Great teaching indeed And it stands to us to this day. The best thing that happened to us in those dreary "detention centres"! -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Eleanor Martha Burke Sent: 22 May 2014 14:11t happened in those schools. To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of Braille? - News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent agree Tony and we are not locking our Braille teaching > On 22 May 2014, at 14:01, Tony Sweeney <tonymsweeney@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > And as Eleanor said other symbols were not taught in her boarding > school and ditto here so it was a bit of a stteep learning curve > learning them and what they stand for, still. > > So it just wasn't in one school that that occurred. > > Didn't see capitalisation as a problem as again as was said we were > always told that after a stop there is always a capital. > > It would have made Braille really really bulky indeed to have had all > of the capitals required say in a text book for example. > > Tony---Original Message----- > From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On > Behalf Of Jackie Brown > Sent: 22 May 2014 13:45 > To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [access-uk] Re: Does the digital age spell the end of > Braille? - News - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent > > 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 > > > --- > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. > http://www.avast.com > > ** 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 --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com ** 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