thing is to read daily. So, you might read half
of a page on the first week, and then on the second week, you might read a
page every day...

If you are giving presentations, go with what feels natural and comfortable
to you. Braille can be a good option, but remember that in order to give a
presentation strictly from notes that are Brailled, you will need to be at
the very least a decent reader. You can also try just writing key phrases
and short sentences, but still, you need to be able to read these without
hesitation and refer to your material in a professional manner. The stage is
not the time to practice... 

Using an audio prompt is a good idea as well, there are professionals who do
use this method, and they do so not because they are blind, but because
there are times when it is simply easier to do this than it is to read from
a prompt. Keep in mind, that this takes practice with both the technology
being used, and being able to repeat what you hear. 

Finally, the best way to present is really the most old-school way. Practice
and practice and remember your presentation. After agoing through it 4 or 5
times, you will start to feel very comfortable with this method. It does not
use technology, unless you want to use it for bringing attention to your
topic, and all it requires is practice. Remember to time yourself and keep
the clock in mind once you have gotten comfortable with your presentation. 

Thanks for reading,

Alex Castillo

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley
Bramlett
Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 9:35 AM
To: Human Services Mailing List
Subject: Re: [humanser] Tips on Presentations & Braille

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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> humanser:
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> gov
>
> 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/crazy4clarinet10
> 4%40gmail.com
>

--
Kaiti

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