Braille is a great communication tool for people who are blind or visually impaired. Learning how to use it could benefit them in multiple ways on a daily basis. Because we believe braille can improve quality of life, and because there are a lot of misconceptions, we dedicated this blog to the benefits of learning braille. We hope you get inspired!
Learning braille: why every person who is blind should
consider it
The
Royal National Institute for Blind people states that only
around seven percent of people who are registered blind or visually impaired in
the United Kingdom use braille. That means that 93% of this group does not use
it! Braille is a great communication tool for people who are blind or visually
impaired. Learning how to use it could benefit them in multiple ways on a daily
basis. Because we believe braille can improve quality of life, and because
there are a lot of misconceptions, we dedicated this blog to the benefits of
learning braille. We hope you get inspired!
What is braille?
Braille is a code designed to be read by the touch of your
fingers. The code consists of raised dots. These dots are arranged in two
columns. The different ways of placing these dots represent letters and
numbers. There are two grades of braille. Uncontracted braille, also known as
Grade 1, is braille written by using individual letters, numbers, and punctuation
marks. Contracted braille, also known as Grade 2, uses contractions for
combinations of letters or common words such as ‘ing’, ‘the’, and ‘for’. This
reduces the length of documents and increases the speed at which braille users
read.
Be literate
Being literate means the ability to read and write. Literacy
is immensely important. Sighted people learn this from a very young age. They
go to primary school and start learning letters, then sentences, and eventually
whole stories. For people who are blind and visually impaired, this is not the
case. For children who are born with a visual disability, it is not
mandatory to learn how to read and write. Which is insane if you think
about it.
Reading vs. Listening
Studies show that reading, for the average adult, is faster
than listening. The average adult reads about 250 to 300 words per minute.
Whereas the recommended talking speed is 150 to 160 words per minute. To put
this into perspective, an auctioneer speaks around 250 words per minute. But
nobody wants that. The average braille user reads 125 words per minute. This is
slower than the talking speed but that doesn’t mean braille doesn’t have
benefits over listening.
Reading wins
Studies have shown that reading is a more effective way to
receive, process, and share information than audio. Daniel Willingham, a
professor of psychology at the University of Virginia explains this theory.
About 10 to 15% of eye movements during reading are regressive. This means that
the eyes are going back over the text you just read to check it again. You
could also pause an audiobook or go over the same part again but it doesn’t get
done as often.
Another reason that reading is more effective is our
wandering minds. It doesn’t matter if we read or listen, we zone out for a
couple of seconds or even minutes. If you’re reading a printed book, it is not
difficult to go back. If you are listening, you are more inclined to keep
listening instead of going back. Therefore, you miss certain information.
Another aspect that benefits reading braille over listening
to audio is being able to spell certain words. By listening to instead of
reading you would never know how to spell a name or place. Or know the
difference between two names that are pronounced the same but spelled in a
different way.
Additionally, to spelling, grammar is a big part of a
language. Punctuation can be very tricky when using audible technology.
Punctuation is not always used correctly, which in turn causes confusion when
listening instead of reading. Audible technology will just keep going as if
there is not a comma or full stop. Reading it yourself can prevent this.
More job opportunities
Being able to use braille improves your chance of being
employed. Literacy is an important factor for employment. The unemployment rate
within the group of non-braille users is about 77% whereas is it 44% for
braille users. Being able to use braille increases your chances of being
employed significantly.
Braille is a fast and efficient way of communication and
very useful when working with written documents such as manuals, reports, or
other files. By combining your knowledge of braille along with assistive
technology such as screen readers of braille keyboards, people who are blind or
visually impaired are able to work successfully in a wide range of jobs.
Be more independent
Braille comes with a lot more independence for people who
are blind and visually impaired. You are able to read and write without needing
the help of a sighted person. This gives you more independence on a daily
basis. You are able to label certain products and items around your house.
Things like the microwave, oven, and refrigerator can be labeled. But also the
spices in your kitchen or the drawers in your closet. Besides labeling things,
yourself, there are also other things that already use braille.
A lot of public spaces such as elevators use braille. But
also certain products like medicine can be read by braille users. These are all
examples of braille being able to give you a more independent lifestyle.
Have more privacy
It does not only give you more independence. Using braille
in your daily life also provides you with privacy. You don’t need sighted
people to help you read and write which gives you the independence to keep
certain parts of your life private. Most banks and government organizations
provide their documents in braille. Therefore, you don’t have to share this
kind of information with anyone but yourself.
Some items in the grocery store such as medicine are also
often braille labeled. This means that you can go out and shop for it yourself
instead of asking a friend or family member to do so.
Another part of privacy that you can get back when you use
braille has to do with your smartphone. If you use technology such as
Voiceover, you talk to your phone and tell it what to write or search. In this
way, the people around you can eavesdrop. Whereas with braille, you can use a
braille keyboard and you no longer have this issue.
Being able to use braille technology
We currently live in a digital age. A lot of our time is spent online. We browse the internet, scroll through social media platforms and chat with friends and family. This online world has not been the friendliest place for people that are blind or visually impaired, accessibility-wise. However, times are changing and technology keeps improving.
We now have easy access to audiobooks and podcasts. Giving people who are blind or visually impaired more ways to consume their information. But the digital technology still falls short in writing. Speech-to-text software such as Apple’s Voiceover enables you to speak and they convert your words. However, this is not ideal and comes with its difficulties. The transcription software can fail to convert correctly. For example, when people have a thick accent of articulate not well enough.
Assistive technology that uses braille helps you with this
problem.
- It
gives you more privacy when there are others around
- Speech-to-text
software is not foolproof
- You are independent to write texts yourself