By: Carmen Willings teachingvisuallyimpaired.com Updated October 28, 2017
What is braille?
Braille is a system of raised dots arranged in cells. The number and position of the raised dots represent a letter, word, number, or symbol. Braille for reading and writing for Language Arts is referred to as a literary braille. In literary braille, there are two grades used in school, Grade 1 and Grade 2 (there is also a Grade 3 that is comparable to shorthand but it is not used in publications as it has not been standardized). These grades do not correspond to school grades but instead, refer to uncontracted and contracted braille. In grade 1 braille, each cell represents one letter, number, punctuation sign, or special braille composition sign. Books produced in grade 1 braille are very bulky as it takes a large space to produce each braille letter. Grade 2 braille was introduced as a space-saving alternative to grade 1 braille. In grade 2 braille, there are short form words and part and whole word contractions that save space.
Dot Position in the Braille Cell
Begin instruction by teaching the braille cell. Learning the dot positions in the braille cell is helpful, but not essential, for discriminating letters, numbers, and punctuation. There are many strategies teachers have used to teach the spatial position and dot numbers of specific dots in the braille cell. One of the most widely used method is using a muffin tin with tennis balls. Half dozen egg cartons can also be used or you can find an egg/shape match game. APH provides several materials for instructing a student in the braille cell including the swing cell, pop-a-cell, and the Big Cell. Refer to the Tactual Books page for suggestions on creating a braille alphabet book.
Encourage the student to identify the one symbol that is different within a group of three symbols, two of which are identical.
Encourage the student to match braille configurations.
Encourage the student to identify the spaces on a line of groups of braille symbols with one or more spaces between them.
Encourage the student to identify the groups of symbols when given a line of braille symbols and groups of braille symbols.
Remember to store braille books in bookshelves sitting on their end. Do not stack them on top of each other or it will flatten the braille!