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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Should Braille Instruction Be Mandatory?

In Nebraska, the state legislature is considering a law that would require all visually impaired children to learn braille. As I've mentioned before, the NFB estimates that only 10% of blind children in the nation are literate in braille. I agree with them that this is a big problem, the question is, will mandating braille instruction solve the problem.

One of Nebraska's state senators, who himself is blind was the person who proposed the bill. If passed, braille instruction would be mandatory unless the parents object. Also, braille instruction would start in elementary school regardless of the child's level of vision loss. This would mean that people like me who could read print at an early age would learn braille early even though I might not need it until later. The belief of the supporters is that early braille instruction will increase reading and writing speed and comprehension, which will in turn make the blind and visually impaired more employable. Although braille is not a requirement for most jobs, 70% of the blind population that has a job knows and uses braille.

The opposers to the bill don't think the law is necessary because it goes against the philosophy that education should be personalized to the child's needs, and the belief that there just isn't enough teachers to fulfill the requirement. The other problem with the bill is that braille instructors would have to be nationally certified through a specific program before they could continue to teach braille.

In this case I feel that both sides have valid arguments. On the one hand increasing braille literacy should be a goal for the nation, but on the other hand, making braille a requirement can't truly be achieved until there is enough instructors. I also don't believe that instructors should have to be nationally certified, especially if they've gone to school to become a teacher for the blind.

The NFB is currently working on a recruitment plan to increase the numbers of teachers for the blind. As someone who is pursuing that career, I hope their campaign is successful, but until we increase the number of qualified professionals, I'm not sure mandating braille instruction is the way to go.

What do you think? Do you feel mandating braille instruction is the solution to the braille literacy problem, or is there another way?

Here is the link to the article discussing this issue.
Posted by at 5:00 AM
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9 comments:

  1. You raise good points, and it's great to hear you are pursuing a career in teching Braille. Braille literacy is very important, and there are many children who aren't being taught Braille who should be because they can still read print. Gradually, most of these children won't be able to read standard print. Their future academic and professional success will depend upon literacy.
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  2. I definitely think braille literacy should be increased. But how best to do that? The simple laws of supply and demand dictate that if there are more children who need to learn braille, there will be more of a push to recruit teachers and there will be more demand for materials (which any braille reader can tell you is a big part of the problem). I think as long as schools can skate by without recruiting a braille teacher they will.

    That being said I am not a fan of making a law for everything I want to see happen. So mandatory braille? Not sure. So far, though, the efforts of the NFB to increase awareness has not produced much change in the dismal statistic of current braille literacy. Is there another way? I can't think of one unless parents somehow decide to insist their children learn braille.

    I do agree that early instruction is more likely to increase reading speed and comprehension, but if you don't use it you lose it so I am not sure what good it would do for children who have enough vision to read print. They may not use it enough to retain it anyway.
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  3. I certainly agree that with all the things the NFB and other organizations are doing it hasn't helped the statistics. Therefore I think this mandate is a great idea. And as for materials if there is greater demand then there will be suppliers cropping up. Presently kids can get any book they want for free from Braille Press in california upon request. But I whole-heartedly feel that any VI teacher should be certified in braille. That's part o the literacy crisis: most teachers who go through these programs don't know the braille rules well enough to teach them. And if your heart is really in this work I would think you'd want to darn well know what you're doing.
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  4. Both a great post and great comments. Obviously, there is no simple answer to the problem of low braille literacy. I think that having politicians thinking about the issue is a good thing, and hopefully will generate more general awareness regarding blindness and braille education. The more we keep the discussion alive, the more likely we are to start making some changes. I have reposted this blog article on Twitter, Facebook, and the ReadHowYouWant blog at www.readhowyouwant.com/blog. Thanks for a thoughtful discussion, and I look forward to seeing what comes of it!
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  5. There can not be a "one size fits all". There are so many children in the school system that have additional disabilities,and are not going to be able to read, even English.

    There must be a better way.
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  6. Braille Institute is looking for virtual volunteers for their new online community site http://www.facebook.com/l/d867d;www.solutionsinsight.org/ the new site is focused on helping people with low or failing vision and the people that care for them.
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  7. Braille literacy is the equivalent of any other type of literacy and if a visually impaired does not learn braille, it means they can't read. Seems to me it's a clear-cut decision and a good one!

    BTW - Great Blog! Love all of your posts.
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  8. Not clear cut at all. In the school system so many children have other disabilites in addition to blindness. There are so many children that are not able to even read English.
    What will happen to them?
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  9. I would want to see braille made mandatory. It feels racist to say that a job does not require braille. It makes it sound like braille is an option. It is not. It is literacy. To say braille is an option is the person saying that being able to read and write is an option. Another form of literacy is Moon. Yet another is Fakoo. There are many many forms of literacy. Work with each person, regardless of age, and they will learn. If braille does not suit them, then they could opt for a different literacy format.

    When I was growing up, I needed braille. I was never permitted to learn it. My family wanted me to be 'normal'. What resulted was that I couldn't read anymore--and I'm a very avid reader. I'm the type to read 400 page books and read 100 pages or more in a single sitting. When I left home, I became reliant on big magnification solutions when I clearly needed braille. At the time, I just didn't know where to find braille instruction. When I had trouble even reading large print, even with further magnification, I knew it was time for braille. CNIB would not teach it to me, saying it was 'obsolete' yet they celebrate Louis Braille's 200th birthday. Unbelievable.

    I'm learning braille thanks to Hadley. I am in my 30's. That is a long time to wait to learn something so vital. Audio solutions do not suit me. I would rather my fingers bleed than be cut off from reading. As it is, its difficult to wait to be able to read again. But once I've fully learned braille, I will be able to. I'm enjoying the fact that 'writing' braille means I can read my own writing. I cannot read my own handwritten writing, not even if I write using print.
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