DOTS for Braille Literacy (Development of Teacher Support), Volume 14, Number 1, Fall 2008

In this issue...

• Editor's Note
• From the Editor
• January 4, 1809: The Day Louis Braille was Born
• News Briefs
• Dear DOT
• Calendar Dates of Interest

Editor's Note: Keeping in Touch with News

One of the goals of DOTS is to provide readers with information about workshops and events of particular interest to teachers of students who are blind or visually impaired. Since DOTS is published only a few times each year, some events slip through the cracks. AFB eNews — which you can register to receive for free at www.afb.org/myafbnewsletter2.asp — as well as the AFB Calendar of Events usually have the latest information on activities. Also, AFB and the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) host a web site called FamilyConnect™, where local and national events of interest to families are posted: www.familyconnect.org.

Another good source of information is the Professional Development Department's newsletter, Connections. Again, you can sign up to receive it for free at www.afb.org/myafbnewsletter2.asp. Please make a habit of checking the AFB web site and other web sites and links identified in this newsletter. Perhaps subscribe to an electronic discussion list such as AERnet to keep up with news related to teaching and promoting braille literacy. Connect to www.aerbvi.org and follow the link to subscribe to the AER electronic discussion list; you can choose to receive it either as individual e-mail messages or as a digest that includes several messages at one time.

From the Editor

"Now and then" is a phrase we might use when talking about doing something on an occasional basis. It can also be used to reflect on information from the past, how it relates to what is happening to us in the present, or even how things might be in the future.

This issue of DOTS reflects on some history as we get ready to celebrate the bicentennial of Louis Braille's birth. The January 4th date brings the opportunity to raise awareness of the man, and allows us to highlight braille literacy and the abilities of people who are blind. Share the biography of Louis Braille, find your own way to celebrate his birthday, and honor our history by doing what you can to keep braille literacy strong.

A celebration of the past also gives us the opportunity to consider the present and future. This issue includes announcements about new resources or coming events related to braille. Dear Dot even tackles a question about the impact of technology on the future of braille.

Now and then, it's nice to celebrate the past. Now and then, it's refreshing to think about the next generation of technology. And now and then, we relish present opportunities and challenges to do what we can to promote braille literacy.

—Marie J. Amerson, Editor

January 4, 1809: The Day Louis Braille was Born

Paris, France — A young genius was born in the nearby village of Coupvray on this date. It would take more than a lifetime for the world to recognize the importance of his contributions to society.

Louis Braille was born January 4, 1809, and at age 3, while playing in his father's workshop, suffered an injury to his eye that led to his blindness.

When he was ten years old, Louis began attending the Royal Institution for Blind Youth in Paris. In later years, Braille would become a well-respected teacher at the Institute.

As a young student, Louis was impatient to learn. The school library had a limited number of books with raised letters and it was not long before Louis had read them all. He wanted to have access to more books, and to be able to communicate with friends. As a student and teacher, Braille spent much of his leisure time trying to find a system by which people who were blind could write.

In 1820 or 1821 (all sources do not agree) a former soldier named Charles Barbier visited the Institute and shared his invention called "night writing." The Barbier code of 12 raised dots and a number of dashes allowed soldiers to send messages at night on the battlefield without having to speak or use light to read printed messages.

Barbier's system was based on dots corresponding to sounds, but its biggest drawback was that it did not account for spelling, grammar, or numbers. Braille simplified the system to correspond to the alphabet and used six dots to allow the recognition of letters with a single fingertip all at once. Braille's system delivered a significant advantage, giving people who were blind the new ability to read and write an alphabet.

The Royal Institute for the Blind in Paris, where Braille studied and later worked, published an article about his primary code in embossed print with braille examples in 1829. In the late 1820s and early 1830s Louis Braille adjusted and modified the code to make it more functional. Different sources place the publication of the first book in either 1827 or 1837. According to C. Michael Mellor, author of Louis Braille: A Touch of Genius, the first full-length book in braille was published in 1837. Next, Braille and Pierre Foucault developed a machine to speed up the communication system. Around 1840, Foucault invented the Raphigraphe, a device that embossed dots to form the shapes of print letters. This facilitated written communication between sighted people and people who were blind.

Louis Braille died in Paris in 1852 at the age of 43, before his system was officially recognized in France. The embossed communication system made its way to America in the 1850s. Mellor writes, "In the United States, The Missouri School for the Blind in, appropriately enough, St. Louis, Missouri, was the first institution to use braille — in 1854."

One hundred years after his death, Braille was honored by France when his body was moved from Coupvray to Paris and laid to rest in the Pantheon alongside the great statesman of France.

January 4, 2009 marks the bicentennial of Louis Braille's birth. Today, the world recognizes the contribution of this genius, and braille readers around the world look forward to celebrating his accomplishments.

NOTE: National Braille Press hosts a web site dedicated to the 200th birthday of Louis Braille. Visit www.louisbraillebicentennial.com for news about celebrations worldwide. They also offer for sale a full biography, Louis Braille: A Touch of Genius, by C. Michael Mellor. Also, this year's Braille Bug Reading Club features stories about people who face challenges due to their differences; in the second quarter the books are about Louis Braille and his wonderful code. To see all the selections visit www.afb.org/braillebug/bookschedule.asp.

News Briefs

ReadBooks! Program from National Braille Press

National Braille Press, in collaboration with Seedlings Braille Books for Children, is distributing attractive braille book bags to families with children who are blind. Educators and early intervention professionals may contact NBP for more information about the bag of free braille materials and parent resources designed to expose children to braille reading and help parents learn enough about braille to help their child learn. Each bag contains: an age-appropriate print/braille book for three age groups: birth-3, 4-5, and 6-7 in English or Spanish; a braille primer for sighted parents entitled Just Enough to Know Better; a colorful print/braille place mat; print/braille bookmarks; Because Books Matter, a guide for parents on why and how to read books with their young blind child; a gift coupon redeemable for another print/braille book or braille/large print playing cards; and print/braille magnetic letters.

Visit www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/readbooks/index.html for details on this program, including guidelines for participating.

More from National Braille Press

Boston-based National Braille Press (NBP), founded in 1927, is a nonprofit braille printing and publishing house. They promote the literacy of blind children through braille and provide access to information that empowers blind people to actively engage in work, family, and community affairs. Their efforts include Everything Braille, A Resource Guide for Parents and Teachers. The publication, compiled by Amy Ruell, will be regularly updated at www.everythingbraille.com. Scrolling through the document and web site produces links to articles about braille, books and pamphlets about braille, fun and games, and more. Visit the web site or contact National Braille Press to obtain a print copy of Everything Braille.

AND MORE: Artist Judith Krimski designed an image of Louis Braille for NBP's bicentennial celebration. Krimski chose to honor Braille's place in history with a silhouette featuring vibrant colors to give the image a current look. A postage stamp-size lapel pin is the first item NBP has made available with the Bicentennial image. Contact National Braille Press at www.nbp.org or call 800-548-7323 for more information.

History Pages from Schools and Other Institutions for the Blind

Interested in the history of services to students who are blind or visually impaired? Enabling Technologies has a web site that can help. The web site provides links from www.brailler.com/schools.htm to individual sites where schools, institutions, and organizations for the blind have recorded their history. Readers are invited to contact Enabling Technologies about adding pages to the archive.

AFB Workshops Return

Two popular hands-on workshops presented at the American Foundation for the Blind National Literacy Center in Atlanta will return in 2009. Due to the high demand and limited openings, Braille Literacy: A Functional Approach presented by Dr. Diane P. Wormsley and Assistive Technology Assessment for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired presented by Ike Presley will be repeated in 2009.

Dr. Wormsley will present information on aspects of reading and writing acquisition that can be applied to all learners with a focus on the components of a functional approach to teaching braille. The workshop will be held February 5-7, 2009, at the American Foundation for the Blind National Literacy Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

In the spring, April 23-25, 2009, Ike Presley will again present on assistive technology assessments for students who are blind or visually impaired. Participants will learn techniques to determine the technology needs of students for accessing printed information, accessing electronic information, producing written communication, and producing materials in alternate formats.

Space for both workshops is limited. Monitor news links for an announcement, or contact Shirley Landrum at slandrum@afb.net or call 404-525-2303 to request an application.

BANA Seeks Volunteers with Braille Expertise

The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) seeks knowledgeable and enthusiastic braille readers, teachers, and transcribers to serve on various BANA committees. Volunteer technical and ad hoc committees support BANA in reviewing, revising, or developing code. BANA committees have representatives from the United States and Canada, and consist of at least one braille reader, one teacher, and one transcriber.

Much of the committee work is done via e-mail, so all BANA committee members are expected to have frequent and convenient access to electronic communication.

If you are interested in serving on a BANA committee and would like to be considered, fill out and submit the form located on BANA's web site at www.brailleauthority.org, stating your areas of interest and qualifications.

Braille on U.S. Money

The bicentennial celebration of Louis Braille will be marked with the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar. The commemorative coin, the first in the U.S. to feature readable braille, will go on sale in the spring of 2009. A portion of the proceeds will go to the National Federation of the Blind for their braille literacy initiatives.

In May, 2008 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a 2006 ruling that U.S. paper money must employ features to make the denominations of various bills easily distinguishable to the blind and visually impaired.

Although the commemorative coin will not be in general circulation, and the U.S. Treasury may still appeal the decision on paper money, the news on both issues raises awareness of braille and its importance in the lives of people who are blind.

Technology and Fun

Searching the internet for news about braille can bring some interesting surprises. Consider the following tidbits found on a recent search:

Blind Cool Tech: Podcasting is revolutionizing the way we consume media. Blind Cool Tech is a podcast that brings fun, education, and variety to your mp3 player. The show provides interviews, sound-seeing tours, and information on cool tech especially for people who are blind. Check it out at www.blindcooltech.com.

Electronic Memory Game: The Radica Corporation has introduced "Say What," an electronic memory game that is easily accessible for people who are blind. The tabletop game presents phrases that are divided into five portions and read out of order. The objective for the player or players is to rearrange these five segments to obtain the correct order for the phrase. Say What can be played by an individual or group; its difficulty level can be changed to accommodate the players. Saw What can be purchased in store or online from most retailers.

Karaoke for Braille Readers: Two Japanese companies have teamed up to develop a karaoke system for people who are blind. Telesoft Seika software imports karaoke lyrics and converts them into 40 characters of braille to display on a refreshable braille display. The system is still in development, and may become available in the U.S. when it is released. Visit www.telesoft.co.jp/english/karaoke.htm or search the internet for news about braille karaoke.

Note: The editor of DOTS invites you to submit links to news about braille for future issues of DOTS (literacy@afb.net).

Dear Dot:

I have a colleague in the regular classroom who questions why I spend so much time teaching braille. "Isn't that just going to be obsolete in the near future?" he asks. He seems to think technology will replace the need for braille and that people who are blind won't need an obscure method of accessing print. Now, I know that braille isn't ready for the garbage heap, but how can I convey that to him? Please help me with an answer that even a techie can understand.

Sincerely,
Roger Lewis

Dear Roger,

Don't you just love that question? It's one we hear now and then, and it always makes me wonder, "What, you think that print is going to be obsolete, too?" As a print reader, I have a lot of technology available to me. I can access information on the computer, use my word processor to create new documents, surf the Internet, and oh so much more, but...

I want the freedom to jot down notes or write my private thoughts in a journal. I want to spend a quiet afternoon reading a book at a leisurely pace. I want to have access to words on a page, and sometimes that means I do not want the distraction of auditory input or I want to keep my personal thoughts quiet. I can only do that if I can read and write, and without learning braille, an individual who is blind does not have that equal opportunity.

Yes, braille readers benefit from wonderful inventions that make universal access to print possible. Long ago, I heard Fred Gissoni from the American Printing House for the Blind talk about technology's impact on his life as a braille reader. When he mentioned that a favorite technology was the slate and stylus, I first thought, "What does he mean — technology? A slate and stylus is not a computer!" Fred went on to describe the slate and stylus as a low-tech option, and through the years I've heard others confirm that, along with their braille notetakers and other high-tech devices, they always carry a slate and stylus.

Certainly, I embrace technology; it can do a lot to streamline how we access information. But when it gets down to basics, most information comes to us by way of the written word before it gets translated into bytes or bits or electronic sounds. We need to be able to understand the letters and words that ultimately create the information we access through technology.

This January, we celebrate the 200th birthday of Louis Braille. When he was a young man he developed the system we use today so he could communicate with others. The braille system evolved through the years, but like the print alphabet I'm most familiar with, the basics of braille are the same now as when Braille first opened this door to literacy. The major difference today is that we now have high- and low-tech ways to access those letters and words.

Even with access to words through technology, when I think of literacy and the impact braille has on the lives of people who are blind, I always think back to a favorite quote from Helen Keller: "More than any other time, when I hold a beloved book in my hand my limitations fall from me, my spirit is free."

Perhaps you can suggest your techie friend try turning off his computer monitor and use only speech for a week; ask him to remember a grocery list without jotting down notes or go to the bank to discuss an important financial matter with only audio information available. Maybe, and this would be my favorite thing to do, invite your techie friend to watch a child read the latest Harry Potter book in braille. Then he can see the power of braille literacy; he'll see a spirit set free.

—Dot

Calendar Dates of Interest

• October 21, 2008. Webinar. Implement NIMAS in the IEP and Build New State Strategies. Speakers include Vicki Hershman, PATINS State Project Director (Indiana), and Joy Zabala, Project Manager, AIM Consortium at CAST. The June 2008 webinar, Leverage your NIMAS Resources, is now archived on AFB's web site. For more information visit www.afb.org/nimas.asp.
• November 13-15, 2008. Atlanta, Georgia. Workshop. Assistive Technology Assessment for Students Who are Blind or Visually Impaired. Check the AFB Calendar of Events for information on this training workshop.
• November 21-22, 2008. Detroit, Michigan. Braille Translation Software Training with NIMAS Updates. Check www.afb.org/nimas.asp for information on this training.
• January 4, 2009. Worldwide. Louis Braille's Birthday.
• January 22-24, 2009. San Francisco, California. Technology, Reading & Learning Diversity 2009 Conference. Check www.trld.com for information on the conference for which the theme is "Opening Doors to Universal Learning."
• January 28-31, 2009. Orlando, Florida. Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference. Visit the ATIA web site for information on the conference.
• February 5-7, 2009. Atlanta, Georgia. Workshop. Braille Literacy: A Functional Approach. See information above or check the AFB Calendar of Events for more details.
• March 5-7, 2009. Washington, DC. Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute. Check the JLTLI Conference page for more details.
• March 16-21, 2009. Los Angeles, California. 24th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference (CSUN 2009). Details at www.csunconference.org.
• April 23-25, 2009. Atlanta, Georgia. Workshop. Assistive Technology Assessment for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired. Check the AFB Calendar of Events for information on this training workshop.
• July 17-19, 2009. Costa Mesa, California. Families Connecting with Families Conference. Visit www.napvi.org for updates and information.

DOTS (Development of Teacher Support) for Braille Literacy is published three times a year (October, February, and June), and is available online at: www.afb.org/dots or in braille, by request. For further information please contact:

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

If you would like routinely to receive an e-mail alerting you to the posting of future issues of the DOTS newsletter, please send a message to Shirley Landrum (slandrum@afb.net) as follows: In the subject line, please write "DOTS notification," and in the body of the message please include your entire name and any changes to your contact information that may have occurred over the last 12 months. You will be signed up to receive notices automatically. If you choose not to receive an e-mail notice, you will still be able to access current and archived issues of DOTS online at www.afb.org/dots; and if you are a braille format subscriber, you will continue to receive your DOTS newsletter in braille.

[Web visitors, please visit www.afb.org/myAFBnewsletter2.asp and follow the instructions there to sign up. You can then log in and update your profile at any time to alert us to changes in your contact information.]

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