braille input

[Chuck Hallenbeck]

I seriously doubt that your signmaker knows what he is talking about.
There has been a disgraceful trend in this country for teachers of the
blind to be reluctant to teach braille, often arguing that modern
technology makes braille unnecessary. I am seventy years old myself, and
have worked with blind folks for a very long time. A lot of blind folks
regard the white cane and the use of braille as signs of weakness and
dependency instead of signs of strength and independence, and I do not see
any tendency for the situation to be improving. I hope I am wrong. Mayrbe
others have a different view.

Chuck.


 On Sat, 11 Mar 2000
cpt.kirk at 1tree.net wrote:

> As far as target audience, I see it as being yourng professional (heading
> to be a professional) blind people. A sign maker pointed out to me why the
> overwhelming majority of blind people don't read braille. According to
> information he had, well over half of the blind people in america are over
> the age of 65. Let's face it, retired people are not likely to have the
> moitvation to learn braille. I don't know what the litteracy statistic for
> blind people under the age of about 35 are.
> 
> If one isn't willing to learn at least rudimentary braille, then I would
> doubt the person's need for a pda anyway. But once a workable PDA was
> arround, getting a normal keyboard isn't too tough.
> 
> Kirk Wood
> Cpt.Kirk at 1tree.net
> ------------------
> 
> Your fly might be open (but don't check it just now).
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
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> 

My Web site is http://www.mhonline.net/~chuckh
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759.