The Braille Project the Braille project Learning about visual impairment and Braille A senior project by Nayely Martinez

Braille: History devised in 1825 by Louis Braille based on code developed by Charles Barbier used for night writing

Braille: Cells each Braille character, (a cell) is made up of six dot positions dot positions numbered 1-6 top to bottom

Braille: Alphabet

Braille: Grades Uncontracted Braille Contracted Braille Grade 1 Used by beginners Substitutes each character with a Braille equivalent i.e. the word “and” Grades 2 and 3 Shorthand Braille Used in books and most printed Braille materials i.e. the word “and” contracted

Braille: Video

Visual Impairment: Types Macular Degeneration loss of central vision common in older people Diabetic Retinopathy Caused by diabetes Causes eye spots Glaucoma Has no symptoms until serious vision loss Caused by complex anatomical features Pinhole effect Cataracts Clouding of internal lens Common in older people Total Blindness All useful vision is lost

Visual Impairment: Anatomy

Visual Impairment: Myths Myth:  Blind people see only darkness, nothing else. Reality:  Only around 18% of people who are visually impaired are totally blind Myth:  Most blind people are proficient in Braille. Reality:  Only 10% of Legally Blind people read Braille Myth: People who are visually impaired cannot use print or handwritten materials. Reality: Computer software can translate print into speech, magnify screen images, and enlarge text to a readable size Source: Iowa Department for the Blind

Visual Impairment: Technology iPhone Apps: LookTel Money Reader ($9.99): recognizes currency in real time SayText (free): scans text in image and reads it out loud Color Identifier ($1.99 or free): identifies and speaks specific color names Can distinguish shades of sky (sunsets, cloudy) Light Detector ($0.99): emits a sound which intensifies as a light source is found and approached

Sight Loss: Everyday Issues Eating Clock method Unemployment U.S. currency – no tactile difference between dollar bills Same size Bill folding method used

Visual Impairment: Interview

Resources BrailleInstitute.org Lighthouse.org TheBrailleProject.wordpress.com Alphabet Cards Fact Sheets

Sources BrailleInstitute.org gesta.org/estudos/statistics0402.pdf who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en