DOTS for Braille Literacy (Development of Teacher Support) Vol. 9, Number 3; Summer 2004

From the Editor

Summertime to me has always meant a chance to catch up on reading, and for the last two years I've enjoyed sharing with DOTS readers some of the books I've read over the past year. In keeping with tradition, then, let me tell you about three books that have made me think, made me grab my husband by the arm and read aloud to him, and made me write comments in the margins.

I read Parker Palmer's The Courage to Teach at the recommendation of a friend, and was glad I did. Palmer's book is subtitled, "Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life" which captures the essence of his argument that teaching is more than tricks and techniques, but includes the identity and integrity of the teacher. Palmer states, "In our rush to reform education, we have forgotten a simple truth: reform will never be achieved by renewing appropriations, restructuring schools, rewriting curricula, and revising texts if we continue to demean and dishearten the human resource called the teacher on whom so much depends." In these days of increased scrutiny over such things as standardized test scores, it is a good reminder to recall why most of us were called to teaching as a profession in the first place.

I've been a fan of Neil Postman's since I read Amusing Ourselves to Death several years ago, so when I picked up Building a Bridge to the 18th Century I knew I was in for a treat. Postman hearkens back to the Age of Enlightenment to remind us that the future doesn't depend on technology or fancy gizmos, but on protecting the ideals of democracy, high-quality education, and the needs of our children. He puts technology in the context of human need, and discusses the consequences of unbridled technological innovation as an end to itself. While technology solves problems, it creates them, too.

The third book I'll mention is Diane Ravitch's The Language Police. This controversial and thought-provoking book discusses the pressures put on producers of standardized tests and school textbooks to be "unbiased." While I had some definite disagreements with the author as I read this book, it's a fascinating look at the world of textbook publishing, and the sometimes fine line between selection and censorship.

So what are you reading these days?

Frances Mary D'Andrea, Editor, DOTS

Summer Reading with the Braille Bug®

Just in time for summer, two new books have been posted on AFB's Braille Bug site for the Braille Bug Reading Club, www.afb.org/braillebug. The Reading Club features high-quality children's literature readily available in braille and in print, and encourages children to share their thoughts about the books by posting messages on Reading Club message boards. Kids can also play Jumble games based on details from the books, where questions are posted about events in the books and the answers are given as scrambled braille words.

The Club is featuring two classic books this summer:

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. Ten-year-old India has just moved to a new town. Her mom has left their family, her father's been hiding in his old "turtle shell," and all she wants is a friend. And that's when she meets Winn-Dixie, a stray dog she rescues at the local grocery store. This novel is a Newbery Honor Book.

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. Have you read this funny, touching story about a pig and his best friend—a spider? Wilbur is "Some Pig," according to Charlotte, who launches a spirited web-writing campaign to save Wilbur from his fate. Read Charlotte's Web this summer to see why this novel has been a beloved classic for over 50 years.

Watch the site later this summer for a listing of Braille Bug Book Club features for next school year. Comments? Questions? Send a message to: braillebug@afb.net.

Reader's Exchange

[Editor's Note: DOTS readers are strong promoters of braille literacy and have sent many stories over the years about their activities in support of braille. Gloria Moyer, a teacher of students with visual impairments sent the following story to share.]

Eyes on Their Fingers

Otis School in Chicago has long been an advocate for the inclusion of our students with visual disabilities. Braille skills are taught at an early age in a resource room and time is increased each year with sighted peers in large classrooms.

On a recent morning this past spring, my two first grade braille readers and I visited their classroom during the reading period. Our purpose was to demonstrate what they had been learning in my class. My students read stories from their braille book and, in return, their sighted friends read from their books. Later, we explained the braillewriter and while my students wrote sentences their peers wrote the same sentences in print. We shared these writings and a wonderful discussion and questions took place from both sides. At one point, my student Nadia raised her hand and asked, "How do my friends read their print books?" A darling boy explained how he uses his eyes and later declared, "It's like Nadia and Nat have eyes on their fingers."

Needless to say, this was an hour well spent. These first graders developed mutual respect and understanding of each other which will, no doubt, increase with each year. This experience was a building block and a reminder that we as educators are certainly doing something right.

—Gloria Moyer, James Otis School, Chicago, Illinois

A to Z of Blindness and Vision Loss Now Online

American Foundation for the Blind Expands Web Site

Whether you're hoping to find the latest information on accessible cellphones for people who are blind or have low vision, looking for resources to help teach a visually impaired student in your classroom, working for a corporation researching ADA compliance, or are experiencing vision loss and want to learn how to maintain your independence, www.AFB.org has the answer.

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has redesigned its web site, adding new information and resources for the 10 million Americans who are blind or have low vision. New features on the site include a glossary of eye conditions, "etiquette tips" for interacting with a person who is blind, and a home page function called "Where can I find?," allowing visitors to locate organizations in their state that provide services&8212;from dog guide training to newspaper reading services to education services—for people who are blind or visually impaired and their families.

AFB has also added an extensive searchable database of assistive technology products used by people who are blind or visually impaired. Visitors can browse by product, category, or manufacturer and find out everything from usage to price to the size and weight of the product.

The web site also retains popular features, such as the Helen Keller Archives and the Braille Bug®—a kids' section with games and activities to promote literacy and demystify braille. Visitors can read about the latest assistive technology in AccessWorld®—AFB's premier, online technology magazine—or search for a mentor through CareerConnect™, AFB's Internet-based employment resource center.

In accordance with AFB's mission, the web site is a technologically advanced model of accessibility. The content has been organized so that all web site visitors can customize the pages to meet their viewing needs. For example, a person with low vision can change color, contrast, and text size to better view the site, while people using an audio screen reader can change the navigation of interior pages to better accommodate their needs.

For more information, contact Carrie Fernandez; 212-502-7674; cfernandez@afb.net.

Participants Needed for Braille Transcription Study

Researchers on the Tactile Graphics Project at the University of Washington are conducting a study (funded by the National Science Foundation; IIS-0335143) to better understand the process for translating graphical images (i.e., charts and diagrams) to braille. The researchers are looking for braille transcribers to participate in the study.

The study consists of completing an online questionnaire and one 3-hour observation session. Participants can choose to participate in the first or both study phases. Anyone who transcribes braille (in any format) is invited to complete the online questionnaire, which takes about 20 minutes to complete.

For the observation session, the project staff is looking for participants who have completed the online questionnaire, and have at least one year of experience transcribing graphics and text. Participants will be asked to describe and demonstrate their processes for translating/transcribing text and two graphical images to braille. Project staff will observe and interview participants within their work or home environments, ask participants to share transcription artifacts (e.g., original and braille versions of one graphic), take photographs of their computer screens, and make audio-video recordings of the session for subsequent analysis.

Participants will be compensated with a $5.00 Amazon gift certificate for completing the questionnaire and $36 for completing the observation session. Transcribers who are interested in participating in this study may contact the staff at tgstudy@u.washington.edu; include "Braille Transcription Study" in the subject line of the email message.

The project also maintains a subject database of people who are braille transcribers or braille readers in the Seattle area. When researchers on the project conduct a study, they recruit participants by emailing people from this database. Signing up to be in the database in no way obligates volunteers to participate in any particular study. Database members can always decline to participate. Those who wish to be included in the subject database should include that information in the body of the e-mail. Braille transcribers and readers who are unable to participate in the current study should feel free to send an email message to tgstudy@u.washington.edu to be included in the subject database for future projects. Please remember that confidentiality of information that is sent by e-mail cannot be guaranteed. Participants will not be contacted without their consent or against their wishes.

For more information about the studies and the database, contact Melody Y. Ivory-Ndiaye, Co-Principal Investigator, Tactile Graphics Project, The Information School, University of Washington; phone: 206-616-6110; e-mail: tgstudy@u.washington.edu.

Short Takes

A new list called Blindmath has been created on the National Federation of the Blind web site. This group is a place where interested persons can discuss all issues related to blindness and math. Topics for discussion include (but are not limited to) sources for accessible texts, information about tactile and auditory graphing programs, suggestions for insuring that math lectures are accessible to blind students, and strategies used by blind math instructors. Anyone with an interest in this topic is free to join this group and contribute to the discussions. To subscribe to the list, either go to www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath or send an e-mail message to blindmath-request@nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject line of the message. The list is moderated by Angie Matney. For more information, contact her at her email address, matneyar@vcu.edu.

Bookshare.org and Lighthouse International have collaborated to make the Employment and Career Development Collection available electronically. This collection of resources for job seekers and career-focused readers is the first in a series of themed collections of accessible digital books developed by the Print Access Center of the Lighthouse International for Bookshare.org members. The Employment and Career Development Collection gathers some of the most in-demand books on job hunting, interview techniques, and professional development from recent years, many of which were not previously available in accessible formats. For more information about this collection and about Bookshare.org, visit their web site www.bookshare.org, or contact Alison Lingane, phone: (650) 475-5440 x122; e-mail: alison.l@benetech.org.

BANA Participates in ICEB General Assembly

The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) participated in the Third General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille held in Toronto, Ontario, from March 29 through April 2, 2004. Both Canada and the United States, as the two countries comprising the voting membership of BANA, were each represented by a four-member delegation (with at least 50% of the delegation consisting of individuals who were blind).

The U.S. delegation included Kim Charlson, BANA Chairperson; Eileen Curran, Immediate Past BANA Chairperson; Warren Figueiredo, BANA Vice Chairperson; and Frances Mary D'Andrea, Chair, BANA Unified English Braille Code (UEBC) Research Committee. Alternate delegates for the U.S. were Mary Archer, BANA secretary and Ruby Ryles, member BANA Unified English Braille Code (UEBC) Research Committee. Mary Lou Stark, Chair of the BANA Bylaws Committee, served as ICEB parliamentarian.

The Canadian delegation included Debbie Sitar, President of the Canadian Braille Authority; Darleen Bogart, National Braille Convener for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind; Frank Chennells, member of the UEBC Committee II Extension of the Base Code Working Group; and Debbie Gillespie, Immediate Past President, Canadian Braille Authority. Phyllis Landon, a member of UEBC Committee VI served as alternate delegate.

The ICEB General Assembly agreed that the Unified English Braille Code (UEBC) is sufficiently complete for recognition as an international standard for English-language braille that may now be considered by member countries for possible adoption as their national braille code. BANA recognizes and respects the autonomy of other ICEB member countries. For this reason both the U.S. and Canadian delegations voted unanimously to allow implementation of UEBC in those countries that choose to use this newly developed code. At this time, BANA has yet to take a stand regarding the adoption of UEBC for use in the United States. The decision on UEBC in Canada will be made by the Canadian Braille Authority. BANA intends to monitor UEBC activities around the world and will make a decision on local implementation of the code only after due consultation with braille readers and other stakeholders.

The ICEB UEBC Project will continue under a new structure. The General Assembly has directed its Executive Committee to set up a mechanism by which UEBC development, implementation, research, and promotional activities will take place. The ICEB General Assembly acknowledged that further research was needed on the impact of UEBC on writing in general and math and foreign language in particular. Additional research on contractions was identified as a priority if rule simplification in the area of syllable bridging is to be achieved. While ICEB accepted UEBC current design as outlined in the reader and transcription rules, it did not adopt specific braille format guidelines. Instead, it has directed a working group to study various format systems and identify the underlying principles and best practices that make for effective tactile navigation.

The General Assembly also addressed other braille-related issues including:

• The ICEB Tactile Graphics Committee should focus on information sharing among member nations;
  
  
• ICEB member countries are encouraged to provide outreach to developing countries that use English as one of their primary languages;
  
  
• The ICEB has requested specifically that BANA assist in identifying activities that would eliminate barriers to the widest possible sharing of accessible formats between countries; and
  
  
• The ICEB has endorsed the establishment of the World Braille Council by the World Blind Union.

For more information about the International Council on English Braille visit www.iceb.org. For more information about the Braille Authority of North America visit www.brailleauthority.org, or contact Kim Charlson, Chair, Braille Authority of North America; phone: 617-972-7249; e-mail: kim.charlson@perkins.org.

ICEB Resolutions

Delegates from all seven member countries of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) were in attendance at the recent General Assembly held in Toronto, Canada, representing Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The following 15 resolutions were passed during the meeting. Resolution 1 was carried 6-0 with the United Kingdom abstaining. All other resolutions were carried unanimously.

Resolutions Passed by the Third General Assembly International Council on English Braille, April 2, 2004, Toronto, Canada

1.0 Whereas the Project Committee was charged with the creation of one braille code for English which would expand the literary code in order to embed in it symbols for all technical materials (with the exception of music) this General Assembly resolves that:

1. ICEB acknowledge that the Unified English Braille code is sufficiently complete;
2. the Unified English Braille Code be recognized as an international standard for English braille; and
3. respecting the autonomy of ICEB members acting at the national level, this General Assembly refers the UEBC to ICEB members for consideration and possible adoption by their national braille authorities after due consultation with their braille users and other stakeholders.

2.0 This General Assembly resolves that ICEB express its appreciation to the Project Committee for its excellent work; that the Project Committee and its working committees be dissolved; and that the Executive Committee be charged with establishing whatever committees are required (including an overarching committee) to complete the task of carrying on the work of the UEBC.

3.0 This General Assembly resolves that the Executive Committee be asked to coordinate the development of UEBC-related training materials for transcribers, teachers, and learners.

4.0 This General Assembly resolves that ICEB establish a committee to coordinate unified English braille-related research among the member countries, generate a list of topics for research, and assign them a priority rating.

5.0 This General Assembly resolves that the impact of the proposed UEBC on writing generally and on the learning of foreign languages and mathematics needs to be researched as a matter of urgency.

6.0 This General Assembly resolves that the ICEB support research in the area of the use of contractions in syllable bridging and its impact on readability in all English-speaking countries; and that the Executive appropriate an amount to be dedicated toward expenses for conducting such research; and that ICEB work in collaboration with other entities (such as the International Braille Research Center, the American Foundation for the Blind, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Royal National Institute of the Blind, etc.) interested in and committed to conducting research on braille reading and writing and which are willing to contribute additional funding as needed to complete such research.

7.0 This General Assembly reaffirms its support for the principles of rules simplification, reduction of exceptions to rules wherever possible, and maximizing consistencies in braille usage across English-speaking countries; that to facilitate adherence to these principles a plan be introduced aimed at common usage of contractions and the elimination of differences in the use of bridging syllables, prefixes and suffixes, diphthongs and rules dependent on pronunciation, etc.; that a working group be established to progress this and priority be given to examining current rules and determining a way forward to resolve this issue.

8.0 This General Assembly agrees that, although format guidelines are not a prerequisite for the implementation of UEBC, braille formatting methods impact on the readability of braille. Good formatting practices in different countries have common elements relating to the need for effective tactile navigation. Therefore, this General Assembly resolves that a working group should be established to formulate these principles of best practice covering materials for children and adults including elementary educational materials.

9.0 The General Assembly resolves that the working group set up under Resolution 8 establish a sub-group to gather information from all participating countries on current format practice for elementary educational materials; and that the sub-group continue the work of developing format guidelines and encourage their use in the production of materials intended for young readers.

10.0 This General Assembly recognizes that the charges given to the ICEB Tactile Graphics Committee in resolution 14 of the 1999 General Assembly have not been accomplished and that a new approach is needed. This General Assembly resolves that a Tactile Graphics Committee be re-established by the Executive with an initial focus on information sharing between ICEB countries.

11.0 This General Assembly resolves that the Braille Promotion Committee facilitates the sharing of ideas, promotional and instructional materials, together with implementation strategies for the UEBC; and that the Public Relations Officer's duties include responsibility for enhancing the ICEB web site accordingly.

12.0 Whereas the executive committee of ICEB has found it difficult to establish communication with developing countries that use English as a second language, in line with resolution 1.0 of the 1999 General Assembly; given the limited resources available to these countries which make face to face meeting impractical; recognizing the increased access to Internet services in developing countries and the urgent desire of ICEB to reach out to them, this General Assembly resolves that:

1. ICEB seeks to identify those involved in the use, production, and teaching of braille in developing countries and communicates with them;
2. ICEB encourages and assists those who respond and show commitment to the aims of ICEB, and helps them to establish their own braille councils;
3. ICEB encourages such braille councils to establish regional communication with each other;
4. current member countries of ICEB be encouraged to establish a one-to-one relationship with a fledgling braille council to provide appropriate support.

13.0 This General Assembly affirms the principle of unrestricted international interlending of reading materials in alternative formats among recognized blindness agencies. Therefore the Executive Committee of ICEB should work through the Braille Authority of North America and with other relevant non-governmental organizations and governmental agencies to give non-citizens of the United States access to braille and other accessible format materials produced in the United States through the development of appropriate international protocols and legislative change if necessary.

14.0 This General Assembly resolves that ICEB endorses the proposed establishment by the World Blind Union of the World Braille Council and requests the ICEB Executive Committee to facilitate participation in the WBC by ICEB and its affiliated braille authorities as it deems appropriate.

15.0 This General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille wishes to put on record its warm thanks to the following:

1. the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, particularly for the hospitality, valuable resources and well-chosen hotel accommodation with well-briefed staff;
2. the Canadian Braille Authority for hosting this Assembly and, in particular, to Darleen Bogart, Jill Cooter, and the excellent braille transcribers for all their efforts that ensured a successful meeting;
3. the observers for their participation and contributions to the success of the meeting;
4. the observers who provided assistance that contributed to the smooth running of the meeting;
5. Mary Lou Stark who provided parliamentary advice, and Anita Munshi for exemplary secretarial services; and
6. the ICEB President, Dr. Fred Schroeder, for fair and good-humored chairmanship of the proceedings.

CBA Votes to Move Forward with UEBC Implementation

The Canadian Braille Authority (CBA) voted unanimously at its annual board meeting on April 4, 2004, to form a Unified English Braille Implementation Committee.

The CBA motion that established the committee states:

"Given that the International Council on English Braille acknowledges the Unified English Braille Code as an international standard for English braille and has referred it for consideration and possible adoption to national standards-setting bodies, the CBA will take a leadership role in the adoption of UEBC as the standard for English braille in Canada by identifying a process for implementation in collaboration with relevant national and provincial organizations, departments of education, and consumers."

The names of the members of the CBA Implementation Committee will be posted on the CBA website www.canadianbrailleauthority.ca as soon as they have been finalized.

Founded in 1991, The Canadian Braille Authority is dedicated to the promotion of braille as the primary medium for persons who are blind. The CBA board has representation from consumers, parents, and educators of people who are blind or visually impaired from across Canada. Three founding organizations have a permanent seat on the CBA board: the Canadian Council of the Blind, The Canadian National Institute for the Blind, and L'Institut Nazareth et Louis Braille.

For more information: Debbie Sitar, President, Canadian Braille Authority; e-mail: deb@mcsitar.com; web site: www.canadianbrailleauthority.ca.

New From NBP

National Braille Press announces the publication of new workbooks to reinforce the development of creative and critical thinking in K-3 classrooms. Primary Analogies, Books 1. 2, and 3, features large print and braille on the same page, and comes with a teacher's guide and answer key. The workbooks introduce young students to sophisticated thinking skills as they learn to read. Analogies are often found on state-wide tests and in textbooks, and require children to consider the relationships between the words presented and to make connections to new information. A pre-analogy section gives practice in finding similarities, categorizing, making comparisons, and using Venn diagrams. Book 1 is presented in uncontracted braille, while the other two volumes are in contracted braille. Primary Analogies is available as a set for $19 plus shipping and handling.

To order or for more information contact National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115; phone: 888-965-8965; web site: www.nbp.org.

New From Seedlings

Seedlings Braille Books for Children has added 18 new children's books to their catalog, just in time for summer reading. Choose from new print-braille-picture books, print-braille books, and braille only story books, such as One, Two, Three a counting book by artist Sandra Boynton, The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings by Stan and Jan Berenstain, and Sideways Stories from Wayside School by award-winning author Louis Sachar.

Seedlings also offers new braille literacy pins, created especially for Seedlings by Designs by Lucinda. Purchasing a pin will help raise funds to bring the gift of reading to children who are blind, and will spread the word about the importance of braille literacy. The pins come in four different designs, and cost $14.00 each, plus $1.50 for shipping.

For more information about these products, or to request a catalog, contact Seedlings P.O. Box 51924, Livonia, MI 48151-5924; phone: 800-777-8552; web site: www.seedlings.org.

"The problem to be solved in the twenty-first century is not how to move information, not the engineering of information. We solved that problem long ago. The problem is how to transform information into knowledge, and how to transform knowledge into wisdom. If we can solve that problem, all the rest will take care of itself."
—Neil Postman

This newsletter is published by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and funded in part by contributions to the National Literacy Center. However, information contained herein does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of AFB or its contributors and no endorsement by AFB or its contributors should be inferred.

© 2004 American Foundation for the Blind
Contents may not be reproduced without permission.

DOTS is published three times a year (October, February, and June), and is available in regular print, braille, via e-mail, or on disk. If you'd prefer to be reading this in a different format, please contact the editor at:

DOTS
American Foundation for the Blind
100 Peachtree St., Suite 620
Atlanta GA 30303
Telephone: 404-525-2303
Fax: 404-659-6957
E-mail: literacy@afb.net

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