Developing Strong Reading Skills with Adult Braille Learners Helen Stevens Iowa Department for the Blind

Outline Background Learning Braille Motivation Incorporating Braille into Life Building Proficiency Technology

Background

Audience? Teenagers and adults Ability to read English language learners Additional disabilities

Learning the Braille Code

Key Components What am I feeling? (Developing sense of touch) What do those dots mean? (Memorization of characters)

Curricula More important how taught than materials used Complete code as quickly as possible Memorization before touch

Memorizing the Code Audio tools Writing Match student’s learning style

Developing Sense of Touch Touch pages Plastic paper/cards Refreshable braille Reading together

Motivation Braille isn’t hard Braille is useful Read interesting content as quickly as possible Success builds success

Incorporating Braille into Life Labeling Games/hobbies Lists

Building Proficiency

Reading Technique Enforce early Two hands, six fingers Light touch No scrubbing

Learning to Use More Fingers Read with non-dominant hand Read with each finger independently

Sight Words Common words Develop automaticity Efficient way to increase speed

What to Read Student interests most important Start short Articles Short stories Recipes Menus

Technology Improves access to braille rather than limits the need for it Refreshable braille Creating hard copy braille

Questions and Discussion