Capitalisation came later in my Braille development, in other words, once I had learnt to read grade two itself. I favour the dot six personally, and I use it when I write Braille. It is a very controversial subject among Braillists and teachers. Kind regards, Jackie Brown Twitter: @thebrownsplace Skype: Thejackmate -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Iain Lackie Sent: 22 May 2014 13:34 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? - News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent Standard English Braille has always included punctuation. Only capitalisation has been missing. However, the books we used at school for learning to read always included capitalisation. We were never expected to use it in written Braille. I think this was a pity. Iain -----Original Message----- From: Eleanor Martha Burke Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2014 11:56 AM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? - News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent Continuing the discussion Jackie, I learned Braille at school and still use it, however I did not learn capitalisation, other than that I was informed that one always puts a capital letter after a full stop. American Braille however, includes capitalisation and punctuation. It was only as an adult Braillist that I learned all the symbols that indicated punctuation such as underline, italic etc. As for spelling I am not good at spelling and I personally attribute this to Braille Grade ii but there you are! -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jackie Brown Sent: 22 May 2014 11:32 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? - News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent Hi Vince Not sure how much we are wandering here, but I do think it is relevant to assistive technology. What concerns me about the reliance, if you like, on speech all the time for visually impaired youngsters - especially those with no sight at all - is that they are less likely to spell, punctuate and capitalise appropriately. You miss these things with speech unless you are patient enough to go through everything you listen to letter by letter. If these crucial elements are not taught to blind children in mainstream education because it is considered that Braille is unnecessary, I really believe the kids are missing out. Had my son been born with any eye condition, I would have taught him to read and write Braille myself, unquestionably. While I type more than Braille these days, I am lucky enough to be able to swap just like that. Martin has acquired sight loss due to RP, but he taught himself to read and write grade two Braille a few years ago in case he ever needed it. While he reads with his fingers quite slowly, he has a great memory for everything he taught himself. I just can't see Braille dying out in the immediate future, certainly not while I am alive with any luck! (smile). Kind regards, Jackie Brown Twitter: @thebrownsplace Skype: Thejackmate -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Vincent Thacker Sent: 21 May 2014 23:35 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? - News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent Jackie, I didn't achieve registration as blind until I was about 54, by which time I had too much else going on to fit learning Braile in as well. Sorry to say that I've taken the line of least resistance and use a screen reader for almost everything. I did learn a bit of Braille at my local blind society in the end, but didn't get any further than "a sad lad" and "dad will yell at you" and such things. Then I had to stop because of other commitments. But I agree that for children, it's surely an advantage to know Braille, even just as a quality of life measure. How else are the kids going to get any private reading, or private writing, for that matter? Great though audio books are, they are not the same as reading a book in print. It's too passive somehow to my mind. I'm sure reading Braille would come closer to the printed word. Just my tuppence worth, as someone who knows nothing but won't shut up. Vince. ======================================== Message Received: May 21 2014, 05:02 PM From: "Jackie Brown" To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? - News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent Hi Clive Yes, same goes for me. And I do believe children born blind should still be strongly encouraged to read and write good Braille wherever this is possible. Kind regards, Jackie Brown Twitter: @thebrownsplace Skype: Thejackmate -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Clive.Lever@xxxxxxxxxxx Sent: 21 May 2014 16:28 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? - News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent Hello, I read less and listen more. This is partly because there is much more literature accessible to us now that listening to audio books has become a sighted thing. However, one reason I don't have a personal problem with this change in my reading habits is that I already know how to communicate in writing...I hope! However, I'd hate to have been born blind and never had the chance to read and write independently. Best, Clive Clive Lever Diversity and Equality Officer Kent County Council Office: 01622 221163 Email: clive.lever@xxxxxxxxxxx Kent County Council Room G37 Sessions House Maidstone, Kent. ME14 1XQ -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Gordon Keen Sent: 21 May 2014 16:21 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? - News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent Hi Yes that was my take on the article as well, however I decided to post the article as I felt that some might want to visit the exhibition with a view to expressing their opinion once they had actually attended. Regards G From Bridgerule in glorious Devon, England. . On 21 May 2014, at 15:44, Iain Lackie wrote: > I wasn't aware that the journalist was dismissing braille. If anything, the professor was concerned that blind people were being denied access to braille due to the rise of the use of other digital sources of information. I think it unfair to blame the journalist for expressing the fears of someone else. If braille is not taught, of course it will die out. I have to say that even as a braille user, I read much less braille than I used to. I don't read any less, however. > > Iain > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq