[nabs-l] Question concerning slates and styli

[Jewel S.]

The saddle stylus is the one with the T at the top, with a curved,
lowered section in the middle. According to my former Braille
instructor, you're supposed to put your index card in the lower
portion and grip the rest with the thumb and middle finger. But with
my joint and nerve problems, leaving my finger in that position for as
long as it takes me to write just doesn't work.

Which stylus do you use? What are your thoughts on it versus other styli?

On 11/15/10, Jorge Paez <jorgeapaez at mac.com> wrote:
> Jewel:
> Just wondering, what's the saddle styli?
> Is that the one that has one flat side at the top?
>
>
>
> On Nov 15, 2010, at 3:13 PM, Jewel S. wrote:
>
>> My personal preferences:
>> 1. Pins on the bottom if it's a regular slate (20-30 cells). This is
>> because it makes lining the paper up easier, something I have trouble
>> with. If the pins are on the bottom, I can push the pins through the
>> paper before lowering the top. Of course, I guess you could do that
>> with a top-pin slate. The advantage of a top-pin slate is that you can
>> read the Braille without removing the paper from the pins, by opening
>> the slate and reading underneath the top. I'm not good at this, and
>> don't find it easy, but some do.
>> 2. I use a Jannus (sp?) slate a lot more than a regular slate. This is
>> an interpoint index card slate. I carry this slate, a stylus, and a
>> box of index cards (a plastic one with snaps bought at the bookstore),
>> and I'm good to go if I need to take a note. Big plus is that you
>> slide the index card in from the side and there are no pins.
>> Disadvantage, sometimes the index card slides a little, so you gotta
>> hold the end if that happens, so your Braille isn't skewed. I like to
>> leave a card in the slate so I can just whip it out with the stylus
>> and I'm good to go.
>> 3. If I'm doing a long letter or lots of writing, like for an essay, I
>> prefer a full-page slate. This allows me to write without the skew
>> that inevitably happens when I move the slate down (I'm bad at
>> alignment). I can also do pretty decent Braille pictures on a full
>> Braille slate that would be skewed a lot using a four-line slate.
>> 4. Styli do matter! I much prefer the round stylus because the saddle
>> stylus hurts my finger joints, but most people like the saddle stylus.
>> There are other styli out there (like the pen stylus, which I do *not*
>> recommend), but the saddle and round styli are the most popular.
>> 5. Reading the Slate Book is a great way to get back in practice with
>> the slate and stylus. It's available from Bookshare, or you can order
>> it in Braille, I think from APH?
>>
>> Hope that helps! And I'm going to be a TVI also. Where are you doing
>> your Graduate work?
>>
>> On 11/14/10, Hope Paulos <hope.paulos at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi there. I haven't used a slate and stylus for a very long time. Can
>>> someone recommend a good type of slate and the difference from having the
>>> pins on the top and the bottome? Which type of stylus do you prefer and
>>> why?
>>> I have to get one because am going back for my masters to become a TbVI.
>>> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>>> Thanks.
>>> Hope Paulos
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>>
>>
>> --
>> ~Jewel
>> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
>> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
>>
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-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com