Print-Braille Books for Children

Print-Braille Books for Children

Future Reflections September- December 1983, Vol. 2 No. 5
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PRINT-BRAILLE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
The very first issue of FUTURE REFLECTIONS (then called the NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE
BLIND NEWSLETTER FOR PARENTS OF BLIND
CHILDREN) had as its lead article, "A Message from
the President," by our NFB national president, Dr.
Kenneth Jernigan. Among other things, he noted that, "The blind now have more choices and possibilities
open to them than ever before in history, and most of
the progress can be traced (directly or indirectly) to the
work of the NFB." We are still making progress and
the NFB is an even stronger factor in those changes
than ever before.
Often, however, we are unaware of the small, but
important ways we have influenced attitudes, people
and programs. It was a pleasure, then, when I recently received a letter from Diane L. Croft of the National
Braille Press and learned that, due in part to the
National Federation of the Blind's influence, the
National Braille Press will be offering children's print
Braille books for sale in the fall, 1983. That letter is
printed in full below, and furnishes all the background
and details. We are pleased with this effort to make
more Braille children's books available, and we applaud
the National Braille Press for its initiative in
developing this program. We are also pleased that,
once again, the NFB was a catalyst for progress.
Boston, MA
August 9,1983
Dear Barbara,
As a producer of Braille books and magazines, the
National Braille Press often receives phone calls from
parents and teachers requesting "print-Braille" children's
books. We refer people to several sources,
including the American Brotherhood for the Blind, for
borrowing children's books.
It doesn't seem like such an unreasonable request -- in
1983 -- to be able to buy children's books in Braille just
as sighted children do in print. On the other hand,
after buying the print book, transcribing and inserting
the Braille pages, binding and shipping -- the cost of
children's books in Braille doubles.
Then one day I was reading an article in a back issue
of FUTURE REFLECTIONS entitled, "Braille and
the Preschooler," by Ramona Walhof. In this article
she explains the need for blind children to be exposed
to Braille at an early age "... blind children who start
school rarely have had the kind of exposure to Braille
that their sighted peers have had to print. Reading
and writing Braille need not be a disadvantage, for
Braille can be read and written rapidly. It is a
disadvantage to get a late start."
Then she made the following statement:
"It is especially desirable for the blind child to
be able to ANTICIPATE reading the same
books that mother and dad read aloud."
Yes indeed. We all know how important the early
development years are in forming a positive self-image
and feeling a part of society. If we cannot anticipate
participating, as others, in activities of daily life, it
impacts on our personal development.
Back to the drawing board. How can we produce
children's "print-Braille" books inexpensively?
Answer: Get a national publisher to participate in the
program.
In January of this year, we submitted a proposal to
Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company to sponsor a
Children's Braille Book-of-the-Month Club. We asked
them to donate several hundred books each month,
and to allow us to recover some of our costs by selling
them for a modest price.
But sometimes the reply is, "can't we buy them?"
Six months later the books arrived at our doorstep.
Starting in December with a Christmas book, we will
commence a Children's Braille Book-of-the-Month
Club. A new title will be featured each month and club
members will receive notices (in print and Braille)
describing that month's feature book.
Membership in the Club is free. Simply send your
name and address to the National Braille Press, 88
Saint Stephen St., Boston, MA 02115, and ask to
become a member. Don't wait until December, do it
now so we have time to process the list.
Most of the books will be for preschool and ages 3-8.
The price of the "print-Braille" book will not exceed
that of the inkprint. YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED
TO BUY. When you wish to order a book, simply send
in the request.
Success of this program means generating a mailing
list of interested members, so please encourage your
readers to participate. We hope this will allow children
(and parents) to read and re-read a favorite book.
Mastery of our environment and acquisition of literary
skills is an important start for everyone.
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