Title:
Feasibility of developing a diagnostic touch test to determine braille reading potential.
Author:
Heather Cryer, Sarah Home
Publisher:
RNIB Centre for Accessible Information (CAI)
Year of publication:
2011
Background:
Poor tactile sensitivity is a much cited reason why people with acquired sight loss choose not to learn braille. This paper considers existing research evidence looking at the relationship between age, disease and tactile sensitivity. The purpose of this work was to investigate the feasibility of developing a touch test which could determine whether someone has sufficient sensitivity in their fingers to pursue braille reading.
Key findings:
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Age and disease such as diabetes may be a barrier to braille learning due to the perception of reduced tactile sensitivity
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Whilst some research does demonstrate reduction in sensitivity due to both aging and diabetes, this does not necessarily preclude braille learning
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Research suggests blind people may have superior touch sensitivity to sighted people, possibly due to practice and/or changes in their brain functionality from processing information tactually rather than visually
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Findings that poor touch doesn't necessarily prevent braille ability, and that touch can improve with practice suggests potential for a tool to test and train touch in order to encourage braille learning
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Further work should investigate the potential of using pre-braille training materials to give people the opportunity to try out their sense of touch before trying to learn braille.
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Materials from existing braille courses could be adapted and made available separately, for use in this way by individuals or rehabilitation workers.
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