Tips and guides

Assistive Technology for Beginning Braille Readers

This power point presentation offers information about using assistive technology with beginning braille readers.

By Belinda Rudinger

This post is based on a presentation given at Closing the Gap 2017.


What technology means to me…

  • Family
  • Love 
  • Connection

What technology means to our students…

  • Access
  • Voice
  • Empowerment

A systems analysis of the beginning braille reader’s environment…

  • The Team
  • The Task
  • The Tools

The Braille Reader’s Instructional Team

illustration of 5 portrait photographs

  • Parents:  Home environment, bedtime stories, first experiences of reading
  • The student: Strengths, struggles, motivation, preferences
  • Classroom teachers & teaching assistants: Typically new to working with a braille reading, content experts 
  • TVI: Experience with braille, reading instruction, AT, materials expert
  • Peers: Sources of support & partnership

The Task: Components of Reading

  • Phoenic Awarness: ability to manipulate segments/phoenemes
  • Phonics: sound + symbols correspondence
  • Fluency: Reading rate
  • Vocabulary: Knowledge of words and their meanings
  • Comprehension: Constructing meaning from text
  • *Braille Contractions: 200+ symbols, rules of usage, discrimination

Books on Braille Reading Instruction

cover of I-M-Able

Resources for Braille Reading Instruction

cover of Building on Patterns

  • Braille Fundamentals
  • Un’s the One
  • Building on Patterns
  • Mangold Basic Braille Program
  • Read Naturally
  • Wilson Reading System
  • The same curriculum used by the classroom teacher! 

Considerations for Braille Reading Instruction

  • Explicit vs. incidental methods
  • Introduction of contractions
  • Guided reading integration 
  • Paths to Literacy

The Tools: The Role of Assistive Technology in Beginning Braille Reading

“For most people, technology makes things easier. For people with disabilities, technology makes things possible.” – Mary Pat Radabaugh, IBM

Remember your TEAM and your TASK when choosing your TOOLS

adult hands in fists touching over a table with beverages and snacks

  • Students and their devices do not exist in a vacuum
  • Support is one of the key factors of progress
  • Consider ease of use, learning curve of device
  • Consider experience and engagement of team (and lack thereof)
  • Consider strengths and struggles the student brings to both the task and the tool

Perkins Brailler

Perkins SMART Brailler

blue Perkins smartBrailler

  • Auditory input
  • Visual input
  • Tactual input
  • *USB port for saving items

Watch a video of a student using the Perkins SMART Brailler.

Discussion Points

  • What are some advantages and disadvantages of this tool?
  • Which members of the team would it support?
  • What’s an example of a task using this tool?

Logan Braille Coach

Logan Braille Coach

  • Endlessly customizable braille flashcards
  • Can be adapted to any level of student
  • headphone jack for private use
  • Perfect for an independent activity
  • Easy to use by adults and children alike!
  • Additional tags can be purchased
  • Best kept secret!!

Discussion Points

  • What are some advantages and disadvantages of this tool?
  • Which members of the team would it support?
  • What’s an example of a task using this tool?

Mountbatten Braillewriter…aka Braille Whisperer 

Mount batten brailler

  • Tactual, auditory, & visual feedback (through amazing app!)
  • Keyboard for non braille users to type messages and/or classwork
  • Nemeth, music, & more!
  • Easy to press keys for little fingers
  • Many beginning notetaker functions 

Discussion Points

  • What are some advantages and disadvantages of this tool?
  • Which members of the team would it support?
  • What’s an example of a task using this tool?

Refreshable Braille Displays

  • Must either be paired with phones, tablets, or computers using screen reader software
    • Example: Braille Study Mode with JAWS screen reader
  • Modular, mainstream
  • Multiple advantages to starting young!
    • Examples include: VarioUltra, HIMS Edge, Focus 40–>EIBraille, Brailliant, and more

Discussion Points

  • What are some advantages and disadvantages of this tool?
  • Which members of the team would it support?
  • What’s an example of a task using this tool?

Braille Notetakers

BrailleSense U2 notetaker

  • Proprietary-made specifically for braille users
  • Stand-alone device with multiple capabilities
  • Examples include Pronto, BrailleSense Polaris, Braillenote Touch, APH Braille Plus and more
  • Some have visual input, some do not. Click for a video of a student review. 

Discussion Points

  • What are some advantages and disadvantages of this tool?
  • Which members of the team would it support?
  • What’s an example of a task using this tool?

Stay in touch!

www.ourlittlecorner.org
@thisismebelinda (LINK TO TWITTER)
belinda.rudinger@uwsp.edu

Collage of assistive technology for beginning braille readers