Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Braille slate writing question (self.Blind)
submitted by perfecthannah
Hi, sighted person working on my braille composition skills (not literate yet). I’ve watched a ton of videos and read lots of guides but there are some very basic aspects of working with a slate and stylus that I haven’t found answers for and, since the world is currently shut down, I can’t get ahold of an instructor to ask. My biggest today being:
If I DO break through my paper, does that render the characters illegible? Is there any way to fix a few breakthroughs that occur on say a full page of text or should it all be rewritten? Please note that due to pandemic shipping issues I don’t have access to specialty braille papers. Am using cardstock and 100lb weight papers for practicing as advised by workshop leader.
Thanks so much for any advice ya’ll can offer! Hope everyone is safe and well.
If I DO break through my paper, does that render the characters illegible? Is there any way to fix a few breakthroughs that occur on say a full page of text or should it all be rewritten? Please note that due to pandemic shipping issues I don’t have access to specialty braille papers. Am using cardstock and 100lb weight papers for practicing as advised by workshop leader.
Thanks so much for any advice ya’ll can offer! Hope everyone is safe and well.
seperath 3 points 3y ago
From my wife - Hello, As a nonsighted Braille user who reads Braille, I would feel the dots and make sure you are only feeling the dots intended to form the letter or word (e.g., the letter a for instance or the the word "the" in contracted form) first. If you feel more dots than intended to make the letter or word, then I would rewrite it on a new sheet of paper. Using 100lb is fine, but as posted in a previous comment, I would check the sharpness of the styllus as well if this happens a lot. It is good to know that there are still people out there who are taking the time to learn Braille - kudos to you and anyone else who has done this. It's important as it has helped me progress as far as I have in my life.
perfecthannah [OP] 2 points 3y ago
My concern is that I don’t yet know how braille markings should feel. I do have an alpha-numeric key but that’s not the same as reading, as feeling the tactile forms in sequences. So I’m reproducing braille literacy materials found online for my own reading practice. Your comment was very helpful! I filed my stylus and am not struggling with paper breaks nearly as often now and I’m sure with more practice it will be of little concern. Thank you for taking time to make such a thorough and encouraging reply!
BlueRock956 3 points 3y ago
Hi, if you are not using paper designed for Braille results may very. As you are learning how to use it, I would not worry too much. If you do break through the paper, pressing on the dots a bit will push the dot down a bit and it'll feel better. If this were happening with Braille paper I would take a look at the stylus to check if it's too sharp.
perfecthannah [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Thank you for your answer, I appreciate it!
BlueRock956 1 points 3y ago
If I may ask, where are you studying?
perfecthannah [OP] 3 points 3y ago
I took a brief introductory workshop to blind skills some time ago via my local Lighthouse organization with the intent to study braille further, but current events intervened. :) Have been watching as many videos/reviewing as much material as I can find online in my free time during quarantine. If you have any resource recommendations you don’t mind taking time to share, I would definitely welcome them.
PS: Your comment about the sharpness of the stylus was very helpful. I used a metal file to dull and round my cheap Amazon tool and it really eased the writing process. Maybe this should have been common sense but I’m glad you pointed out my pointy problem!
PS: Your comment about the sharpness of the stylus was very helpful. I used a metal file to dull and round my cheap Amazon tool and it really eased the writing process. Maybe this should have been common sense but I’m glad you pointed out my pointy problem!
BlueRock956 2 points 3y ago
You are most welcomed. A couple of other points:
1. If you are using a ball stylous check out a stylous with the handle in the shape of a sattle. These are much more comfortable in the hand.
2. To increase fluency when writing. Write a sentence and write it multiple times down the page. This will help you increase how fast you write with the stylous.
1. If you are using a ball stylous check out a stylous with the handle in the shape of a sattle. These are much more comfortable in the hand.
2. To increase fluency when writing. Write a sentence and write it multiple times down the page. This will help you increase how fast you write with the stylous.
CloudyBeep 1 points 3y ago
This information comes from one of the companies that makes braille embossers. I don't know how applicable it is to styluses.
If you noticed already some small cracks in the top of the braille dots, those small visible cracks tell you that the dots are as high as they CAN be without tearing the paper. If you want to see well-formed dots for the sake of comparison, examine a sample made on a Perkins mechanical Brailler in good condition. These well-formed, uniform dots constitute the standard for the industry. You will see tiny cracks in these dots where tiny pockets of the paper are trapped for an instant against a pin, which creates the actual shape of the dot. Dots without small visible cracks are probably made too quickly or with too little impact. In any case, they are likely to weaken or disappear over time. The same can be said for dots which are misformed by poking holes all the way through the paper. This can lend a jagged or scuffed feel to the Braille.
How are you learning braille? Have you been introduced to the website https://uebonline.org?
If you noticed already some small cracks in the top of the braille dots, those small visible cracks tell you that the dots are as high as they CAN be without tearing the paper. If you want to see well-formed dots for the sake of comparison, examine a sample made on a Perkins mechanical Brailler in good condition. These well-formed, uniform dots constitute the standard for the industry. You will see tiny cracks in these dots where tiny pockets of the paper are trapped for an instant against a pin, which creates the actual shape of the dot. Dots without small visible cracks are probably made too quickly or with too little impact. In any case, they are likely to weaken or disappear over time. The same can be said for dots which are misformed by poking holes all the way through the paper. This can lend a jagged or scuffed feel to the Braille.
How are you learning braille? Have you been introduced to the website https://uebonline.org?
TheBlindBookLover 2 points 3y ago
Hi. I have heard of some people using two sheets of paper at once to have a thicker surface to work with.
You just need to flatten the dots with a finger nail or tip of the stylus.
You just need to flatten the dots with a finger nail or tip of the stylus.
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