Comment on the Nature and Future of Literacy as viewed by Phil Hatlen and Susan Spungin
Posted by AFB Web on 8/1/2008 11:39:09 AM.
Two of the preeminent members of the field of visual impairment and blindness expressed their opinions on literacy for students who are blind or visually impaired at the Fall 2007 Getting in Touch with Literacy conference, and their discussion is recapped in the July 2008 issue of the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness in a dynamic point and counterpoint [ http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pubjvib.asp?DocID=jvib020702 ]. Is listening literacy? What is the effect of large print on literacy? What has been the impact of technology on literacy and what will it be in the future? Now weigh in with your viewpoint on these key issues.JVIB's Perspectives column is intended to offer members of the blindness field the opportunity to express their points of view on important, sometimes controversial, issues affecting the field. Do you agree with what you've just read? Readers are encouraged voice their opinions on this important topic.
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1 . Re: Comment on the Nature and Future of Literacy as viewed by Phil Hatlen and Susan Spungin
Posted by JChwalow on 08/14/2008
"I was present at the Showcase Session in St. Pete Beach, Florida where I heard Drs. Spungin and Hatlen present. I would like to say that I agree with the remarks made by Dr. Spungin. I believe that the most critical thing that ever happened in my life was learning to read. Braille is much more than a symbol of literacy. It is a symbol of culture, as is reading, for any individual in today's society. It is through Braille that a blind individual learns to spell, learns punctuation, increases his/her vocabulary. It is through Braille that a blind individual defines him/herself as a contributing adult, graduates from school, gets a job in today's world. It is sometimes said that Braille is isolating, in fact, it is liberating as liberating as learning to read print is for a sighted child."
A. Judith Chwalow, DrPH
Director of Research, Jernigan Institute
National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
410 659 9314 x2404
jchwalow@NFB.org
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