by Daniel Parker, RDPFS Contributor:
During January, Braille Literacy Month, and throughout the year, much discussion centers around improving braille literacy rates among children with vision loss. However, it can be just as important for an adult experiencing visual impairment to learn braille, and effective resources may not be as easy to find. Studies, such as one from the National Research Center on Blindness and Low Vision (NRTC), show how important braille is to blind workers who may use a refreshable braille display or braille notetaker to do certain tasks, such as taking minutes of meetings. In addition to losing the ability to read books, adults with vision loss may also have difficulty reading screens, displays, and other labels. Knowing how to read braille and use braille labels allows people to regain independence using appliances and staying organized. With these and other benefits in mind, it is worth noting the various avenues available to adults to learn braille. As explained in testimonials like this one from the Braille Monitor and this one from Paths to Literacy, an important place to start is the state’s blindness rehabilitation agency. They offer classes for adults who never learned braille in school, along with a wide range of other daily living skills such as orientation and mobility, cooking, and more. Free online resources for this process include Hadley’s Braille workshops and the Braille Institute‘s adult services. For example, Hadley’s courses are divided into series on everyday braille, reading and writing techniques, contracted braille (abbreviations or shorthand), and special symbols. Each of these delves into a topic in detail, allowing the learner to proceed at their own pace. More information about these courses and additional perspectives on the benefits of braille for adults are available at the sources and links above.
