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Materials for Learning Braille by Sight

F.M. D'Andrea

"How do you read this? the braille reader may be asked by a fascinated friend who reads print. Often the next sentence is "I could never learn that." Print readers are sometimes surprised to learn that several programs exist to teach the braille code to sighted individuals.

Sighted people learn to read and write braille for many reasons. Parents may want to learn so they can read along with their blind children. Print readers may wish to write braille letters to blind friends and family members. Rehabilitation teachers or teachers of visually impaired students learn braille as part of their training programs. A nationwide network of volunteer transcribers learn braille to assist in making materials available for blind readers. In addition, some people are interested in learning the code simply because they find it intriguing. The following is a description of self-study programs that teach braille to sighted people. The form, content, and intent of these programs vary greatly. Generally these materials are in a self-study format with lessons and exercises to be done by the learner at his or her own pace. Feedback is given to the learner with correct answers after each lesson. The programs listed are not intended to teach braille to blind children or newly blinded adults, nor are they intended to teach tactile braille reading. In addition, most of these programs were not designed to teach the complex rules, such as those for textbook formatting, which are necessary to become a braille transcriber.

Just Enough to Know Better (1988) by Eileen Curran was designed specifically for parents of blind children who are learning braille. It is not intended to teach all the rules of the literary braille code, but it does introduce all the Grade 2 contractions and points out some common exceptions. It uses embossed braille printed on one side of the page with a line-by-line print translation on the facing page. Although it discusses braille writing in general, it does not provide writing practice. It is useful for those who wish to acquire a general understanding of braille. Just Enough to Know Better is available from National Braille Press Inc., 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115; 617-266-6160. The cost is $12 plus $3 for shipping.

The Hadley School for the Blind offers a correspondence course for sighted parents of a blind or visually impaired child called Braille Reading for Family Members. This course uses Just Enough to Know Better as part of a self-study program for parents or family members who wish to learn braille. The program is free when the parent enrolls at Hadley. For more information, contact Hadley School for the Blind, P.O. Box 299, Winnetka, IL 60093; 800-323-4238.

Handbook for Learning to Read Braille by Sight (1985) by Leland Schubert uses a combination of facsimile (print) braille and embossed braille to teach Grade 2 braille by sight. It is not intended to teach all the detailed rules of the code. It is divided into 32 short sections, each introducing a new group of contractions and ending with an exercise in reading embossed braille. Sources for braille writing materials are discussed, but braille writing is not specifically taught. Although this book has some utility for teaching basics about the braille code, there have been some revisions to the code since the book was published, and therefore some parts are no longer accurate. The Handbook is available from the American Printing House for the Blind for $25.20. To order, contact the American Printing House for the Blind, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206; 800-223-1839. (The American Printing House for the Blind also sells a variety of code books and braille transcription manuals for literary braille, Nemeth code, computer braille, music braille, Grade 3 braille, and Spanish and German braille codes. These books are important references for those wishing to learn more detailed information about the braille code and braille transcription.)

New Programmed Instruction in Braille, Second Edition (1994) by S. Ashcroft, F. Henderson, L. Sanford, and A. Koenig is a comprehensive program that teaches all the contractions and rules for reading and writing literary braille (although not intended to be a transcriber's code book). It is often used in university training classes. It is divided into 11 chapters, which include reading and writing exercises, tests, and review. The second edition incorporates changes due to 1991 BANA (Braille Authority of North America) rule revisions. A chart of computer braille symbols is included, as are appendices with general rules, common "problem" words, and a cross reference chart of specific rules. The second edition also includes a chapter on the basic elements of the Nemeth code. Braille is indicated by a facsimile print font (as opposed to actual embossed dots). The book costs $45 (plus $2.50 for shipping) and is available from SCALARS Publishing Company, P.O. Box 158123, Nashville, TN 37215; 615-373-3332. A companion volume in embossed braille (for $10.50 plus $1.50 shipping) and an instructor's manual are also available.

Braille Codes and Calculations (1993) by Mary Ellen Pesavento is a self-study workbook originally designed to be used as part of the distance-education teacher training program at San Francisco State University. The program teaches the literary code and Nemeth code (up to about the sixth-grade level). It presents 21 lessons, interspersing training in the Nemeth math code with the literary code. Each lesson includes practice exercises, tests, and proofreading exercises. It is recommended that the learner use this program in conjunction with Dot Writing, which teaches how to write braille with both a Perkins brailler and a slate and stylus. The two programs are available together ($75) or separately ($60 for Braille Codes and Calculations, and $15 for Dot Writing) from Exceptional Teaching Aids, 20102 Woodbine Avenue, Castro Valley, CA 94546; 800-549-6999. (Braille Codes and Calculations is also available in braille or on an IBM computer disk for those tactile braille readers who wish to review literary and Nemeth code rules.)

The National Braille Association has developed a Literary Braille Refresher Course for Teachers and Transcribers. This course is not designed for the initial teaching of braille. It is appropriate for people who have already learned the literary braille code and need to brush up. This 300-page book of exercises, self-tests, and up-to-date rule summaries is a comprehensive review of literary braille designed for independent study with or without an instructor. An Answer Section shows correct braille for all exercises and gives the answers to all test questions. References are given to the latest edition of the official literary code, English Braille American Edition (1994). The book costs $26.95. To order, contact the National Braille Association, 3 Townline Circle, Rochester, NY 14623; 716-427-8260.

For those who are interested in becoming braille transcribers, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) offers courses in braille transcribing and proofreading for literary braille (as well as Nemeth code and music braille). These materials are sometimes used in university training programs if a Library of Congress certified transcriber or proofreader is working with the students. It is also offered by correspondence. Eligibility requirements are U.S. citizenship or residency and a high school diploma or equivalent. To become a certified transcriber, the student must go through the NLS course, which may take a year or more to complete the 18 lessons. The student mails each completed lesson to NLS, where it is hand-scored and sent back to the student for feedback and corrections. At the end of the course, the student must submit a 35-page manuscript using correct formatting techniques. For more information, contact Braille Development Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542; 800-424-8567.

COMPUTER PROGRAMS

There are two computer-based instructional programs for teaching braille to print readers. The Braille Teacher by Aubrey Welle is available for DOS-compatible computers. This software takes the learner through 10 lessons on the literary braille code. It also includes four appendices that list all the Grade 2 contractions, a bibliography, and further information about the program. The computer keyboard is transformed into a mock braille keyboard so the learner can practice writing braille. Text and simulated braille are presented on the screen. The program costs $25.50 (specify either 51/4" or 31/2" disk) and is available from Electronics Wel-Made, 7216 Arlington Drive, St. Louis, MO 63117; 314-645-1857. A sample disk that includes the introduction and first two lessons is available for $3, which is credited to full purchase.

Another computer-assisted instructional program for learning Grade 2 braille is The Computerized Braille Tutor. The program, which is designed for DOS-compatible computers, converts the keyboard into a brailler and shows facsimile braille dots on the screen. It is designed to teach sighted persons braille and would also be appropriate for teachers and others who want to refresh their braille skills. For more information, contact Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), 206 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-548-1884. (See also the article about The Computerized Braille Tutor in this issue of JVIB.)

Frances Mary DAndrea, B.S., project coordinator, National Initiative on Literacy, American Foundation for the Blind, 100 Peachtree Street, Suite 620, Atlanta, GA 30303; E-mail: blmit@afb.org.