[access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? - News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent
- From: <Clive.Lever@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 22 May 2014 13:40:00 +0000
Hello all,
I was taught grade 1 Braille in our Infants' class, then went on to grade 2. In
primary school we were taught when to use capital letters, and though I didn't
read many American books (braille with caps), that theory largely stuck: Proper
names (names of towns, people, days of the week, months and so on), at the
start of sentences, in titles (British Broadcasting Corporation), etc. I think
spelling was rarely a problem for me, despite the fact that I was reading in
grade 2 braille. But then maybe I'm just weird and should have got out more. We
were given spelling books when I was about eight, and I used to read the notes
for teachers too: I can still remember a little of what they were like: "The
phonic work in these exercises will enable you to develop the child's
knowledge..." and all that jazz, italicised to boot!
So, although the use of grade 2 may hamper the ability to spell, that's not a
given. I suppose I was just lucky.
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
Norman Waddington
Sent: 22 May 2014 14:24
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? - News
- Gadgets and Tech - The Independent
Hi,
I was taught normal Englis grade 2 braille firstly. When I had typing
lessons then and only then was I introduced to capital letters etc.
Norman.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Eleanor Martha Burke
> Sent: 22 May 2014 12:41
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? -
> News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent
>
> Interesting Jackie because I understood I learned English Braille which
> did
> not have any punctuation other than the common ones and no capital letters
> but then perhaps you learned it after me. I certainly do not recall books
> from NLB with English Braille with capital letters or all this punctuation
> of underlining, italic etc.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of
> Jackie Brown
> Sent: 22 May 2014 12:33
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? -
> News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent
>
> Interesting Eleanor. Perhaps people like Steve Nutt and I were lucky to
> have good Braille tuition at our school in that era. It is one of the few
> things about boarding-school I guess I am grateful for. And I suppose it
> depends whether you like using Braille and can make it the tool it has
> always been for me at least. I am passionate about it, and I am not sure
> there is a day that passes when I don't come into contact with it for
> something.
>
> True everyone is different, but I will never be dissuaded from the belief
> that youngsters today should be taught Braille wherever possible if they
> have a severe visual impairment where print is of no value to them.
>
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Jackie Brown
> Twitter: @thebrownsplace
> Skype: Thejackmate
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of
> Eleanor Martha Burke
> Sent: 22 May 2014 12:14
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? -
> News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent
>
> Indeed that is correct. I am just talking about my own experience and how
> learning Braille for me did not assist me well in Capitalisation,
> punctuation and spelling.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of
> Karl Proud
> Sent: 22 May 2014 12:12
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? -
> News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent
>
> I would have thought that capitalisation and other punctuation would be
> easily taught using type and speech as well as if using braille?
>
> Karl
> On 22 May 2014, at 11:56 am, "Eleanor Martha Burke"
> <eleanormarthaburke@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> 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
> >
>
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