#12 Calling BS on Anti-Braille

Day # 12, Today I'm calling "BS" on anti-Braile.

Did you know that less than 10% of blind students are learning Braille today? That means that 90% of blind children will graduate illiterate.

Exploring Braille is important for young children.
I have Braille labels all over my house.
Sighted children see words everywhere so I put Braille everywhere!

Now my son has light perception only. He is blind. Braille is his only option for literacy. For children with some sight, the options are different. Some visually impaired children can read magnified print; however, one must consider that many visual impairments worsen with time. Eyestrain and fatigue can become a real barrier to learning. When it is a strain to read children won't enjoy it. I love to read and it would break my heart if Tom couldn't read. I am doing everything in my power to help him to love reading. (Hint: Braille books make great holiday gifts!)

It is important to consider Braille as an option for the future. How does the student who uses significant magnification take notes in class when they are in high school? It's hard to write notes when you can't see them. How cumbersome does it become to read novels using a very large font?

Yes, students can make audio recordings of their classes, but how hard is it to find the passage you want to study when you only have audio? Wouldn't that have made things harder for you in school? Children who read Braille can read, type, and take notes. They can keep up with their classmates!

I don't want to give the impression that schools are trying to do a disservice to blind/visually impaired children. Unfortunately, many schools face barriers such as budget constraints and a lack of available teachers of the visually impaired. It can be a fight to get the proper Braille training for many reasons.

Braille must not be that scary. Here it put him to sleep!
(This was Tom's first day of preschool. I think the excitement got to him.)

Parents must consider that what reading media assessments say may be more of a reflection of what the school district wants or believes, rather than what a student needs. Tom is in the clear because he is almost completely blind. He will be a Braille reader. It's the kids with some bit of sight that I worry about.

Some people say that Braille is hard. Well, learning to read itself takes dedication and training; learning to read Braille is no different. Braille is a code for English. That's all. Take a look for yourself.

From www.nbp.org

Is reading 12 words a minute an acceptable reading level for a fifth grader? Not to me it isn't! (I'm officially calling BS on that!) Read "From Literacy to Advocacy" by Jessy Hartle to understand what it was like for him to struggle in school and the freedom he found in Braille.

When Tom was born and we knew he would be visually impaired, but we didn't know how much vision he would have. I remember thinking, "I hope Tom doesn't need a cane, and I hope he doesn't need Braille." He needs both! And I was the one who pushed for pre-Braille and cane instruction beginning when he was two-years-old. Now that I know more, I understand that for the blind and visually impaired, reading Braille and using a cane are freedom and the promise of a bright future.

I hope you will consider Braille in a new light. Braille is not the only way to literacy for the visually impaired, but it will continue to be an important way for many children.

DAY 12!