Braille Training
Braille is a specialized system for writing and reading used by vision-impaired and totally blind people. The entire system is based on the domino-six shaped “cell” as shown below on the right.
There are 2 grades of Braille.
- Grade 1 - comprises the alphabet.
- Grade 2 - Some clients find that learning the alphabet is sufficient for their needs and do not proceed to learn grade 2.
Grade 2 teaches the student the other dot-patterns (in addition to the alphabet) which represent groups of letters or whole words. With this knowledge, reading commercially produced Braille books becomes possible.
Our Braille Trainer is using the Unified English Braille Code as the basis for the lessons which is now the standard Braille Code used in Australia.
Advantages of Braille
The advantage of learning Braille for a person with significant vision impairment are many - from the basics of labelling household items in Braille in Grade 1 to reading books in Grade 2.
After completion of the full course, the student is encouraged to become part of the "BRUTTE" reading group which meets monthly at Knapman House, i.e. third Tuesday of each month at 1.00pm.
Students are encouraged to attend the Adaptive Technology Centre at Knapman House for Braille lessons however if this is not possible, other arrangements including lessons by correspondence may be organised.
Lessons are usually held weekly for approximately 1 hour and the length of time to complete a full Braille Course is between 9 and 12 months.
For more information contact the ATC on (08) 8232 4777