Hi Kim, I completely agree! :) I can't imagine my life without braille. I also think that if you learn braille, you always have a choice. You can decide to listen to an audio book, use a computer speech only or whatever. But for those times that you need or want braille you have it. I ticks me off that for so many kids, the choice is made for them by others who may not understand the critical importance of having braille as an option, and how difficult it can be to acquire that option later in life. Anyway, I'll stop before I launch my own rant, but I think you're right on target. Cheers, Donna -----Original Message----- From: Kim Friedman <kimfri11@xxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 9:24 AM To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: braille Hi, Elizabeth, I think it a downright shame that blind kids are given the impression that Braille is of no use to them, ergo, they needn't bother learning it. This is insuring that blind people are, for all intents and purposes, becoming functionally illiterate, a thing I think sighted people tend not to recognize, since they see print as meaning literacy. I think it imperative that folks understand that Braille is another means of literacy equivalent to print. I am bugged that Braille is being short-changed. I hope you forgive the rant here, and I bet you feel as strongly as I do on the subject. Any subject can be taught well or ill depending on the instructor. I don't know if Gwen is a recent Braille reader or not, but I don't wish to see anyone being cheated out of anything that could enrich their lives. This thing with me and the computer is a case in point. If I had had a computer with a screen reader back in the '90's when I was going for computer instruction, I would feel more confident and competent as a result. I would have not felt so intimidated by the sheer notion of buying a computer. I still don't know what I'd ask for, but since I'm getting computer instruction and have learned a little more than I knew last year, I may have a general idea of what I want. If we get the right kind of help which enables our progress rather than causing us to flounder about and stumble, I say that's what we all need, good teaching and support. Enough of rant (smile). Sorry, I know you weren't probably expecting me to indulge in an outright peroration here. I just dislike it when people get shoddy advice or shoddy help. Take care and very best to you. Have a good week, Kim. -----Original Message----- From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of E. Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 5:58 AM To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bksvol-discuss] braille Kim, Ann is correct in pointing out that if you have the newer mpower you do not have to rename the file. You can read a .xml file in internet Explorer. By the way, so good to hear one braille reader encouraging somebody relatively new to braille. I love and have always loved good audio. I use all kinds of speech every day. My parents would let me listen to Talking Books after I had studied my braille when I was six seven or eight. Because they insisted, I became a good braille reader. I know things may be different for somebody who comes to braille later in life. I also know encouraging somebody on that learning curve may make a difference for that person. The more you use braille the easier it becomes to use. It's like exercising To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.