Assistive Technology and Alternative Formats Oct 26, 2015-Nov 4, 2015

This was my favourite unit. I kind of went overboard with this unit. In this unit we looked at different kinds of low-tech and high-tech technologies that could be used in a library setting. My favourite part was learning about the Braille code and Braillers, which allows one to type Braille. My want to learn Braille has clouded over all other material learned in this unit. In class, shortly before Hallowe’en we were given the 26 letters of the alphabet with their Braille components and a worksheet with Hallowe’en related words to translate into grade one or uncontracted Braille. After this lesson, I found several apps for my iPad that were free, some had in app purchases, and downloaded them. My favourite is the UEB, Unified English Braille, compliant Braille learning app called Braille Tutor. Braille Tutor gives the user 19 lessons for free and costs two dollars plus change for the rest of the 91 lessons. By the end of the nineteenth lesson, you would have already started grade two or contracted Braille.

UEB Braille is a six dot Braille cell, some languages use an eight dot cell. A cell is a single group of dots to represent one letter, word, punctuation… Each dot is given a number from one to six and when you are typing Braille, the one and four dots are your index fingers and the three and six dots are your ring fingers. Dots one, two and three are for the left hand and dots four, five and six are likewise for your right hand. There are 64 different cells in six dot Braille. Is it not cool that with 64 combinations and seven keys on the keyboard that a person can type anything they want if they know the code? For me, I love learning languages and I like mysteries stories, Braille feels like a combination of the two.

“Effective use of Braille is as important to the blind as independent mobility, knowledge in the use of adaptive technology, and the core belief that equality, opportunity and security are truly possible for all people who are blind.”-Bob Ney http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html#Gq5e8Iek4YI2AyYA.99