I remember in grade school welearned braille, we also learned the sounds
of the letters.  we also learned in english how to write a correct
sentence and we learned in science and math how to read diagrams.  I
remember that before I learned how to structure a sentance, I did not
know what those little dots were for at the beginning of words and such.
I have relatively recently taught a person who does not know braille how
to write and read using speech synthesis.  It no longer takes a great
deal of care to read structure with a screen reader depending of course
on the screen reader you have but it does take a bit of training
although apparently not as much as it takes to become really good at
braille.  I have found that a person who can become good at braille can
also become quite fluent at developing litteracy through the computer.
In the cases I have observed this independantly of braille usage, the
lack of braille capability was a result of lack of finger sensativity.
I do think that aptitude is key but braille is not tied in any way from
all my years of experience to the outcome except that with braille, it
takes longer to get there.  Now, Having said that, it is almost if not
impossible to be a musician without knowing braille if one is blind and
wants to follow the form, and if one wants to comprehend art, one must
be tactile because it is impossible from what I understand for a
computer with speech and tones etc to convey that spacial sense needed
to achieve realization of appreciation for the images created.  This
would be true of charts and grafs but that screen readers are getting
more fascile with them.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Denis Anson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 7:57 AM
Subject: Re: Reconnecting with the dots


I have often wondered if the skills necessary to learn Braille might
also
translate to the skills necessary to get and hold a job.  Just as
Calculus
is used as a filter course in many college curricula that never use
higher
mathematics, Braille reading might be a filter of those without the
necessary skills to hold a mainstream job.

On the other hand, we do know that it is difficult to learn the
structure of
an illogical language from a screen reader, whereas Braille readers know
the
difference between homophones, know capitalization, and the like.  This
information is available to screen readers who take the time to spell
out
words, but only by breaking the flow of text.  It is always available to
Braille readers.

Then, too, screen readers are so new that we probably don't have
reliable
information.  Historically, there was a choice between reading Braille,
and
not reading independently.  Today, there are other ways of getting
access to
written information that may change the picture entirely.

Denis Anson
> Hi all,
>
> Yes, there are some marketing statements posing a problem in this
article
> as well.  Does anyone have a lead to the study which states that
better
> employment and pay is directly related to Braille literacy?  I have
often
> wondered if there are other underlying factors at play.  I know of a
> vice-president of a very large corporation who did just fine without
Braille.
> .
> Please do not get me wrong.  I believe anyone who is blind should
learn
> Braille.  Braille is an important tool in learning to read and write,
and I
> have found Braille very useful for specific tasks like doing speeches.
> However, I do not use Braille to do leasure reading.  this non-usage
of
> Braille for leasure reading I guess can be related to learning to use
> Braille at a much older age  then grade school.
>
> At 09:11 AM 7/1/02 , you wrote:
>> Impressive article on braille.
>> ____________________________________________________________
>>
>> The following story appeared in The Globe Online:
>> Headline: Reconnecting with the dots
>> Date:     7/1/2002
>> Byline:
>>
>> "    It was an epochal invention, akin to the wheel or fire or ether.
>> And yet, strangely, it has fallen on hard times."
>> ____________________________________________________________
>>
>> To read the entire story, click on the link below or cut and paste it
>> into a Web browser:
>>
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/182/living/Reconnecting_with_the_dots+
.sh
> tml
>> ____________________________________________________________
>>
>> This message was sent by Harvey Bingham [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> through Boston.com's email recommendation service. If you have
questions
>> or comments about this free service, please email us at
[log in to unmask]
>>
> ---
> Ross Eadie
> Voice:  (204) 339-5287