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When my son first started losing his vision (at three months old), my wife and I decided that it was vital that he learn to read and write Braille. As a student that the Children’s Center of the Visually Impaired, CCVI, he started receiving Braille instruction when he about four-years-old. After he graduated from the CCVI, he continued to receive Braille instruction through the school district and from a private Braille tutor. For almost five years now, my wife and I have struggled to make Braille a functional part of his life experience, both at school and at home. Unfortunately, my son greatly dislikes learning Braille (mostly because it makes him “different” from all his friends and classmates).
Although my son is legally blind, he still has some functional vision. He can read larger print books, he has magnifiers that enlarge what he is reading, and he is convinced that Braille is a waste of time because he can read. My wife and I think it is important that he still learn Braille though because there is no guarantee he won’t lose more of his vision and we want him to have a many “tools in the toolbox” as possible. We still think it is important to learn Braille, but he fights us every step of the way.
I was shocked earlier this school year when the Braille tutor suggested that we stop the tutoring sessions. She explained that my son was making little or no progress, he was defiant about doing his Braille, and that it wasn’t a large enough part of his everyday life to make it meaningful. At first I was outrages, but then I remembered the words of my son’s low vision specialist when I explained that my son was learning Braille. He told me that there would come a time when my wife and I would have to decide if it was worth it to keep putting the time and effort into Braille. He explained that my son has enough functional vision to be successful in school (and in life).
I think that time is upon us. When my wife and I discussed the Braille tutors recommendation it quickly became clear that we are fighting a losing battle. Our son isn’t progressing in Braille because he doesn’t “see” the need for it and until he does (God forbid), we are simply spinning our wheels so to speak. He will continue to be resistant, even defiant, about going to the tutor and practicing Braille at home and at school until he “needs” it.
Therefore, with great hesitation and not a little bit of frustration, my wife and I have decided it is time to stop his Braille instruction. His tutor assured us that he has learned enough Braille that if something should happen and he loses more vision he will be able to pick it up again with little or no delay. She assures us this is the right decision and the best decision for our son. We are still hesitant though and worried. For now, we are taking her recommendation.
To Braille or not to Braille? That is the question I ask of you today.
Although my son is legally blind, he still has some functional vision. He can read larger print books, he has magnifiers that enlarge what he is reading, and he is convinced that Braille is a waste of time because he can read. My wife and I think it is important that he still learn Braille though because there is no guarantee he won’t lose more of his vision and we want him to have a many “tools in the toolbox” as possible. We still think it is important to learn Braille, but he fights us every step of the way.
I was shocked earlier this school year when the Braille tutor suggested that we stop the tutoring sessions. She explained that my son was making little or no progress, he was defiant about doing his Braille, and that it wasn’t a large enough part of his everyday life to make it meaningful. At first I was outrages, but then I remembered the words of my son’s low vision specialist when I explained that my son was learning Braille. He told me that there would come a time when my wife and I would have to decide if it was worth it to keep putting the time and effort into Braille. He explained that my son has enough functional vision to be successful in school (and in life).
I think that time is upon us. When my wife and I discussed the Braille tutors recommendation it quickly became clear that we are fighting a losing battle. Our son isn’t progressing in Braille because he doesn’t “see” the need for it and until he does (God forbid), we are simply spinning our wheels so to speak. He will continue to be resistant, even defiant, about going to the tutor and practicing Braille at home and at school until he “needs” it.
Therefore, with great hesitation and not a little bit of frustration, my wife and I have decided it is time to stop his Braille instruction. His tutor assured us that he has learned enough Braille that if something should happen and he loses more vision he will be able to pick it up again with little or no delay. She assures us this is the right decision and the best decision for our son. We are still hesitant though and worried. For now, we are taking her recommendation.
To Braille or not to Braille? That is the question I ask of you today.