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Braille in the 21st Century

chessboard for blind players

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Braille in the 21st Century

The world is an exciting place to live in at the dawn of the 21st century. Technology is making life more favorable but also more complex. This is also true for people in the blind community. Technology allows the sight-impaired to do things that they’ve never been able to do before, but at the same time it has also created new challenges and anxieties unknown in earlier, simpler times. In order to thrive in such an environment, it is essential that a person have on hand a map and instructions on how to use it to find one’s way to freedom and joy.

Reading the Key to Success

Many life skills are important in a person’s journey to personal fulfillment and meaning. But of these, perhaps none is of greater value than that of being able to read and comprehend what one has read. This is equally true both for those who are blind and those who can see. Just as a person who can read is considered to be literate, so someone who is blind but that can use braille or other means to read should also be considered intelligent and capable of thought. This is true whether one is reading books for employment, education or merely entertainment. In each case, being able to read gives the blind person a window to the world that would otherwise be shut. Everyone is benefited when someone has access to enlightenment.

Books and Braille Are Keys

Every effort should therefore be made to ensure that the blind have unfettered access to the full range of books available to anyone else. Technology is increasingly making this possible, but as of today there are still countless volumes that are sealed shut to the sight-impaired. For the benefit of all, tireless effort should be exerted to achieve this important objective. Books in braille are the most powerful way for the blind to have access to an exciting new world.

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Braille and the Freedom of Thought

House of Louis BRAILLE

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Braille’s Most Important Freedom: The Freedom of Thought

It is commonly accepted in today’s world that the blind are equal in every way to those that can see. Although limited in sight, they have vital contributions to make toward improving life for themselves and for others. In particular, their ability to read using braille and other reading technologies provides the blind with one of the most precious freedoms available: The freedom to think for themselves, and the subsequent ability to express those thoughts to others.

The Blind and the Right of Independence

Another essential right that braille provides to the blind is the right of independence. No one enjoys the feeling of being dependent on another for providing the necessities or niceties of life. There is something inherent in the human spirit that demands that we be free and unfettered. Braille is an essential means of providing this independence to the blind, especially as it relates to understanding and living in the world of today. Through braille the blind have access to education, employment, entertainment and countless other avenues.

To Read is to See

Some have argued that as long as someone can use a machine to help them “read,” braille is an archaic, unnecessary tool. There is, however, a profound and important difference between being able to listen to a book being read on tape or CD and the ability to actually read that book. Reading is a much more immersive experience and is far more likely to lead to profound thought, as well as the expression of that thought, than is merely listening to someone else reading. Being unable to read also limits the freedom of a person in advocating for their own rights, since one must be able to internalize and understand changes to laws that relate to their civil and human rights. Without question there are exciting new alternative technologies that are emerging or becoming mainstream in the world of the blind. That being said, braille is every bit as vital a tool as it was the day the Louis Braille developed it long years ago.

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Braille Still Vital to the Blind

Braille Still Vital to the Blind

In today’s fast-moving world, it is a given that someone who can’t read is considered to be illiterate. Without even thinking about it, we would rightly assume that such a person is at an enormous disadvantage in virtually every aspect of life. Whether in their employment (assuming they could even find work with such a significant liability,) their education, or even in enjoying the myriad benefits of reading for pleasure or learning, everyone knows that not being able to read is a undesirable state. It should then be easy to also understand why the blind should be given every possible encouragement and resource in order to allow them to also benefit from the many doors that open to readers. Braille is therefore a vital pathway to this objective.

Reasons to Continue Encouragement of Braille Usage

There are perhaps innumerable reasons that could be listed in support of why braille is still an essential skill for the blind to acquire. Below are just a few of the many that might be mentioned. In all instances, it’s important to remember that the blind are “handicapped” more often by others than by themselves. The sight-impaired have made and will continue to make important contributions to the world. Whether one can see or not should make no difference in how their efforts are received, valued, or applied.

Braille Allows the Blind to Discover the World

Specifically, braille gives the blind the ability to speak for themselves and to both define and defend their rights. It also is a critical tool in education, allowing the blind to determine what they will learn and how they will do so. In this regard it also allows for the blind to live freely in the world of ideas. For hundreds of years they were sadly shut out from doing so, simply because it was wrongly assumed they had nothing to say or to contribute. For these and many other reasons, braille is still a vital lifeline for the blind, and should therefore be regarded as such by everyone.

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Home Appliances for the Blind

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Appliances for the Blind

There are many exciting new developments in the world of home appliances for those who are blind or who suffer from low vision. Whether one is looking for a new range top, a microwave, the latest dishwasher, or even a new washer and dryer combo, most appliance manufacturers are becoming more innovative in their inclusion of blind-friendly tools and technology in their products. These include specially-designed displays, raised fonts and braille on appliances, and even voice-activated controls. The blind and those with low vision have never had as many exciting options to choose from as they do today.

Choosing the Right Appliance

All this being said, these features are of little or nor value unless the user first knows how to use them and is comfortable doing so. It is therefore important to spend some time in research before making such a significant and expensive investment. One of the first questions to ask is this: “What are the most important features I need in this appliance?” It is also helpful to determine one’s comfort level with technology. A refrigerator might have all of the bells and whistles (and the price tag to match), but unless you know how to take advantage of those features, they will be of little or no benefit to you.

Braille Still a Central Feature on Appliances

It is also important to determine how critical it is for braille to be included on your new appliance. Manufacturers are including braille characters with some devices, and of course they can also be added using a braille stamp machine or labeler. For those with low vision, several of the major brands are including such things as large LED-displays or raised-print fonts to allow you to easily use their products. In all cases, remember to do your research before you arrive in the showroom. It is easier to succumb to the pressure of a salesperson if you haven’t first decided what you actually need beforehand. Happy shopping!

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Braille Still Vital to the Blind

Braille letter/symbol.
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In today’s fast-moving world, it is a given that someone who can’t read is considered to be illiterate. Without even thinking about it, we would rightly assume that such a person is at an enormous disadvantage in virtually every aspect of life. Whether in their employment (assuming they could even find work with such a significant liability,) their education, or even in enjoying the myriad benefits of reading for pleasure or learning, everyone knows that not being able to read is a undesirable state. It should then be easy to also understand why the blind should be given every possible encouragement and resource in order to allow them to also benefit from the many doors that open to readers. Braille is therefore a vital pathway to this objective.

Reasons to Continue Encouragement of Braille Usage

There are perhaps innumerable reasons that could be listed in support of why braille is still an essential skill for the blind to acquire. Below are just a few of the many that might be mentioned. In all instances, it’s important to remember that the blind are “handicapped” more often by others than by themselves. The sight-impaired have made and will continue to make important contributions to the world. Whether one can see or not should make no difference in how their efforts are received, valued, or applied.

Braille Allows the Blind to Discover the World

Specifically, braille gives the blind the ability to speak for themselves and to both define and defend their rights. It also is a critical tool in education, allowing the blind to determine what they will learn and how they will do so. In this regard it also allows for the blind to live freely in the world of ideas. For hundreds of years they were sadly shut out from doing so, simply because it was wrongly assumed they had nothing to say or to contribute. For these and many other reasons, braille is still a vital lifeline for the blind, and should therefore be regarded as such by everyone.

Filed Under: Blindness, Braille, General, Support Tagged With: , , ,

Technology Opening New Doors to the Blind

Technology Opening New Doors to the Blind

For those who are blind or who suffer from low vision, this is an exciting time to be alive. Advances in technology are rapidly and permanently opening new doors that have long been closed to these individuals. In some ways this can be overwhelming to someone who has had to live with some degree of imposed limitation for at least some portion of their life. Now that these limitations are disappearing, a blind person must begin to view the world in a new and at first unfamiliar way. People that haven’t had to face the everyday struggle of living in a sightless world may sometimes lack empathy for these individuals, which is understandable. It is ultimately up to each blind or sight-impaired person to determine how they will employ technology in their lives.

Assistive or Adaptive Technology: What is it?

One of the more exciting developments in recent years has been the emergence and incremental improvement of assistive or adaptive technology. There are many different types and categories of tools available, including such things as electronic braille readers, digital book players, computer software and computer scanners, large print calculators, and others. These items can range in cost from a few dollars to a thousand dollars and up. The most basic definition as to what one of these devices are is this: Any tool or device that provides greater ability and freedom to someone who otherwise would lack these things. it is important to note that with many of these tools, first having a basic understanding of braille makes them much more effective and helpful.

Is Braille Still Important?

For this and many other reasons, being “conversant” in braille is as vital a skill for the blind in today’s world as it has ever been. Although there are some both within and outside the blind community that have advocated for a decrease in the value placed upon learning and using braille, the evidence is clear that this is still a critical capability to have in the world today.

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Braille in the New World

The numbers are striking. Based on recent surveys, there are close to 60,000 children in the United States that are legally blind. Of these, it is estimated that only ten percent or less of these children are using Braille as their main means of reading. In comparison, it is estimated that close to 50% of legally-blind children were using Braille in 1960. Although there are several reasons for this decline, including decreases in school budgets and changing philosophies regarding how blind children should be educated, the biggest impact has likely come from technological advancements.

Technology Opening New Doors to the Blind

Particularly among young people, the development of technological tools such as speech readers, audio books and Braille writers have led to a decrease in this age group’s use of traditional Braille. Although some in the blind community have concern over this, it is generally considered to be a positive development. If the goal is to increase the range and depth of learning for the sight-impaired, then the means employed to obtain this should be of secondary importance. Using advanced technology also has positive social ramifications for legally-blind children, since use of the Internet and more particularly social networks such as Facebook, give these children ample opportunity to develop new connections.

Braille Still a Doorway to the World

Without question, the learning of Braille should still be encouraged among all age groups and social classes. Just as learning the piano is considered an important gateway to learning how to play any other musical instrument, learning Braille prepares children that are blind to more easily learn and use all of the more cutting-edge tools available for learning now available in the 21st century. Although those without vision certainly still face hurdles as they make their way through a sightless world, technology is increasingly knocking those hurdles down, or at the least making them easier to clear. Everyone with an interest in seeing the blind successfully make their way toward a meaningful life should be engaged in promoting any and all tools that will lead to this objective.

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The Value of Braille Relates to Perceptions of the Blind

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Braille Essential for Both Employment and Enjoyment

Recent data suggests that 90% or more of the blind presently employed at least part-time in the United States are Braille readers. This important statistic hints at an even more important idea: Braille is an essential tool in the pursuit of independence and achievement for the blind and sight-impaired. Without it they are certainly faced with a more daunting climb toward equality. Knowing Braille gives the blind their best chance at reaching goals and objectives that might otherwise be unachievable. This is true both for their hopes of success in employment as well as in finding enjoyment in entertainment. Rather than being dependent on what someone else has determined is worthy of being recorded to audio, the blind have access to a much wider range of texts that have been printed in Braille versus those only recorded to CD.

The Value of Braille Relates to Perceptions of the Blind

Unfortunately, there are some who believe that the fact that it takes effort to learn Braille and that there is now technology available to replace it are sufficient reasons to discourage continued efforts to teach Braille to children. This angers many in the blind community, and for good reason. They argue that this viewpoint reveals a prejudice against the blind, specifically as it relates to their expectations of the blind’s potential for advancement and full equality. Every effort that can be made to revive the learning of Braille among children should be heartily pursued. This will insure that they control their own futures, rather than having those futures limited or controlled by others.

Changes Come Incrementally

Rather than applying a broad brush to this problem, it is best to approach it in as local a way as possible. This means that change will start at the individual level. As advocates for the blind, whether these are parents, educators, or government and business leaders, decide to emphasize the learning of Braille to blind children, the tide can be reversed. It’s not too late to start.

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Braille Technology Today

Advances in Braille technology are making it possible for many in the blind community to more easily read and write using braille. Some of these devices are designed to produce Braille books, while others give people the ability to read books and information using a computer or the Internet. As you would expect, some of these are both easy to use and inexpensive, while others are more complex and come with a higher price tag. Listed below are a few of the many tools now available for braille users to employ in schooling, work or home.

Slate and Stylus

In the inexpensive column, perhaps the most basic and easy tools to use are the slate and stylus. In many ways similar to using pencil and paper, slates are created by placing two thin sheets of plastic or metal together with a hinge to attach them in place. The slate is then opened in order to hold a piece of paper. At the top there are several rows of openings that match the shapes and sizes of Braille cells. The user then takes a stylus, which is a pencil-like object with a handle, to emboss or indent dots onto the paper being held by the slate. The indentations on the slate are designed to keep the stylus from tearing the paper below. Both slates and styluses are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors.

Braille Displays

On the more advanced and expensive side, braille displays are machines built with a row of cells or characters made of metal or plastic pins. These pins are then controlled by use of computer, moving up and down while displaying, in braille, the various characters are they appear on the display. One of the exciting aspects of this technology is its flexibility, given that it changes according to the user’s movements on the computer monitor. Generally these displays sit beneath a computer keyboard.

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The Blind Must Advocate for the Blind

Among the many who would be considered heroes to the blind and low-vision community, perhaps none is more universally revered than Helen Keller. Her story is well-known and has been revisited in movies, on stage, and in the pages of countless books, in addition to many other places. One of the many reasons why Mrs. Keller’s story has value today has to do with the idea of having an advocate. As you will recall, Helen’s parents hired a woman by the name of Anne or Annie Sullivan to help care for their deaf and blind daughter. Anne was herself almost totally without sight. Through heroic perseverance, Sullivan opened the world to Keller by teaching her sign language. Helen Keller went on to become a world-renowned advocate for the deaf and the blind, and is still widely admired today by both the blind and the deaf communities as a remarkable role-model.

Learning Braille a Key to Self-Discovery

This story provides a relevant guide for how the blind should function even today. First of all, it is important that there be someone in place in their lives, especially if the blind person is a dependent child. One of the first and most important things an advocate can do for a blind child is to help them along the pathway to reading. In most instances this will, at the very least, include the learning of braille. As a blind person enters the world of ideas through books and other resources printed in braille, they then can begin to focus on becoming self-advocates. This is the ultimate objective. To be able to stand up for and to seek for one’s own interests is one of the great and fundamental human rights. Helen Keller needed an Anne Sullivan to show her the way. But if she hadn’t chosen at some point to become her own advocate, the tremendous exertions made by her teacher would have had only limited impact. This combination was then, and is still today, the key to full self-discovery for the blind.

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