Braille Instruction![]() By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com Updated October 28, 2017 If a student cannot attain a functional reading speed using large print or low vision devices to read regular size print, then braille should be considered as a complementary tool for literacy. Keep in mind, however, that not all students are good candidates for braille instruction. It is not only essential to have the cognitive abilities and foundational concepts, but it is important to have finger sensitivity and fine motor coordination to maintain sustained touch and systematically track across the paper. Determining how to teach braille including the frequency and intensity of instruction depends on a variety of factors. The age of the student needs to be considered and whether they have other options for a literacy medium. The student's intellectual capabilities will determine if the focus should be on functional braille or traditional braille. The student's tactile and perceptual abilities and skills are critical to learning to read braille. Students with a history of strokes may not have the finger sensitivity to discriminate the small differences in braille characters. The student's age and additional disabilities will also play a large part in determining the way to instruct the student in braille.
Teaching Tracking PatternsIt is important to teach correct finger and hand use when instructing a student in braille. Different students will use different types of hand movement patterns to read braille. The most efficient pattern is to use a scissor type pattern, moving both hands together. The left hand reads to the middle of the line, then the right hand takes over and reads to the end of the line while the left hand returns to the next line and begin to read independently of the right. The hands meet in the middle of the line of braille and then separate. Light finger touch is also critical for students to acquire.
When teaching a student tracking patterns, encourage the student to:
Material Positioning/ Stabilizing Tip: Keep braille paper from sliding on the table or desk by placing it on shelf liner, Dycem, or slip guard, Discourage Backtracking & ScrubbingIt is important as a student is learning braille to discourage regressive hand movements (vertical or horizontal). Regressive hand movements or scrubbing are those in which the hands and fingers move back and forth or up and down unnecessarily on the braille line and interfere with efficient tracking skills. In early literacy activities, these movements may indicate that the student needs additional practice in tracking lines while tactually discriminating likeness and differences between characters and words.
Backtracking is when the student returns to previously read characters if the text doesn't make sense. Although some backtracking is good and can be a positive strategy, excessive backtracking can be an indication that the student is reading at the frustration level and the reading level should be reevaluated. Encourage Light Finger TouchAnother mechanical skill a good braille reader should develop is to use very little pressure when touching the braille dots. A student should touch lightly along the top of the braille as they read it. If a child is observed to place too much pressure on the fingertips, remind the child to use a light finger touch. If a child is pressing more heavily on the braille characters to gain more tactile information, they may be compensating for a lack of discrimination skills.
Encourage Proper Finger & Hand PositionJust as it is important to learn early how to properly hold a pencil or to use the correct fingers when typing, it is important to learn proper finger and position when reading braille. Although it is acceptable to go between your right or left index finger, it is ideal to have a primary reading finger. Stabilizing the worksheet or book with shelf liner will keep the page from sliding around and promote proper form. The following are skills to encourage:
Dot Position in the Braille CellBegin 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.
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Make It Fun!Write braille notes to the student and place them in unexpected places to create interest and a sense of excitement in using braille. Later, the student can be encouraged to write notes to the teacher of students with visual impairments and others.
Use braille access technology, such as computers and personal note takers, as a motivating factor as students can be motivated by the voice output. This is also a great way to for a more advanced braille reader who uses a personal note taker to have an opportunity to mentor and feel good about their braille skills! Give the student directions in braille to follow, such as the steps in a treasure hunt. Provide the student with a note that provides a clue to the first location to look. You can pair this with the theme such as hiding the next clue in an Easter egg (adapt to the current theme)! ![]() Game Kit
The Game Kit, available from APH, is a collection of common game parts designed for use by low vision or blind players. The handbook provides suggestions on adapting commercial games or creating new ones. Pre-Braille ActivitiesAnne McComiskey, former Director of Project BEGIN, an early childhood program at the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta, Georgia, has developed this Braille Readiness Grid that is an excellent resource tool listing skills future braille learners will need to develop.
![]() Motor Activities to Develop Pre-Braille Skills
You are welcome to print and use this list of motor activities that can help develop tactual skills and pre-braille skills. Braille Reference![]() I created this literary braille checklist as a "cheat sheet", located on the Printables page, and also as a means to document student progress in learning the braille code. You can locate this form in the Printables section and print it for your reference.
![]() If you would like to produce ink print braille to create worksheets for students who are beginning to lose their vision or for parents, peers or others who want to learn braille, there is an easy solution! You will first need to download a braille font such as Duxbury. Once you have downloaded the font, use this ASCII keyboard handout to create worksheets!
Maryland's College and Career Ready Standards for Unified English Braille Checklist is a great checklist by grade and includes braille, formatting and tactile graphics. This is a great age-specific and sequential resource that can help write goals and objectives!
Braille Instruction Books![]() Braille Connection
The Braille Connection: A Braille Reading and Writing Program, available from APH, is designed for former adult and teenage print readers how to read braille. This is a great program that I have used with teenage academic students who are learning braille as a secondary mode of learning.
Braille Instruction Resources in my VI Store2nd Edition Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Worksheets
$30.00
The 2nd Edition of Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Grab and Go ECC worksheet packet is a print on demand workbook that contains worksheets in print and simulated braille to use for data collection. This newly revised edition provides an easy means for copying and pasting into braille translation software programs such as Duxbury or APH’s Braille Blaster for embossing. Present the student with a hard braille copy and use the worksheets to document accuracy and fluency in reading braille. This second edition is formatted to a 32 cell width in print and simulated braille so you can anticipate when a student is approaching the end of the line whether you are providing face to face instruction or distance instruction. As a companion to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. These fun activities will help the student refine their keyboarding or braille reading skills while bridging ECC concepts presented in the thematic units. Although these word lists and passages were specifically created to document and increase braille reading and writing fluency, they may also be entered into a typing program such as APH’s Talking Typer to build keyboarding fluency. Finally, these worksheets can be used by print readers (e.g. peers, caregivers, TVI's who need to maintain braille skills, ect.) who are wanting to learn or maintain braille skills. Simply fold the worksheet in half to "decode" the braille, or read the print, produce it in braille, and check your accuracy. Note: This resource book is a digital pdf download. Once you make your purchase you will be directed to an order confirmation page. The download will be included on the receipt sent to the email address you provide. The pdf download can be found directly under the order number. *Single Instructor Use but may be copied for use with as many students on instructor's caseload Product details Digital pdf download: 405-page print and simulated braille worksheets Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments Author: Carmen Willings Language: English *Please contact me if you need to purchase using a purchase order. I am happy to help guide you in the process of adding Teaching Students with Visual Impairments as an approved vendor for your school or program or you can visit the product support page for information on using a PO. Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists: Grab & Go ECC Supplement
$25.00
The Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists Grab and Go ECC supplement is a 446 page pdf downloadable print on demand workbook that includes 2940 vocabulary card on 3 1/2" x 2" templates divided by each of the 32 Thematic Units along with a checklist of each unit words in print and simulated braille. As a companion to the TVI's Guide to the ECC, the vocabulary cards correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. Tips for Use • Print a copy of this digital book. • Copy the vocabulary cards on cardstock or Manila Braille Transcribing Paper available from the American Printing House for the Blind or other cardstock. • It can be helpful to braille the cards prior to cutting them. If placing braille on the back of the card, however, it is easier to braille after cutting the cards out. • When placing braille on the front of the card, center it below the print. This way teachers, peers, or caregivers can see the print while the student reads the braille. • If brailling on both sides of the card, place braille below print on the front of the card and on the back, braille on the top of the card so as to not “smoosh” the braille on the opposite side. • Cut out the cards and cut an angled notch in the top corner to assist students in properly orienting the card. • If you are instructing a student that has residual vision, place the braille on the back or both sides of the vocabulary card. Encourage the student to read the word in braille and then flip the card over to check for accuracy. • Copy the checklist that corresponds to the current unit of instruction. • Use the checklists to document which vocabulary words have been introduced and student success. • The simulated braille is UEB contracted braille andcan act as a reference for brailling on the cards. • As the student writes or reads the words, use the opportunity to discuss ECC concepts and pare with ECC activities outlined in the TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC. Additional Use: Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments can have a extremely varied caseloads. It is possible to go several years without having a student on your caseload who requires braille instruction. Like other skills, if you do not practice your braille regularly, it is easy to lose those skills. Use these checklists and cards to maintain your braille skills. Fold the checklist along the line dividing the print from the braille. Choose to either read the print and produce the word in braille using a braillewriter or read the simulated braille and decode it. Finally, these vocabulary cards and checklists may be used with family members or peers who are interested in learning and practicing the braille code. Note: This resource book is a digital pdf download. Once you make your purchase you will be directed to an order confirmation page. The download will be included on the receipt sent to the email address you provide. The pdf download can be found directly under the order number. *Single Instructor Use but may be copied for use with as many students on instructor's caseload Product details: Digital pdf download: 446-page print on demand resource Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments Author: Carmen Willings Language: English *Please contact me if you need to purchase using a purchase order. I am happy to help guide you in the process of adding Teaching Students with Visual Impairments as an approved vendor for your school or program or you can visit the product support page for information on using a PO. ECC Task Boxes, Functional Braille Literacy Activities
$25.00
The ECC Task Boxes, Functional Braille Literacy Activities is a Grab and Go supplement to the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC. I absolutely love using this with my students! It contains suggested everyday objects for each unit (objects that can be found for free in the school or community, around your house, or purchased at the dollar store), vocabulary cards, order cards and simple reading passages. Data collection charts provide print and simulated braille. Print the vocabulary and order cards on braille cardstock and add the embossed braille. Similarly, braille the short braille sentences or copy into a braille translation software program and emboss copies of braille for the student. Minimize spreading of germs and make as many copies as needed for the students on your caseload. As a companion to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to the ECC Thematic activities and units presented in the curriculum guide. These fun activities will help the student refine their functional braille reading skills while bridging ECC concepts presented in the thematic units and incorporating real objects and tools. Although these vocabulary cards, order cards and passages were specifically created to document and increase braille reading and writing fluency and task completion, they may be used to build magnifier fluency by producing passages in regular or smaller fonts for near magnifier use or enlarged for distance magnifier used, or entered into a typing program such as APH’s Talking Typer to build keyboarding fluency. Finally, these activities can be used by print readers (e.g. peers, caregivers, TVI's who need to maintain braille skills, ect.) who are wanting to learn or maintain braille skills. Simply fold the vocabulary card, order card, or worksheet in half to "decode" the braille, or read the print, produce it in braille, and check your accuracy. Note: This resource book is a digital pdf download. Once you make your purchase you will be directed to an order confirmation page. The download will be included on the receipt sent to the email address you provide. The pdf download can be found directly under the order number. *Single Instructor Use but may be copied for use with as many students on instructor's caseload. *Does not include objects or embossed copies of materials. Product details Digital pdf download: 313-page print and simulated braille vocabulary cards, order cards and worksheets Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments Author: Carmen Willings Language: English *Please contact me if you need to purchase using a purchase order. I am happy to help guide you in the process of adding Teaching Students with Visual Impairments as an approved vendor for your school or program or you can visit the product support page for information on using a PO. Braille Assessment & Challenges![]() Assessment of Braille Literacy Skills (ABLS) Provides educators with a meaningful assessment of Braille literacy skills.
![]() The Braille Challenge® is the only national reading and writing contest in braille for blind and visually impaired students. Contests include reading comprehension, braille speed, and accuracy, proofreading, spelling and reading tactile charts and graphs.
Additional Braille Resources![]() Great Expectations brings popular picture books to life using a multi-sensory approach — songs, tactile play, picture descriptions, body movement, engaged listening — all designed to promote active reading experiences for children with visual impairments. Often, information critical to the story is conveyed through pictures in books for young children. Parents and teachers will learn how to describe a picture in a book, how to explore a book’s visual concepts, how to play and have fun telling “the whole story.” Children will learn to listen carefully to words, feelings (voice), actions, scene, plots, and character development—elements that they would otherwise miss by not seeing the pictures. Great Expectations makes reading fun!
UEBOnline is an online braille training program for sighted learners who want to learn Unified English Braille. Since Unified English Braille has been adopted by many countries and replaces standard English braille, teachers of students with visual impairments and parents will need to learn and practice the braille code.
UEBOT
If you're looking for professional development credits and need a refresher in Unified English Braille (UEB), consider taking the UEBOT course. The UEBOT Course will enable individuals familiar with EBAE to gain training with flexibility in scheduling and completion to become proficient in Unified English Braille (UEB). 10 ACVREP Professional Development credits will be issued upon completion of the course at no additional cost. Courses begin on the first and end on the last day of each month. The Braille Bug site from the American Foundation for the Blind, is a GREAT resource to expose sighted peers to braille. It provides fun facts as well as activities to help peers learn about braille. Encourage the student to help teach the braille code to his or her sighted classmates!
Visit the APH site to sign children up for the Imagination Library program! APH and Dolly Parton's Dollywood Foundation have developed a partnership to expand the Imagination Library program to children who are blind and visually impaired by providing print/braille and audio books to children!
Braille Gift Items in my VI StoreBraille Crew T-Shirt
$20.00 - $26.00
This T-Shirt is Fuschia with the word "braille" in dimensional braille (brl) and a large text "Crew" with smaller text that reads "checking braille accuracy one sign at a time." All text is white. Each shirt design is custom made and hand pressed. The shirt is incredibly soft and slightly stretchy. Order a size up if you like a looser fit. The shirt is a Bella+Canvas short sleeve t-shirt made with side seams for added structure & fit unisex sizing, and shoulder taping. It is 100% combed ring-spun cotton with unisex style and is super soft and comfortable! It features a tear-away label if you prefer label-free shirts and it is pre-shrunk. The vinyl decorations are in white. If the size you need is sold out, please contact me so I can email you when the size you would like is available, or check back soon for availability. Also, contact me if you need me to create an order for your team. -------CARE INSTRUCTIONS------- Turn inside out. Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Do not bleach. Do not iron directly on the design. LOVE braille T-Shirt
$20.00 - $26.00
This T-shirt in charity pink features the four lines of the word "love" in pink glitter print. In the top row, the "L" is in white dimensional braille. In the second row, the "O" is in white dimensional braille. In the third row, the "v" is in white dimensional braille. In the fourth row, the letter "e" is in white dimensional braille. Each shirt design is custom-made and hand-pressed. The shirt is incredibly soft and slightly stretchy. Order a size up if you like a looser fit. The shirt is a Bella+Canvas short sleeve t-shirt made with side seams for added structure & fit unisex sizing, and shoulder taping. It is 100% combed ring-spun cotton with unisex style and is super soft and comfortable! It features a tear-away label if you prefer label-free shirts and it is pre-shrunk. The vinyl decorations are in pink glitter and white puff dimensional vinyl. If the size you need is sold out, please contact me so I can email you when the size you would like is available, or check back soon for availability. Also, contact me if you need me to create an order for your team. -------CARE INSTRUCTIONS------- Turn inside out. Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Do not bleach. Do not iron directly on the design. Social Distancing braille T-Shirt
$20.00 - $26.00
This T-Shirt in dark grey features the print text in light pink "Social Distancing" and the UEB contracted phrase below it in dimensional white vinyl that reads "If you can read this, you are too close!" Each shirt design is custom-made and hand-pressed. The shirt is incredibly soft and slightly stretchy. Order a size up if you like a looser fit. The shirt is a Bella+Canvas short sleeve t-shirt made with side seams for added structure & fit unisex sizing, and shoulder taping. It is 100% combed ring-spun cotton with a unisex style and is super soft and comfortable! It features a tear-away label if you prefer label-free shirts and it is pre-shrunk. The vinyl decorations are in light pink and puff dimensional white. If the size you need is sold out, please contact me so I can email you when the size you want is available, or check back soon for availability. Also, contact me if you need me to create an order for your team. -------CARE INSTRUCTIONS------- Turn inside out. Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Do not bleach. Do not iron directly on the design. The Braille Code Gives Me Feels Braille Alphabet T-Shirt
$20.00 - $26.00
This T-Shirt in dark grey heather features the Print "The Braille Code" in white along with the alphabet. Below the print is the phrase "gives me feels" in dimensional white braille. Each letter of the alphabet has the braille symbol below it in dimensional vinyl. Each shirt design is custom-made and hand-pressed. The shirt is incredibly soft and slightly stretchy. Order a size up if you like a looser fit. The shirt is a Bella+Canvas short sleeve t-shirt made with side seams for added structure & fit unisex sizing, and shoulder taping. It is 52% airlume combed and ringspun cotton, 48% polyester with unisex style and is super soft and comfortable! It features a tear-away label if you prefer label-free shirts and it is pre-shrunk. The vinyl decorations are in white. If the size you need is sold out, please contact me so I can email you when the size you would like is available, or check back soon for availability. Also, contact me if you need me to create an order for your team. -------CARE INSTRUCTIONS------- Turn inside out. Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Do not bleach. Do not iron directly on the design. Braille is Knowledge Louis Braille quote T-shirt
$20.00 - $26.00
This T-Shirt is navy and features the quote by Louis Braille in white that reads "Braille is knowledge and knowledge is power." "Braille is knowledge" is in print and the ending "and knowledge is power" is in contracted and dimensional UEB braille. Each shirt design is custom-made and hand-pressed. The shirt is incredibly soft and slightly stretchy. Order a size up if you like a looser fit. The shirt is a Bella+Canvas short sleeve t-shirt made with side seams for added structure & fit unisex sizing, and shoulder taping. It is 100% combed ring-spun cotton with unisex style and is super soft and comfortable! It features a tear-away label if you prefer label-free shirts and it is pre-shrunk. The vinyl decorations are in white. If the size you need is sold out, please contact me so I can email you when the size you would like is available, or check back soon for availability. Also, contact me if you need me to create an order for your team. -------CARE INSTRUCTIONS------- Turn inside out. Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Do not bleach. Do not iron directly on the design. 1 Corinthians 13 Love Heartbeat in Braille T-shirt
$20.00 - $26.00
This T-Shirt is in heather raspberry and features an EKG heartbeat with an outline of a heart with the word "love" in embossed braille and the Biblical reference "1 Corinthians 13". Each shirt design is custom-made and hand-pressed. The shirt is incredibly soft and slightly stretchy. Order a size up if you like a looser fit. The shirt is a Bella+Canvas short sleeve t-shirt made with side seams for added structure & fit unisex sizing, and shoulder taping. It is 52% airlume combed and ringspun cotton, 48% polyester with unisex style and is super soft and comfortable! It features a tear-away label if you prefer label-free shirts and it is pre-shrunk. The vinyl decorations are in white. If the size you need is sold out, please contact me so I can email you when the size you would like is available, or check back soon for availability. Also, contact me if you need me to create an order for your team. -------CARE INSTRUCTIONS------- Turn inside out. Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low. Do not bleach. Do not iron directly on the design. Small Love is Blind Black Canvas Pouch
$8.00
Express your love of all things related to visual impairments with these 8.3 x 4.7-inch canvas zipper pouch/pen pouch. The Love is Blind pouch features pink glitter lettering and a heart with white dimensional braille on a black canvas pouch. Two shades of pink ribbon are tied to the zipper for an extra splash of color. The pencil case is made from high-quality thick cotton canvas, which is lightweight and durable. The zipper works smoothly and the seams are properly sewn. It will keep your item safe and tidy. The size is 8.3" X 4.7”, and a small body will keep many contents. Lettering and images are high-quality heat transfer vinyl. It can be used for organizing little things in travel and daily life orderly. Such as your cosmetics, keys, coins, and other small accessories. They can be regarded as pencil bags, cosmetic bags, clutch bags well as gift bags. Small Social Distancing Grey Canvas Pouch
$8.00
Express your love of all things related to visual impairments with these 8.3 x 4.7-inch canvas zipper pouch/pen pouch. The Social Distancing pouch features pale pink lettering with white dimensional braille on a grey canvas pouch. The UEB braille reads "If you can read this, you are too close!" Two shades of pink ribbon are tied to the zipper for an extra splash of color. The pencil case is made from high-quality thick cotton canvas, which is lightweight and durable. The zipper works smoothly and the seams are properly sewn. It will keep your item safe and tidy. The size is 8.3" X 4.7”, and a small body will keep many contents. Lettering and images are high-quality heat transfer vinyl. It can be used for organizing little things in travel and daily life orderly. Such as your cosmetics, keys, coins, and other small accessories. It can be regarded as pencil bags, cosmetic bags, clutch bags well as gift bags. 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! |
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