Reading to Succeed: How the Power of Braille Literacy Opened New Avenues for Interpreting My World

by John Kalkanli

From the Editor: John lives in Texas and intended to have this article for the January issue to celebrate World Braille Day. It took him a bit longer to write the article, but his is one of many valuable stories we should read about the power of Braille and the way it empowers blind people with another tool in our efforts to reap the benefits of literacy. Here is John’s article:

Literacy is an essential element of success since it is essential in so much of our communication. The greatest gift one can hope for is being able to interpret his or her surroundings. My life took a swift turn for the better after being exposed to the Braille Code. I am grateful a system of reading and writing created for the blind has been created and that I understand how to use it. We are often told that it is not easy to learn since using the fingers to distinguish between the dots is required, however, this code makes perfect sense once thoroughly studied and practiced.

I will never forget the feeling of joy that rushed in me when I began to learn Braille. Before being exposed, my self-confidence was low. It seemed insurmountable for me to achieve the dreams I held of being the best I could be. When my fingers were running through the dots on the paper, I wondered if I would ever become proficient. Suddenly, I gained confidence in myself and came to the realization that I could be productive and contribute to society in my own way. Like most things worth doing, learning Braille meant committing to work and practice. What kept me going was deeply reflecting on the benefits it would bring if I could master it. As a result of my determination and effort, I mastered this code and have become the proficient reader I am today.

The most challenging part for me in learning Braille was when I was introduced to the Nemeth Code used in mathematics. Since math is extremely visual, it was very difficult to determine where the answers would be placed when solving problems. The layout of math problems can sometimes be different in Braille as in the case of long division or even the presentation of a fraction, but it all makes sense once you realize that there are minor differences in the format of math problems. I remember the endless hours I spent trying to complete homework assignments on the Perkins Brailler and becoming frustrated when I could not come up with a solution. Even the signs of operation did not make sense to me at the time since there are a variety. There were moments when I felt like giving up and like my confidence was shattered. Luckily, that lasted only a short time because I was motivated to keep trying by my grandmother. God bless her soul, she encouraged me to stay motivated and keep learning. Even in those moments where I felt lost, her presence kept me up. Those countless hours of frustration eventually turned into moments of joy, and I began to appreciate math for what it is as a result of my dear grandmother’s support. I will forever treasure the times when we would work problems together. Her explanations through examples of objects enhanced my ability to comprehend the rules of operation.

Learning the contractions and short forms used in Braille made the learning experience more enjoyable. In the same way, I became more efficient. I strongly believe that contractions are very useful when scanning through articles to identify words. These contractions also save room when writing. I feel that time is a key component of efficiency, and the less time I spend figuring out words, the more time I can devote to really understanding what I am reading that the author is trying to communicate. By coming to understand the contractions quickly, I can also decode the spelling of most words by picturing the word in my head just as print readers do.

When I went through the public school system, I was fortunate to work with a vision teacher who instilled in me the importance of literacy. Over the years, she introduced me to different ways in which Braille could represent things I needed to know in addition to words, numbers, and symbols. I learned about graphs, charts, maps, and other tactile graphics. As a result of being exposed to them, I gained a thorough understanding of how information can be presented. My teacher also kept me up-to-date as the Braille Code changed. Like everything else, Braille has to evolve over time to represent new symbols in ways that can be translated by a computer and interpreted by we who read Braille in a way that is unambiguous. So I have learned the Unified English Braille Code and can read it as well as the United States Braille Code I learned as a child.

My world changed for the better when I was introduced to refreshable Braille. Through the use of notetakers and Braille displays, I feel more engaged with my environment while also increasing my efficiency. Each day I am amazed by, and grateful for, the ways technology evolves in such a short time, turning what seemed impossible into moments that now represent endless opportunities. With today’s digital age, a person can instantly send and receive email right under their fingertips.

For me personally, refreshable Braille allowed me to further appreciate works of literature in ways I could not simply through audio. Using Braille I can vary my reading speed and allow myself time to see why one word was used instead of another and to take the time to really understand both the meaning and emotion of the writer.

To this day, I use refreshable Braille in my post-secondary education, and it is making a huge difference in my learning. I am not sure what I would do without it. While the speech from screen readers is useful, just relying on them slows me down drastically because I have to listen to the words being spoken and figure out what they mean. Using Braille and screen readers together assists immensely in identifying spelling errors when writing papers.

I am of the opinion that the value of Braille goes beyond education and employment. It truly opens the door of independence and productivity. In the same way, Braille is the key to knowledge.

Since I truly value Braille and what it stands for, I have decided to undertake the journey of working towards a certification in Braille transcribing. I am fully aware that there is insufficient Braille instruction in schools, and children are not able to receive their materials in a timely manner due to lack of resources. This is where I believe I can make a significant contribution. Upon finishing the certification, my goal is to produce educational materials for children so they are not left behind. Acquiring this skill is a major stepping stone in developing one’s professional blueprint.

I also believe that promoting Braille literacy is essential in everyday life. Whether or not you become fast, Braille will serve you well for reading a label on a package, writing a reminder note, giving you the next thought in a speech, or just making sure you get everything at the grocery store. These may seem like small things, but they make the difference as to how well and how easily one gets through life with confidence and contentment.