Why Not Braille?

Why Not Braille?

Future Reflections Spring/ Summer 1986, Vol. 5 No. 2
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WHY NOT BRAILLE?
by Ann Hollowell
(Editor's Note: This article was
submitted to me along with a letter from
Debbie Butler. As the letter explains
Miss Butler is a Braille teacher. Miss
Butler is also blind and an active member
of the National Federation of the
Blind. Here is Miss Butler's letter and
the article.)
Portsmouth, VA
November 16, 1985
Dear Barbara,
I'm sending you an article by Ann
Hollowell, a parent of one of my students.
The article is about teaching
Braille to children who have some
vision, and both Ann and I thought it
would be helpful for other parents of
blind children. Mrs. Hollowell is also
a member of the NFB Tidewater Chapter.
I'm sure you'll find her article very
interesting.
Sincerely
Debbie Butler
Having a visually handicapped child
that is in a catagory of not totally
sightless but legally blind can, as some
know, be very difficult. My son at age
five was diagnosed as having Macular
Degeneration; a disease that can leave
only peripheral vision. In the past
three years we have spoken with many
doctors and professionals in the visions
field. Doctors of course offer very
little, if any, hope for the future
while many of the professionals cannot
agree on teaching skills or learning
aids.
Our first professional with the Virginia
Department for the Visually Handicapped
stressed and assisted with large
print books, talking books, and magnifying
aids only. She was very adamant
that a person should always use any eye
sight--to do otherwise would, in her
words, "make him handicapped." When I
suggested Braille as a tool for learning
and to relieve severe eye strain she
would get very upset and firmly state no
Braille skills would ever help him.
Seeing my son struggle for two years
in private school--always at the bottom
of the class--was enough for me to see
special education was needed. After
contacting our public school and visiting
the vision class, I knew more could
be done. Again, the professionals felt
no special placement was needed, they
recommended a regular classroom setting
with a visting teacher as needed. After
much discussion I requested he be placed
with the vision program in a school
outside our immediate school zone.
During his first year in public school
Braille was introduced at my request and
the agreement of his teachers to see if
he would want to learn more. His response
was very positive and his teachers
agreed it should become a part of
his regular education program.
This year has been wonderful. His
self-esteem has improved, he feels he
has a special talent not a handicap. As
a parent I see only positive points with his knowing Braille. A future job, ease
and speed in reading, medically less eye
strain and therefore less medication for
inflamed eyes.
I feel no professional should be allowed
to make all the decisions about a
child's future learning program. I know
my child and I want to be a part of his education planning program. I have
become involved and learned much in such
a short time. By giving my child this
added gift and skill I feel the future
looks bright for the first time in many
months. He will have a choice in the
planning of his future with this added
skill. I say, "Why Not Braille?"
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