[guide.chat] Learning to read braille

From: "M BOWKER" <bowker288@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Guide Chat" <guide.chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:24:22 +0100
Hi all,

I was having a sort out today and came across some articles I had written some 
years ago. So I thought I would share them with you all. Hope some of you find 
them interesting.



TEACH YOURSELF BRAILLE.

I was 42 years old and working in the printing trade when I started to loose my 
sight. Five or six years later, I found that I was sitting about two feet away 
from the TV screen and that I could only read print with the aid of a 
magnifier. This made me think about the future.

I did not want to just sit there and listen to the radio or tapes for the rest 
of my life. I wanted to be able to read and write like I always have. After 
making some enquiries, a social worker suggested that I could learn to read 
braille at the local centre for the blind. This involved some one standing over 
me, watching my every move,I told the social worker  that I didn't think I 
could learn while someone was watching me work.  So the social worker told me 
that I could get a self teaching tape from the R.N.I.B. that I could learn in 
my own time. For me personally, it did not work. It was like going back to 
nursery school. the material was the equivalent of the (Janet And John) books. 
I am not saying the method was wrong but it did not hold my interest. Someone 
told me about another book from the braille library called " As Easy As Pye."  
This came in the form of a braille book and accompanying tapes. First you 
listen to the first part of the tape then use the braille book which is easy to 
follow and the material is adult standard It kept my interest and at the end of 
it I could read braille. I am not an expert but I now have several novels 
behind me and I write in braille to a friend of mine on a regular basis. With 
this teaching book you have the choice of learning two levels;.

Grade 1, which is just the alphabet. This is very useful, for labelling your 
tins of food or any other items that you want to keep track of and you don't 
need to ask other people what they are.

Then there is grade two. This is harder to learn, but not impossible.
It took me about six months to learn enough to read books from the library.
If you want to know more about reading and writing braille, you could ring the 
National Braille Library For the Blind They will be only to pleased to talk to 
you about it.

When I think back now I am very glad that I made the effort. As I am now 
totally blind.

.. Good luck.
[guide.chat] Learning to read braille

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