Certification Studied for Teachers of Braille

Certification Studied for Teachers of Braille

Future Reflections Summer 1990, Vol. 9 No. 2
(back) (contents) (next)
CERTIFICATION STUDIED FOR
TEACHERS OF BRAILLE
Editor's Note: This information appeared in the
October-December News, a quarterly publication
of the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress.
It was later reprinted in the February, 1990 Braille Monitor.
"The people who teach our children to read
Braille should know Braille themselves." This
attitude, expressed in various ways by parents,
organizations of blind people, and other groups
in the field of blindness, is the guiding force that
led to a meeting held at NLS on October 13 to
discuss the feasibility of Braille certification for
teachers.
The meeting was a direct result of a priority
identified by the Ad Hoc Committee on Joint
Organizational Effort, which brought together in
March, 1989, seven major North American
groups concerned with blindness. The resolution
called for "proven proficiency in knowing and teaching all Braille codes," and certification by
the Library of Congress.
"That resolution, along with many requests we
have received from individuals and organizations,
gives us a mandate to study the matter,"
says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director.
Topics being explored, according to Claudell
Stocker, head of the NLS Braille Development
Section, include:
-What constitutes a basic level of proficiency,
-Methods for establishing that that level has
been attained, including the possibility of a
special certification,
- Whether the availability of such certification
would have the desired impact on educational
standards, and
- Whether NLS is the proper entity for development
of such certifiction.
Participants in the October 13 meeting included
experts in education, rehabilitation, and blindness.
Two other meetings are scheduled for
spring, 1990. No action will be decided on until
recommendations from all three meetings have
been evaluated.
"Handling this issue is not simple," Mrs. Stocker
says, and explains that there are different proctices
and requirements for special education
teachers throughout the country and variations
even in schools for the blind. There are no national
standards, and very few state standards.
She continues, "And the problem is not limited
to teaching children. There is a great shortage of
qualified Braille teachers in the rehabilitation
area. "If this study indicates that certification is
the way to go," she says, "the certification will deal
with Braille proficiency only -- knowledge of the
material being taught. Teaching methods are not
in our province, and shouldn't be.
The only national certifications in Braille
proficiency are now provided by NLS, as are
materials for courses leading to certification.
Currently individuals can be certified as Braille
transcribers in the literary, music, and mathematics
codes and as Braille proofreaders.
Most certified Braille transcribers are volunteers
who work alone or through organized groups to
produce materials on request for individuals,
school systems, and network libraries. In a few
places, people who teach Braille have been required
to be certified in literary Braille transcription,
and some teachers have taken the course on
their own to improve their skills.
(back) (contents) (next)