1. Braille in the 21 st century: opportunities, benefits and challenges for adults with acquired sight loss Braille conference, Colorado July 2010 Pete Osborne RNIB

2. Research aims RNIB asked researchers from VICTAR, University of Birmingham to investigate: What motivates adults with acquired sight loss to learn braille? Why do some people choose not to learn braille? Reasons for not succeeding in learning braille?

3. Method Interviews with: 16 experienced braille readers 11 braille learners 11 had not succeeded in learning braille 8 had never tried to learn braille 48 representatives of services for blind and partially sighted people (21 local authorities)

4. Key findings Braille highly valued by those who had learnt it Gives independence in accessing information - from braille labels to reading books for leisure Personal challenge and sense of personal achievement from learning braille successfully Social benefits from membership of braille group

5. Key findings Braille difficult to learn for many people Takes a long time Needs sustained one-to-one teaching from a braille teacher as well as self-studying using formal study guides Lack of tactile sensitivity a problem for a few Some individuals and professionals perceived braille as difficult for older people to learn

6. Key findings Challenges in getting information about, and accessing braille teaching Wide variation across the UK in braille teaching provision No consistent approach to braille teaching for adults across the UK

7. Conclusion Practical, psychological and social benefits in learning braille Braille needs to be actively promoted by service providers Need for establishment of a community of braille teachers for adults

8. References Douglas G, Franks J, Weston A and Clements B. (2009) Braille in the twenty-first century: opportunities, benefits and challenges for adults with acquired sight loss. VICTAR, University of Birmingham for RNIB http://www.rnib.org.uk/aboutus/Research/Pages /research.aspx