Comments for SeroTalk http://serotalk.com A podcast and interactive blog on the accessible digital lifestyle, produced by Serotek, the Accessibility Anywhere people Mon, 21 May 2012 05:13:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on The Power of Braille by April Enderton http://serotalk.com/2012/05/18/the-power-of-braille/comment-page-1/#comment-1977 April Enderton Mon, 21 May 2012 05:13:32 +0000 http://serotalk.com/?p=1754#comment-1977 <p>I really enjoyed the article about Braille. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this controversial subject. A few years ago, I wrote an article about my experience learning Braille with my grandma. My story was printed in a compilation of stories in a book titled, "Let Freedom Ring, Letters to President Obama." I, too, went through college armed with my slate and stylus. Toward the end of college, I got a Braille and Speak. The big advantage to the Braille and Speak was that I could write papers on it and then, hook it up to an ink printer. Printing my papers was much easier than laboring over a typewriter. However, when it came to taking class notes, I much preferred the slate. I could write faster on the slate with fewer errors and I didn't have to worry about my slate crashing.</p> <p>Your description of the smell of Braille books took me back to my younger days. I remember the smells of those new Braille books. There is nothing that compares with the new smell of Braille books or the feel of fresh Braille upon the fingertips. And,how about the cracking sound when you open a new Braille book? Then, at the end of a school year, we were always elated when we could take discarded Braille books home.</p> <p>If the literacy rate for sighted children were only ten percent, we would be in the midst of a national crisis. Unfortunately, there are few who seem concerned about the pathetically low Braille literacy rate among our blind children today.</p> <p>Braille books are my business. I am the founder and CEO of Beulah Reimer Legacy, (BRL.) We add Braille to children's picture books by placing the brailled text on clear plastic strips which go on top of the printed text. We have added Braille to hundreds and perhaps thousands of books over the past few years and will continue brailling books.</p> <p>If you would like more information about BRL, check us out on the Beulah Reimer Legacy page on Facebook or visit our website:</p> <p>www.beulahreimerlegacy.com</p> <p>Happy reading.</p> <p>Sincerely,</p> <p>April</p> I really enjoyed the article about Braille. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this controversial subject. A few years ago, I wrote an article about my experience learning Braille with my grandma. My story was printed in a compilation of stories in a book titled, “Let Freedom Ring, Letters to President Obama.” I, too, went through college armed with my slate and stylus. Toward the end of college, I got a Braille and Speak. The big advantage to the Braille and Speak was that I could write papers on it and then, hook it up to an ink printer. Printing my papers was much easier than laboring over a typewriter. However, when it came to taking class notes, I much preferred the slate. I could write faster on the slate with fewer errors and I didn’t have to worry about my slate crashing.

Your description of the smell of Braille books took me back to my younger days. I remember the smells of those new Braille books. There is nothing that compares with the new smell of Braille books or the feel of fresh Braille upon the fingertips. And,how about the cracking sound when you open a new Braille book? Then, at the end of a school year, we were always elated when we could take discarded Braille books home.

If the literacy rate for sighted children were only ten percent, we would be in the midst of a national crisis. Unfortunately, there are few who seem concerned about the pathetically low Braille literacy rate among our blind children today.

Braille books are my business. I am the founder and CEO of Beulah Reimer Legacy, (BRL.) We add Braille to children’s picture books by placing the brailled text on clear plastic strips which go on top of the printed text. We have added Braille to hundreds and perhaps thousands of books over the past few years and will continue brailling books.

If you would like more information about BRL, check us out on the Beulah Reimer Legacy page on Facebook or visit our website:

http://www.beulahreimerlegacy.com

Happy reading.

Sincerely,

April

]]> Comment on The Power of Braille by Abbie Taylor http://serotalk.com/2012/05/18/the-power-of-braille/comment-page-1/#comment-1976 Abbie Taylor Mon, 21 May 2012 03:09:25 +0000 http://serotalk.com/?p=1754#comment-1976 <p>As a child, I learned Braille when I was in the first grade and read quite a bit. As an adult, I only use Braille when I participate in writing workshops. I prefer to use a slate and stylus because I don't have to worry about the battery going dead, and other participants not accustomed to hearing a synthetic speech voice don't have to listen to one read something I've written. I also occasionally transcribe by hand poems I've written into Braille so I can more easily read them at public events.</p> <p>Although I feel blind and visually impaired children should learn Braille, adults should have choices. Some still prefer to hold a Braille book in their hands. Others like to use Braille displays. I prefer having a book read to me, either by a synthetic or human voice. I may get a Braille display, but I'll probably only use it to proofread my writing before submitting it to a publisher.</p> As a child, I learned Braille when I was in the first grade and read quite a bit. As an adult, I only use Braille when I participate in writing workshops. I prefer to use a slate and stylus because I don’t have to worry about the battery going dead, and other participants not accustomed to hearing a synthetic speech voice don’t have to listen to one read something I’ve written. I also occasionally transcribe by hand poems I’ve written into Braille so I can more easily read them at public events.

Although I feel blind and visually impaired children should learn Braille, adults should have choices. Some still prefer to hold a Braille book in their hands. Others like to use Braille displays. I prefer having a book read to me, either by a synthetic or human voice. I may get a Braille display, but I’ll probably only use it to proofread my writing before submitting it to a publisher.

]]> Comment on The Power of Braille by Julie Broman http://serotalk.com/2012/05/18/the-power-of-braille/comment-page-1/#comment-1974 Julie Broman Mon, 21 May 2012 00:33:47 +0000 http://serotalk.com/?p=1754#comment-1974 <p>For the past 5 years, I haven't been able to read print except through a CCTV. At 59, I decided to learn braille before I got to old to learn. My motivation was to be able to read books to my grandchildren. After a year and a half of learning, it is my joy to now be able to accomplish that goal. I figure I have only a few more months to finish learning all the contractions. One big benefit of reading braille is being able to familiarize myself whith how words are spelled. As I am aging and not seeing the printed word, I'm forgetting how certain words are spelled or if they are compound words. Braille is letting me see the words again. So I can see where people might say you are illiterate if you don't read braille. So i'll say "yes" to braille.</p> For the past 5 years, I haven’t been able to read print except through a CCTV. At 59, I decided to learn braille before I got to old to learn. My motivation was to be able to read books to my grandchildren. After a year and a half of learning, it is my joy to now be able to accomplish that goal. I figure I have only a few more months to finish learning all the contractions. One big benefit of reading braille is being able to familiarize myself whith how words are spelled. As I am aging and not seeing the printed word, I’m forgetting how certain words are spelled or if they are compound words. Braille is letting me see the words again. So I can see where people might say you are illiterate if you don’t read braille. So i’ll say “yes” to braille.

]]> Comment on The Power of Braille by Amy http://serotalk.com/2012/05/18/the-power-of-braille/comment-page-1/#comment-1973 Amy Sun, 20 May 2012 20:58:31 +0000 http://serotalk.com/?p=1754#comment-1973 <p>Hello Jamie, As with several of the other comments in this list I use Braille daily whether it be for reading, writing or correcting something, being that I am a writer I wouldn't be without it. Not only do I have a Braille notetaker but I also have several slates and styli and Perkins Braillers readily accessible for anything that might need to be put into writing. I am also an avid Braille user. Amy</p> Hello Jamie, As with several of the other comments in this list I use Braille daily whether it be for reading, writing or correcting something, being that I am a writer I wouldn’t be without it. Not only do I have a Braille notetaker but I also have several slates and styli and Perkins Braillers readily accessible for anything that might need to be put into writing. I am also an avid Braille user. Amy

]]> Comment on The Power of Braille by Roger http://serotalk.com/2012/05/18/the-power-of-braille/comment-page-1/#comment-1972 Roger Sun, 20 May 2012 14:59:02 +0000 http://serotalk.com/?p=1754#comment-1972 <p>A great article, with which, as with the other comments, I concurr a hundred percent. The pity is that within the screen reader providers, because of their political monetary arguments, they cannot even agree on braille drivers that work for all braille displays with all screen readers. It's scandalous. Imagine if each screen reader had to use a different language code for reading, which was unintelligible to all the others. And so is the price of braille displays, simply because there is no real competition. Firms agree the price amongst themselves, which is why they all sell the same display for exactly the same price. It's called a cartel, and it's at the expense of the braille user.</p> A great article, with which, as with the other comments, I concurr a hundred percent. The pity is that within the screen reader providers, because of their political monetary arguments, they cannot even agree on braille drivers that work for all braille displays with all screen readers. It’s scandalous. Imagine if each screen reader had to use a different language code for reading, which was unintelligible to all the others. And so is the price of braille displays, simply because there is no real competition. Firms agree the price amongst themselves, which is why they all sell the same display for exactly the same price. It’s called a cartel, and it’s at the expense of the braille user.

]]> Comment on The Power of Braille by DickSeifert http://serotalk.com/2012/05/18/the-power-of-braille/comment-page-1/#comment-1970 DickSeifert Sun, 20 May 2012 11:54:19 +0000 http://serotalk.com/?p=1754#comment-1970 <p>I certainly concur with the previous comments and certainly concur that a blind person who does not use Braille or another tactile method such as the optacon is illiterate. I once told a lady after she lost all her remaining sight that she was illiterate. She said that that statement motivated her to learn Braille. Although she isn't a fast reader, she uses Braille every day. Dick Seifert</p> I certainly concur with the previous comments and certainly concur that a blind person who does not use Braille or another tactile method such as the optacon is illiterate. I once told a lady after she lost all her remaining sight that she was illiterate. She said that that statement motivated her to learn Braille. Although she isn’t a fast reader, she uses Braille every day. Dick Seifert

]]> Comment on The Power of Braille by Christine Diller http://serotalk.com/2012/05/18/the-power-of-braille/comment-page-1/#comment-1969 Christine Diller Sun, 20 May 2012 10:52:34 +0000 http://serotalk.com/?p=1754#comment-1969 <p>Fabulous article! As a former braille transcriber, along with thermoforming books eons ago, I learned the importance of braille. Unfortunately I'm not able to read for hours as was the case, but I still enjoy doing so. It aids me in staying a great speller.</p> Fabulous article! As a former braille transcriber, along with thermoforming books eons ago, I learned the importance of braille. Unfortunately I’m not able to read for hours as was the case, but I still enjoy doing so. It aids me in staying a great speller.

]]> Comment on The Power of Braille by Linda http://serotalk.com/2012/05/18/the-power-of-braille/comment-page-1/#comment-1967 Linda Sun, 20 May 2012 08:32:40 +0000 http://serotalk.com/?p=1754#comment-1967 <p>Absolutely agree 100%. I don't know what I'd do without braille.</p> Absolutely agree 100%. I don’t know what I’d do without braille.

]]> Comment on The Power of Braille by Harry Brown http://serotalk.com/2012/05/18/the-power-of-braille/comment-page-1/#comment-1966 Harry Brown Sun, 20 May 2012 06:26:09 +0000 http://serotalk.com/?p=1754#comment-1966 <p>Hi all, I completely agree with the above 7 comments. As far as a cheaper braille display, we're getting close and closer. In the next 2 years or so, we're gonna see a full page braille display, you read that right, a full page display! The reason braille has been nearly eliminated from the schools is, the bulk of braille, carrying around all those braille books, and all that braille paper, and a braille writer, is well, just crazy! I know, folks, I know, I had to do it myself, just like all of you did! Also, speech is faster! It's faster with speech to read, than with braille. However, with braille displays getting cheaper and cheaper, braille will be back in vogue! For those of you who are using a braille display, can you tell me which display you're using? Also, do you manually have to go down to the next line, by pressing a key or wheel? Or, does it go down to the next line automatically? Great post, Jamie, and I felt everything that you did, in your post, all the things you mentioned! Harry</p> Hi all, I completely agree with the above 7 comments. As far as a cheaper braille display, we’re getting close and closer. In the next 2 years or so, we’re gonna see a full page braille display, you read that right, a full page display! The reason braille has been nearly eliminated from the schools is, the bulk of braille, carrying around all those braille books, and all that braille paper, and a braille writer, is well, just crazy! I know, folks, I know, I had to do it myself, just like all of you did! Also, speech is faster! It’s faster with speech to read, than with braille. However, with braille displays getting cheaper and cheaper, braille will be back in vogue! For those of you who are using a braille display, can you tell me which display you’re using? Also, do you manually have to go down to the next line, by pressing a key or wheel? Or, does it go down to the next line automatically? Great post, Jamie, and I felt everything that you did, in your post, all the things you mentioned! Harry

]]> Comment on The Power of Braille by Jessica http://serotalk.com/2012/05/18/the-power-of-braille/comment-page-1/#comment-1965 Jessica Sun, 20 May 2012 04:10:23 +0000 http://serotalk.com/?p=1754#comment-1965 <p>I agree with you 100%. Although I for a while too thought braille was going out the window. It wasn't till I got a braille display that I realized how useful braille really is. I can't see myself having tons of braille volumes in my house. But I read on my braille display. I understand things so much better when I read them rather than listening to them.</p> I agree with you 100%. Although I for a while too thought braille was going out the window. It wasn’t till I got a braille display that I realized how useful braille really is. I can’t see myself having tons of braille volumes in my house. But I read on my braille display. I understand things so much better when I read them rather than listening to them.

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