Learning Braille as a child
My Life In The Light Of Braille
Author: Rilind Dragoshi, Moncton NB
Braille has helped me greatly in my life. Ever since I was young, it has helped me. From the time when I was just learning to read and write to the days when I began writing long stories and reading large novels, braille has played a great part in my development. It was the first thing that I understood when it came to blindness. Even before I understood the importance of my cane and even the fact that I was blind, I understood that I couldn't write with a pencil or read print and instead needed to read these raised dots that are known as braille.
I came to Canada from Kosovo, a country in southeast Europe. My family and I moved to Canada after the war started in Kosovo in 1999. Had I always lived in Kosovo, I would have had to go to a boarding school for the blind that was located two hours away from the city in which I lived. I would have been able to come home twice a month, once every second weekend. Also, I definitely wouldn't have had the opportunity to use the technology I use here in Canada.
After arriving in Canada in May of 1999, I only had to wait four months until I started school. School was a new place for me, because I had just started Kindergarten in that year. I was working hard to learn English during that time, because I only knew how to speak Albanian. I also needed to know how to read and write. My first Itinerant teacher, Jim Parsons immediately started teaching me many things including how to use the Braille code. It took around three years, but after that period of time I had managed to learn how to read and write very well in addition to learning how to speak English.
When I had just started school, I enjoyed many small books by means of braille. This continued to expand, as I got older. I eventually enhanced my reading skills and therefore read larger and more exciting books. I also wrote many good stories because of the fact that I could write braille. As I grow even more in my knowledge of braille, I have developed the skill of using braille in my imagination. One example of a time when I used this skill was when I watched the second Harry Potter Movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets. In the scene of the movie where Harry Potter was communicating with Tom Riddle through text appearing as answers to his questions on the diary that was previously Tom Riddle's, I could picture myself as Harry Potter placing my hands on the diary. I could then picture myself asking the questions Harry Potter asked and then being able to read the text that came as Tom Riddle's reply to the questions in braille on the diary cover.
As a 14 year old, I have learned how to use assistive technology. I use a laptop with JAWS for Windows 7.1 as well as a Braille Note M Power. In spite of all the technology I currently use all the time in my daily life, I know that in order to use computer technology, you obviously also need to know how to read and write. Since I am blind, the only way I could learn these two skills were by means of learning how to read and to write braille.
Despite the fact that I use so much technology today in addition to braille, I always look forward to the times when I open up a new book that is braille and not electronic. A couple of months ago, I remember receiving a brailled book from Los Angeles, California. I remember opening it and reading the story in raised braille dots. Even though technology is something I use a lot, I still enjoy reading a braille book.
Even though I use a computer with a synthesizer today and may use even more advanced devices in the future due to technological advancements, I will never forget my first advancement in technology; learning how to use a brailler and how to read and write the Braille code. As I think of the tremendous importance of the Braille Code in my life, I realize that it would not have been there for me and millions of other visually impaired individuals in the world, if it wasn't for an individual from Coupvray, France who was born on January 4th, 1809; Louis Braille.
I Love Knowing Braille
Author: Carm Powers, Moncton NB
I love knowing Braille! Having Braille makes it not so scary, knowing that I may someday lose all of my vision. In the late 1970’s I tried to learn Braille while working on a Canada Works project. I was around thirty years old at the time. I had begun to lose my vision in 1970. At that time I tried to learn it with my eyes instead of my fingers. I guess I just wasn’t ready.
I was told I would eventually lose my vision completely because of macular degeneration. So I started again a few years ago.
I thought it would be hard, seeing as how I was older, and things don’t get easier as you get older. But it was the opposite with me. I found it quite easy and I progressed quickly. I have one story about learning to write Braille with a slate and stylus. You sort of have to think of Braille backwards when you write that way. This other lady and I were learning together from Lynn at the CNIB I turned my head backwards and tried to see in my mind how the Braille would look if I looked at it from that position. Everyone laughed so hard at me. We still laugh about it all the time.
I want to read well enough so that I can read books to my grandchildren. Right now I can’t read quite fast enough to keep their attention, so I have to practice more. They have a French Braille teacher at the CNIB and I am going to start learning French Braille so I can read French to the grandchildren as well.
I can still read print—large, large print using magnifiers. The print gets larger as my vision gets worse. There is something I have done to make it easy for me to learn. I like to make the dots on paper so I can see them. To help myself learn the contractions I have set up my lessons in WordPerfect. I use Control W and go into the section where they give you the symbols for different languages. Then I construct the Braille cell on the screen and make the dots for the contraction beside it. Then I write the contraction in forty-point type beside that. Lynn suggested this to another student, but it was all Greek to him. But to me it was so easy!
I think a lot of public buildings should have more Braille on elevators and on signs. When I go to see the doctor, there’s no Braille on the elevator, and that’s a medical clinic. I always hope there will be somebody else in the elevator. One day I got on with my white cane and another man got on and asked me to press 4. So I asked him to press 4 for me. I tell my doctor that my blood pressure wouldn’t be so high if he would get Braille on his elevator. I wouldn’t have so much stress. I tell him that if he gets braille on his elevator, he should check with the CNIB to make sure it’s done right.
Braille Can Change An Entire Life
Author: Laetitia Mfamobani Vancouver, BC
In general, people know Braille just as a method of writing used by blind people. That’s true, but in my opinion, Braille is more than a simple writing method. Braille can change an entire life. It can make someone happy.
This was my case. I was born in Gabon (Africa). At age 12 I lost my sight and stopped my studies for five years. I was so sad and had no hope.
In 1996, a famous lady started a foundation for handicapped children and teenagers. I went there to learn Braille. After some weeks, I was able to restart my studies. At this moment I thought, hope is possible now. In 2000, I got my high school diploma (BPC) and 2003 my college diploma in math and philosophy (Baccalauriat). My good grades permited me to obtain a scholarship to study in Sherbrooke University (Quebec Canada(. I got a Bachelor degree in political sciences one year ago.
Now, I’m learning English at Vancouver Community College. When I finish, I will go back to University to take a Master’s degree.
Braille transformed my life. Sixteen years ago, nobody could imagine that my life would have been what it is today. Braille has been very useful for me.
