Modern Technology Threatens Braille

Video killed the radio star, as audio books and text-to-speech software are now killing Braille. According to the US National Federation of the Blind (NFB), about 50% of all blind children learned Braille in the 1950’s. Sadly, however, this number has dropped to only 10% of all blind children in America today. NFB director Mark Riccobono puts the problem in perspective as he says, “If only 10 per cent of sighted children were being taught [to read] that would be considered a crisis.”

Photo by Antonioxalonso

Schools choose the cheaper and more tech-savvy form of education – the talking book, which allows blind children to “read” by simply listening. Computer software for the blind are often called e-books and readers or reading machines. Computers with special hardware such as scanners convert written texts to audible speech. Practically speaking, schools choose to purchase e-books because hiring a Braille teacher is more expensive. According to an article in Macleans, a Canadian magazine, “overstretched school budgets and the ever-evolving portable audio book” are causing the fast diminishing popularity of Braille.

Modern technology is taking over from talking books to talking equipment such as thermometers, watches, clocks, scales, calculators, and compasses, and these are all to the benefit and comfort of the visually impaired.

When it comes to reading books, however, schools should reconsider. According to a study, blind children who know Braille performed at par with sighted students on reading comprehension tests, 61% to 62%. Blind students who do not know Braille only scored 38%.

“Low-vision kids need to be taught Braille,” said the author of the study. “Early Braille education is crucial to literacy, and literacy is crucial to employment.”

The author also revealed that 77% of non-Braille users were unemployed while more than 50% of Braille users maintain jobs. All “extensive” Braille users are employed.

For more information on this story, and to add your voice to the campaign to increase Braille literacy, click here: braillecampaign.blogspot.com.

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