If you like what you read, please donate or visit our sponsors to show your support!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Why Learning Braille is Important

It is estimated that only 10% of legally blind people in the U.S. are proficient braille readers. This is truly a tragedy. No one would tolerate such a low number for the sighted population, so why is it acceptable among the blind population? The truth is that it isn't, and I really hope that we can change that number to 100% or at least close to it.

I personally learned to read braille when I was 15. My itinerant teacher decided that it was critical that I learn, so I reluctantly went along. At the time I still had enough vision to read print, so my teenager brain wasn't happy about learning braille. I'm really glad that I did though.

I don't use braille as often as some of my blind peers might since I rely heavily on a screen reader, but it certainly has enhanced my independence. For example, braille allows me to use my microwave by myself since it has braile labels, I am able to knit any pattern I want simply by brailing out the patterns using my perkins brailler, I've used it during conventions to help me read along with my sighted peers, and now I'm using it in my job.

Listening and comprehending information is an important tool for any blind individual, but reading a book is not the same as listening to it.

For any of my readers that are interested, these are some good places to contact if you want to learn about braille and the literacy campaign:
Braille BookStore
The Blind Reader's Page
Braille Literacy Campaign

How has knowing braille been good for you? If you don't know braille, what do you plan to do to make sure you learn? What do you think it will take to improve braille literacy?
Posted by at 4:00 AM
Labels: , ,

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for this. My son, 9 months, has LCA (we believe). I will be taking a crash course at the Braille Institue in Los Angeles in the upcoming months to get started on learning myself. I look forward to reading more of your posts. All my best. ;)
    ReplyDelete
  2. Your statement,

    "It is estimated that only 10% of legally blind people in the U.S. are proficient braille readers. This is truly a tragedy. No one would tolerate such a low number for the sighted population, so why is it acceptable among the blind population? The truth is that it isn't, and I really hope that we can change that number to 100% or at least close to it."

    doesn't take into account those that cannot learn braille because of their cognitive level, will not learn braille because of a decision of theirs not to and/or a decision by their families that since they are not totally blind they do not need it, and those whose eye condition is stable and after careful assessment with a learning media assessment are not encouraged to use a medium that is less efficient.

    Your statement was taken from the headlines that were made for the sake of getting attention. While I am an advocate of braille, I am also an advocate of good assessment and knowledgeable families who are educated early on about the wonders of braille.
    ReplyDelete
  3. I appreciate you're perspective that there are those who may not be able to learn braille, but I don't think that people shouldn't learn it because they view it as less efficient. Braille serves multiple purposes. It is not just for reading books. Literacy for all people is important, and if you can't read print, or you might lose the ability to learn print than you should have the right and chance to learn how to read braille.
    ReplyDelete
  4. Great information! The Braille Institute of America also offers products for people with low vision. There is also a great Braille Literacy article on wikipedia with great resources & tips to increase literacy. Keep up the good work!
    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)