A Wonderful Way to Read November 24, 2013/ Elizabeth Lalonde Whether you are blind or sighted, please think about something you may not have considered before. I encourage you to take a three-hour workshop in the basics of Braille next Saturday afternoon in Victoria. You might say, ‘why would I take a workshop in Braille? I can see just fine’. Well, this workshop is designed for all people - even the sighted. So you are probably asking why someone who can see would want to learn Braille. To that I ask, why not? Colleges and community organizations offer courses in sign language, pottery, photography, knitting, and clog dancing, among others. Braille has a long and interesting history and once people learn about it, they are thankful for taking the opportunity. Braille was created by Louis Braille, who was blind. He invented the code as a young boy over 200 years ago in France. He originally got the idea from an army captain who used a night writing code in the military. Despite what some say, technology has not diminished the relevance and importance of this six-dot reading system. Braille is the same as print; it isnt just a specialized field reserved only for blind people; it is useful to everyone. Just as print is a visual form of reading, Braille is a tactile form of reading. Though blind people read Braille with their fingers, sighted people can read Braille with their eyes. I encourage sighted students to use their fingers too, but ultimately I want people to feel free to explore the dots in whatever way they feel comfortable. I am the director of the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind, a new nonprofit organization run by blind people. I am blind and I read Braille. The Pacific Training Centre for the Blind is offering this class because we want to bring Braille to the public: to normalize it, to infuse it with life, to inspire peoples curiosity. The Right on the Dot Workshop gives participants a chance to learn the basics of Braille at a beginners level and provides a positive perspective on blindness and the abilities of blind people. Please join us on Saturday, November 30, from 1 PM to 4 PM at the 1st Douglas Scouts Hall, 3266 Glasgow Ave in Victoria, and learn about another, wonderful, way to read. The cost of this workshop is $20 and is free if you are blind. Please RSVP by sending us an email to [email protected]
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 02:45:01 +0000
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