Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
6
↓
How should I start learning Braille? (self.Blind)
submitted by The_Agnostic_Orca
My boyfriend and I are both visually impaired. Neither of us have learned Braille, but I’ve been looking into it because his vision may get worse later.
He’s in the U.K. and I’m in the U.S, and while I am aware there is English standard Braille, I want to approach this the best way I can.
Do I start with grade 1 and go onto grade 2 once I have the basics down? Should I try to learn the grade 1 alphabet and some words then move to grade 2 as it’s condensed? I’m sorry if I’m generalizing, I’m just trying to understand the learning process more. Thank you.
He’s in the U.K. and I’m in the U.S, and while I am aware there is English standard Braille, I want to approach this the best way I can.
Do I start with grade 1 and go onto grade 2 once I have the basics down? Should I try to learn the grade 1 alphabet and some words then move to grade 2 as it’s condensed? I’m sorry if I’m generalizing, I’m just trying to understand the learning process more. Thank you.
oncenightvaler 2 points 3y ago
You should definitely have Grade I Braille, the alphabet and punctuation down before you go to contractions and Grade II. Walk before you can run. I hope you are successful at your task and that you already have a system lined up or a person to teach you.
I learned Braille and it took from age six to age ten, now I am planning on getting certified in Braille so I can translate documents into Braille for the School board.
I learned Braille and it took from age six to age ten, now I am planning on getting certified in Braille so I can translate documents into Braille for the School board.
The_Agnostic_Orca [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Also, would you think the alphabet and numbers would be a good base to move to grade 2? We don’t know how long he has until he loses his sight, but I want to be prepared the best I can.
retrolental_morose 2 points 3y ago
Grade 1, or uncontracted braille, is pretty much just the alphabet, numbers, some punctuation etc. So start with that, yes.
Do you have a way to learn? A course of study, etc? Or people to teach you?
have you thought about doing it together, perhaps by finding an online tutor?
Do either of you have access to any braille equipment, a Perkins brailler is the standard for writing on paper, or a refreshable display for reading and writing electronically.
Do you have a way to learn? A course of study, etc? Or people to teach you?
have you thought about doing it together, perhaps by finding an online tutor?
Do either of you have access to any braille equipment, a Perkins brailler is the standard for writing on paper, or a refreshable display for reading and writing electronically.
The_Agnostic_Orca [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I don’t have anyone to help me right at this moment, but I may be able to get some resources from a state department that has helped me with other things in the past.
Hellsacomin94 1 points 3y ago
In the US Hadley has a set of mail order courses that teach Braille. I’m on the second course and so far I’ve been very pleased. It provides a very step-by-step approach to learning how to read Braille from tactile literacy through grade 1and 2 Braille.
retrolental_morose 1 points 3y ago
The UEB online site mentioned earlier is very good, and others have mentioned other state aid.
In the UK, there are a number of resources from the RNIB in the form of audio and braille courses that you can do from home. Braille certification is a bit more complicated.
Is your partner in the UK under the age of 29? If so, they may qualify for an Orbit Reader, a small and relatively cheap display. APH sell them in the US but with this under 29 grant in the UK they're obtainable for under $100 USD.
In the UK, there are a number of resources from the RNIB in the form of audio and braille courses that you can do from home. Braille certification is a bit more complicated.
Is your partner in the UK under the age of 29? If so, they may qualify for an Orbit Reader, a small and relatively cheap display. APH sell them in the US but with this under 29 grant in the UK they're obtainable for under $100 USD.
oncenightvaler 1 points 3y ago
Here's a list of contractions that are based around the alphabet symbols
also, always, already, but, , can, , do, deceive, declare, , , every, either, , from, friend, , go, good, , great, , have, , knowledge, , like, little, letter, , more, not, , people, quite, rather, receive, , so, that, upon, , us, very, will, word, , it, you, your, , as, day, ever, father, here, know, lord, mother, name, one, part, question, right, some, time, under, work, young.
.
that's a general idea of why you need to learn the alphabet first, but that can probably be done within a month, depending on how much you concentrate on it. Additionally, you have to learn Braille by touch, learning it by sight probably won't help either of you.
also, always, already, but, , can, , do, deceive, declare, , , every, either, , from, friend, , go, good, , great, , have, , knowledge, , like, little, letter, , more, not, , people, quite, rather, receive, , so, that, upon, , us, very, will, word, , it, you, your, , as, day, ever, father, here, know, lord, mother, name, one, part, question, right, some, time, under, work, young.
.
that's a general idea of why you need to learn the alphabet first, but that can probably be done within a month, depending on how much you concentrate on it. Additionally, you have to learn Braille by touch, learning it by sight probably won't help either of you.
The_Agnostic_Orca [OP] 1 points 3y ago
That sounds very interesting! I hope that goes well for you!
DrillInstructorJan 1 points 3y ago
I just started after 20 years. I feel like a loser for not having started sooner, but you know...
Fingerprint is my tool. I won't tell you how hard it is because it will put you off.
Fingerprint is my tool. I won't tell you how hard it is because it will put you off.
The_Agnostic_Orca [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I've heard about difficulties with remembering the cells. As for now, he may maintain a certain level of vision where I'm hoping to encourage him to learn. I, on the other hand, have more time to learn. I've considered getting a book resource as it would be ridiculous to read braille with my eyes. Got any good, "hands on" resources? (no pun intended)
Laser_Lens_4 1 points 3y ago
Check out www.uebonline.org . It's far from perfect and can only teach you how to Braille, unless you have a Braille display to read the output using a screen reader (the site doesn't do Braille output nativly), but it's a good place to start. It starts you out with UEB grade 1 and moves you up from there. Most English-speaking countries have moved to UEB. They're even teaching it here in schools in the US now.
Grade 1 should be more-or-less the same in any English Braille edition so if you don't want to use UEB you can at least get the basics down as a jumping-off point.
Grade 1 should be more-or-less the same in any English Braille edition so if you don't want to use UEB you can at least get the basics down as a jumping-off point.
The_Agnostic_Orca [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I think it would be better for the both of us learning UEB since American English and British English are different in some ways.
Laser_Lens_4 1 points 3y ago
Well then, that website is the perfect starting point. It's accessible to anyone regardless of level of visual impairment and it's pretty easy to figure out and pick up. The certificates cost money but the lessons are completely free for anyone. Math in ueb beyond algebra gets a bit dicey so if either of you want to go into calculus or something then you're going to have to learn Nemeth code or figure out some other way like doing math with LaTeX or python or something.
paneulo 1 points 3y ago
The braille code you will want to learn is called Unified English Braille. As others have suggested, I'd reach out to Hadley. It is free. And yes, learn uncontracted, or grade 1 braille first. There are only 26 letters, and 5-10 frequently used symbols to learn. Numbers are super easy, because if you put a number indicator before a through j, they become the numbers 1 through 0. Have fun, and feel free to drop in with questions as you come across them.
benee16 1 points 3y ago
Depending on whether you are visually impaired enough, try Hadley adult continuing ed. $1 I am legally blind and learning braille through correspondence. You may also be able to borrow a brailler through them, I have. They send materials and audio for you to listen to, you do your lessons and either mail or email your teacher and she sends you feedback and it's free but you have to prove your visual impairment.
8i8oio 1 points 3y ago
I would like to practice my Braille thru correspondence. That sounds so lovely
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.