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Instruction in Writing Braille

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated October 28, 2017

Students will not only need to learn to read braille but to write braille as part of their literacy program. Encourage students to write about areas of interest and practice reading back what they wrote. Writing on the braillewriter requires physical strength, in addition to fine motor skills. Students can learn to make the connection between pressing the keys and forming symbols when they "scribble" on the braillewriter. As part of the writing process, students will need to learn to insert the paper into the braille writer. Teach the student the names of the parts of the braillewriter and relate the dot positions to the braillewriter keys. Knowing the dot positions will help in instructing the student on how to form the various letters and symbols. ​​​​​

Produce Braille with Braillewriter

The most common way for a student to produce braille, and fundamental for transitioning to electronic means of producing braille, is to use a standard manual braillewriter such as the Perkins braillewriter. Although the traditional Perkins braillewriter is heavy, I prefer this model to newer lightweight models as I feel it produces higher quality braille without tearing the tops of the braille when returning to the beginning of the line. In order to use the braillewriter proficiently, the student will need to learn skills to produce braille. The following is a sequence of skills that students will need to learn to produce braille on the braillewriter. Encourage the student to
  • insert/remove paper in a braille writer.
  • scribble using a braillewriter and make random braille dots (just as sighted students learn to write through scribbling, this is an important first experience for future braille readers as well).
  • appropriately place fingers on the braillewriter keys.
  • push all keys to write a full braille cell.
  • use his thumb to make a space.
  • use fingers in isolation to write rows of Braille dots (a row of dot 1, a row of dot 2 and so on).
  • operate line advance/carriage return to move to the next line and backspace to go back.
  • use appropriate fingers on keys on braillewriter
  • use appropriate finger strength to emboss dots of correct and equal height.
  • set margin stops on a braillewriter to create columns.
  • locate/name parts on a braillewriter: embossing keys, embossing head, carriage return, backspace, line advance, paper feed knobs, paper stops, paper release levers, roller, bell. (This is not an essential skill, but older students should learn the proper names of the braillewriter)
This classic Perkins braillewriter available from APH is a manually operated, six-key machine that, as its name indicates, is used to produce braille. Electronic and computerized braillers are also available that are more portable and lighter weight. This braillewriter is known for its durability and reliability and ability to write on wide paper.

The Perkins website provides downloadable manuals that includes the machine layout and basic functions, instructions for the care and storage, inserting and removing braille paper, as well as brailling tips.

Writing with the Slate & Stylus

A slate and stylus is a portable way to produce braille. Using a slate and stylus provides a student with a means of producing braille "on the go." ​It can be easily carried in a pocket or on a clipboard. The slate is a metal or plastic frame with openings through which braille dots are embossed with the aid of a pointed stylus. As part of the instruction in using a slate and stylus, the student will need to:
  • identify the six parts of a slate: hinge, window, pins, cells, dividing dots, bar, and opening.
  • identify the dot numbers in a cell on a slate.
  • load paper/card in the slate.
  • move the paper down slate to advance lines.
  • hold the stylus in an appropriate position to emboss a specific dot.
  • write a line of legible, uniform dots, without breaking through the paper.
  • begin a new line in a cell at right.
  • skip spaces on a slate.
  • write the alphabet, words, numerals, and sentences.

Braille Gift Items in my VI Store

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Braille 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.
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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.
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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.
Shop

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.
Shop

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.
Shop

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.
Shop

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.
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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.
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