This paper presents the results of a postal questionnaire survey carried out in the south-west of England into the teaching of braille to school-age children. It reports upon the qualifications and experiences of the school teachers and learning support assistants (LSAs) involved in this work. It also enquires into materials and resources available. The survey research methodology is supplemented by an account of the views of delegates attending a national conference on the issues addressed in the postal survey.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Burnaford, G. , Fisher, J. & Hobson, G. (1996) ‘Preface to Chapter 11’, in Pagliano, P. 1999) Multisensory Environments. London: David Fulton Publishers .
2.
Chorley, D. , Mongon, D. & Soulsby, D. (2000) Report on a Review of the Existing Mandatory Qualifications for Teachers of Children with Hearing, Visual or Multi-Sensory Impairment. London: Teacher Training Agency .
3.
Clunies-Ross, L. & Keil, S. (1999) Numbers of visually impaired children in the UK in 1997. London: RNIB .
4.
Clunies-Ross, L. & Keil, S. (2001) Audit of Visually Impaired Children in the South West Region of England: Autumn 2000. London: RNIB .
5.
Hooker, P. (1995) The Abi Books. A New BrailleReading Scheme.Unpublished M.Ed. Dissertation. School of Education, University of Birmingham.
6.
Johnston, D. (2001) Approaches to the Teaching ofBraille Literacy: A Review of Common InstructionalPractices.Unpublished Practitioner Inquiry in Education, School of Education, University of Birmingham.
7.
Johnston, D. (2001) Some of the common instructionalpractices in teaching literacy to children who areblind may not be the best possible practices. Thetruth is professionals in the field of blindness simplydo not know. Unpublished assignment for Postgraduate Diploma, School of Education, University of Birmingham.
8.
Mason, H. (masonfamily@talk.com) personal e-mail 25 February 2002.
9.
McCall, S. (2000) Literacy for children with a visualimpairment and additional disabilities; an investigationof Moon using Action Research. Doctoral Thesis. University of Birmingham.
10.
Olson, M. R. (1981) Guidelines and Games for Teaching Efficient Braille Reading. New York: American Foundation for the Blind .
11.
Rex, E. J. , Koenig, A. J. , Wormsley, D. P. & Baker, R. L. (1994) Foundations of Braille Literacy. New York: American Foundation for the Blind .
