[ebooktalk] Learning and teaching Braille.
- From: "Elaine Harris \(Rivendell\)" <elaineharris@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:24:56 +1000
(Delete if you're bored but it's a passion!)
I thank the day Louis Braille was born. His system, which was dismissed by
his "Special" school, has given me access to education, work and pleasure
and has been part of me in one form or another since I learned it.
I don't think I realized just how much until I began working in Melbourne in
1983. There I heard the horror story of the Victorian (Australian state
rather than queenly era) authorities who decided at one point that the
advent of the cassette was upon us and there was no longer any need to teach
Braille. Thus they sanctioned several years of authorised illiteracy for
many a blind and partially sighted child. I daresay many have never
recovered.
As a follow-on, when I went for a job interview in 1991 approx., (a job
change within the organization for which I was working) I was asked by the
interview panel, illegally probably, "When you read, how fast can you read?"
I replied honestly that if we were taking part in a play-reading and could
be heard but not seen, no-one would know the difference. (I have taken part
in public play-readings and other public readings since then with no
embarrassment and some critical acclaim.)
The worthies betook my response to the New South Wales Blind Society who
informed them, "She's lying. Nobody can read that fast." Naturally, I
learned this unofficially so could do nothing about it.
Finally, some years ago I interviewed a lovely man who had lost his sight in
later life, though how late I cannot recall. His social-worker had actively
discouraged him both from learning Braille and applying for a Guide Dog.
Bless his strong spirit, he was doing both and thriving!!
In a way, this picks up on Clare's point on inequality in both the portrayal
and perceptions of disability. I.E.: disability still equates to lack of
ability in many a mind.
Sorry, David, I know strictly speaking this isn't books but without Braille
I never would have discovered books. I am just thrilled that it still exists
and will do all I can to promote that existence.
I am not a fan of synthetic speech but, again, rely on it for spellchecking
and some other computer-related activities and am glad we have it, but this
is purely a personal preference.
Please forgive the rant,
Elaine
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Trish Talbot
Sent: Tuesday, 30 April 2013 5:24 AM
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: RNIB Braille library.
Alison, I used to find that it wasn't the rehab workers themselves who put a
spanner in the works when it came to teaching braille, in fact, most RO's I
knew loved teaching it as much as I did, but our darling managers felt that
RO's should be teaching "Daily living" skills, and couldn't seem to
understand that braille came into this category. Having said that, I'm
afraid I found that very few of those clients who learnt braille put it to
great use, and certainly very few used it to read books. They either
carried on struggling to read large print books, or read audio books. There
were a very few, though, who did start using the braille library.
Trish.
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of CJ & AA MAY
Sent: 29 April 2013 12:06
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: RNIB Braille library.
I don't doubt that this topic has been discussed before, both here and
elsewhere. I fully acknowledge why some people prefer to read their books in
Braille or use synthetic speech. I have a sprinkling of books on my RNIB
Waiting List read by synthetic speec, but I doubt it will ever be my first
choice.
I'm, saddened that Braille is less popular these days, most likely to the
amount of audio that is available now, but due in part too because there are
so few Rehab. Workers to teach Braille. My colleagues used to argue that
teaching Braille was time-cnsuming and unnecessary as there were other
options of accessing literature. I would be told upon joining an office that
there was no Braille class in the area due to lack of demand. Without
exception, within 6 months I'd have a Braille Class up and running with at
least 6 participants! For me there will always be a place for Braille in my
life but it won't be for reading books anymore.
Alison
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Voldi Gailans
Sent: 29 April 2013 09:49
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: RNIB Braille library.
Hi Alison,
I think we may have had this discussion before, but I for one wouldn't want
to be without braille. We are so lucky these days to have all the choice in
books which we didn't used to have and it is true that audio is more
portable, with an increased possible reading speed for most if not all of
us. I've often read an audio book, particularly using synthetic speech, on
fast speed and thought afterwards of how much I enjoyed the book, but that
it rushed by so quickly and that I didn't spread out the pleasure over a
longer period. I always remember having books read to me at school and
often having to wait several days for the next exciting instalment. Now we
can read when we like and have it all at once if we like. I find that
braille enables me to absorb the text more slowly and enjoy the book more
thoroughly. Of course, the audio is great for covering a lot of material
and so that is good too. Slowing down the reading speed is better for
concentration, but I tend to have it fairly fast because I can.
As I've got older I've become rather more fussy about readers and often find
aspects of their reading a distraction, partly because I think there are
more less good readers about these days and also because I'm more particular
these days.
I think that the pluses of synthetic speech are often under-valued by those
who won't try it as a means of reading. The main advantage I find is that,
once I have got used to the voice, I forget its idiosynchrasies and it
always reads in the same way - the text is a stream of information rather
than a performance and so the experience is mor like reading for myself than
having someone else reading. I still enjoy good readers and there are
plenty about of course, but I do increasingly find that my enjoyment of a
book is marred by bad or sloppy reading.
We all have our preferences and there are good cases for them all, but my
overriding consideration is not having to wait for a book to be made
available, which is why I like to scan books and read them as texts. Having
the choice of audio or braille is great - as book lovers we have never had
it so good.
Best wishes,
Voldi
At 09:10 27/04/2013, you wrote:
>I read very little Braille these days, just the odd magazine and have
>discontinued my membership of the RNIB Braille Library. I think that
>maybe as I've got older I have lost some sensitivity in my fingers as I
>now struggle with older Braille books which have become squashed and
>maybe I have become lazy too, as it is so much easier and faster to
>read audio books. Also, as I travel such a lot, it is much more
>convenient to carry an
>MP3 player in my handbag, rather than a bulky Braille book.
>Alison
>with
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>On Behalf Of Elaine Harris (Rivendell)
>Sent: 26 April 2013 22:31
>To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [ebooktalk] RNIB Braille library.
>
>Alison,
>
>No, I borrow Braille from the RNIB library and we have come to an
>agreement that they send them (still free-post) Airmail, otherwise they
>take three to four months to get here. We have to pay to return them
>airmail but still at a heavily discounted rate.
>
>I listen to some books and radio drama but only of the highest quality,
>being a bit too fussy for my own good, perhaps. Also, I suffer
>(literally) from migraines so being able to read in silence is a boon.
>I also read aloud to my fully-sighted husband; at the moment we are
>working our way through an unauthorised biography of Michael Douglas.
>Chris is a film buff so he knows many if not all of the films
>discussed. It is a bit "magaziney" in style and, being unauthorised,
>best to take parts of it with more than a few pinches of salt but it
>makes us laugh, squirm and groan. (This one is from the Vision
>Australia library. Details on request since they have an exchange
>service with libraries across the globe, I understand.)
>
>(Oh, and you have visited parts of Australia I have yet to see.)
>
>Elaine
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>On Behalf Of CJ & AA MAY
>Sent: Saturday, 27 April 2013 2:55 AM
>To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Answering introduction feedback.
>
>Elaine, when you say you belong to the RNIB Library, is that th Talking
>book or Braille Library?
>I have visited Perth (many times0, Melbourne, Sydney (where I spent 5
>days in St. Vincent's Hospital), Cairnes, Kangaroo Island, Adelade and
>Broom - but still have lots of places we want to visit.
>We think him crazy, but my brother-in-law is migrating back to the UK
>next month after 15 years in Aus.
>Alison
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>On Behalf Of Elaine Harris (Rivendell)
>Sent: 26 April 2013 12:50
>To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [ebooktalk] Answering introduction feedback.
>
>Hello again,
>
>Thank you for all the wonderful responses and follow-up potted histories.
>
>Clare, I remember you very well and have heard much of you and Voldi
>both from Sue Sharp and Trish.
>
>Alison: I think if I had known how much of "A stranger in a strange
>land" I would feel, I may not have changed hemispheres. I still hear
>expressions that are new to me and probably fail abysmally by
>continuing to use British pronunciations and expressions, for which I
>make no apology though it has got me into metaphorical hot water more
>than
a few times.
>
>We lived in Melbourne when first I came out here; I ran an RPH or Radio
>for the Print-Handicapped station for a year but left before I went
>nuts; everyone seemed to have an axe to grind, often on my head! The
>basic principle with RPH stations is that newspapers, magazines and
>other publications are read on air, or selections therefrom. Sadly, the
>quality of reading varies widely and, this country being so huge, the
>stations are generally only accessible in State capital cities.
>
>After RPH, I freelanced for a while, including some television
interviewing.
>Waiting to go on set was tough as the studio floors are concrete and
>Kati, my first Guide Dog, who emigrated with me, hated being cold and
>used to cry until the floor-manager had the brilliant idea of providing
>a
rug for her.
>
>Then on to Canberra where I worked for a number of years. We are now in
>more temperate north-west Tasmania, within sight, sound and smell of
>the
ocean.
>
>I borrow from the Vision Australia library, one in Auckland as well as
>the RNIB. We know the postman quite well!
>
>Re talk of garden and/or gardening books, last year I read:
>The Morville Hours: Katherine Swift. History, geography, geology,
>gardens, horticulture, archaeology, astronomy, linguistics,
>spirituality. Incredibly inspiring; not an easy read but an
>educational, revealing, beautiful and lyrical one. A Tour De Force.
>Based on the principle of the old "Book of Hours" in all its forms, but
instead of a monastic day, a garden year.
>
>I love the Ellis Peters Cadfael books as much for herb and plant lore
>as for the mysteries.
>I have always wanted a walled garden like the one in "The Secret
>Garden", but my garden here is my therapy, though I am better at
>weeding and pruning than planting.
>
>I first fell in love with descriptive writing with L. M. Montgomery's
>Anne books, some of which I am re-reading for fun, inspiration and
nostalgia.
>
>My other vice, apart from being besotted by our dogs, (and enjoying
>doggy
>books) is that I now keep a book diary, listing everything I read,
>reject, or fail to finish. Like most people I used to plough through a
>book because it seemed the right thing to do; now, if I find myself
>putting off returning to a book, it is usually an indicator that we're
>not
getting on very well.
>
> Happy reading,
>
>Elaine
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