Course Description Braille

Overview:

Participants learn to read and write braille, a tactual system of communications for the blind.  Participants may progress from learning the alphabet for personal communications to mastering contracted braille, a system for reading books and other written materials.  For successful course completion, a participant must enter the class with a knowledge of the English alphabet and Arabic numeral system.  The extent to which participants progress through the material is based on individualized goals.  

Overall Goal of Braille:

Braille class is designed to prepare participants to be successful in both uncontracted and contracted Braille. Participants will learn the fundamentals of Braille to include tactually identifying the Braille alphabet, Braille numbers, common punctuation and reading comprehension. They will also learn how to use the slate and stylus and Perkins Braillewriter to write braille and will learn how to make braille labels.

Braille Skill List:

• Uncontracted Braille
  • Tactually identify the Braille alphabet
  • Tactually identify Braille numbers
  • Tactually identify common punctuation
    • Capital letter indicator
    • Period
    • Hyphen
    • Comma
    • Apostrophe
    • Question mark
    • Exclamation point
    • Semicolon
    • Quotation marks
    • Dollar sign
    • Decimal
    • Dash
    • Colon
    • Fraction line

• Tactually read and comprehend Braille

• Using a slate and stylus
  • Orientation and familiarization
  • Proper paper insertion
  • Proper stylus positioning
  • Introduction to writing
  • Advancing the paper
  • Error correction

• Using a Perkins Braillewriter
  • Orientation and familiarization
  • Key identification
  • Paper insertion
  • Introduction to writing
  • Margin setting
  • Error correction

• Identifies label making techniques
  • Use the label making techniques
    • Handheld labeler
    • Slate and stylus
    • Perkins Brailler with DYMO tape holder

• Identify necessary label making materials

• Identify potential applications for braille labels
  • Home
  • Work setting

• Contracted Braille
  • Tactually reads alphabetic word signs
  • Tactually reads short form words
  • Tactually reads word signs
  • Tactually reads group signs
  • Tactually reads special signs and symbols
    • @ sign
    • Capitalization indicators
    • Accent marks
    • Inner quotations
    • Outer quotations
    • Parentheses
    • Italic indicators

• Tactually read and comprehend contracted Braille

• Use a slate and stylus
  • Orientation & Familiarization
  • Proper paper insertion
  • Proper stylus positioning
  • Introduction to Writing
  • Advancing the paper

• Use a Perkins Braillewriter
  • Orientation & Familiarization
  • Key Identification
  • Paper insertion
  • Margin Setting
  • Error Correction

• Demonstrate the ability to work independently

• Miscellaneous Skills
  • Identify how to obtain braille books from the Braille and Talking Book Library
  • Use braille input on IOS or Android devices