Braille Instruction

The links in this section provide teaching tips and resources for braille instruction, and explore the debate about teaching contracted versus uncontracted braille.

Below is a list of topics you'll find in this section. Click on a title to jump to a specific topic.

Reading Exercises

Ann and Friends: Stories for Beginning Braille Readers, California School for the Blind
Ann Gelles shares "a series of animal stories designed to help beginning braille readers learn grade two braille. Students are introduced to … whole word contractions and short form words as they learn and practice the alphabet."

Braille Instruction Techniques

Tips for Promoting Braille in the Classroom, American Foundation for the Blind
Teachers will find many practical suggestions for incorporating braille into a regular classroom. Projects, games, and activities designed to introduce sighted students to braille and help them feel comfortable with their classmates who are blind.

Teaching Braille reading fluency.....virtually
A video demonstration by Dr. Denise Robinson of Tech Vision of a remote braille instruction technique using Skype.

Uncontracted Braille as Teaching Tool

- Back to Top -

Research

Braille Literacy Skills: An Analysis of the Concept of Spelling, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness
"This article analyzes the braille spelling errors of 16 Greek students who are blind. More specifically, it explores the types of spelling errors, the students' attitudes toward spelling, and the relationship between spelling and reading strategies." (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness: Special edition on Literacy May-June 1996, International Braille Research Center (IBRC) Resource Library
This full-text issue of JVIB is devoted to all aspects of literacy and includes articles on family support of emergent literacy, listening as literacy, the impact of braille literacy on self-esteem and employment, and much more.

On the Compatability of the Braille Code and Universal Grammar, Christine Lauenstein
In her dissertation for the University of Stuttgart, Christine Lauenstein examines whether braille's structural elements "inhibit writing performance because they interfere with language processes" and result in poor spelling skills.

The Impact of Early Exposure to Uncontracted Braille Reading on Students with Visual Impairments, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness
"This study compared the reading and spelling skills of students who were taught to read using uncontracted braille versus those who were taught to read using contracted braille." (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Teaching and Assessing the Appropriateness of Uncontracted Braille, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness
This pilot study report focuses on the assessment and instructional strategies used by four certified teachers of students with visual impairments. (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

- Back to Top -

Web-Based Organizations and Resources

Braille, American Foundation for the Blind
This section of the AFB website includes resources for teachers of braille, resources for parents, a link to DOTS, the newsletter for braille literacy, and a listing of sources of braille materials.

Braille Authority of North America (BANA)
"BANA's purpose is to promote and to facilitate the use, teaching and production of braille." It publishes codes, rules, interpretations, and opinions about braille, most of which can be downloaded from the site.

Braille Initiative, National Federation of the Blind
NFB offers many braille-related programs through its Jernigan Institute, including the Braille Certification Training Program for people who want to become braille transcribers.

Braille Literacy, New York Institute for Special Education
The Blindness Resource Center is a valuable internet resource for information about braille: description, history, Louis Braille's biography, legislative initiatives, organizations, advocacy, research, software, educational materials, and transcription services.

Braille: Paths to Literacy
The braille section of the Paths to Literacy site offers a range of information on various aspects of braille, including an overview, instructional strategies, pre-braille, tactile graphics, technology for braille readers, sources of print/braille books, tools for writing braille, braille production, and brailler repair.  Users may post content, including strategies, technology, resources, and research.  There is also a forum for questions and answers related to braille literacy.

Charts and Study Guides
Reproduced by Duxbury, Inc., world leader in software for braille and braille translation.  These are print resources for students and teachers of braille.

Information Packet: Braille Literacy (Children), National Federation of the Blind
This information packet from NFB includes a selection of articles, flyers, braille alphabet cards, and related resources; much of the material can be downloaded from the site.

International Council on English Braille (ICEB)
The purpose of ICEB is "to coordinate and improve standards for braille usage for all English-speaking users of braille."  One of their key initiatives is Unified English Braille.

Literacy Issues for People Who are Blind, Parents, and Professionals
Sarah Blake presents a collection of articles "about issues concerning literacy for people who are blind. Some provide theoretical discussions; others present the results of research; still others provide information about teaching methods."

 Back to Top -