BRAILLE for sighted children???

IT’s come up before — and indeed, there might be a child, somewhere, who would benefit from it.
HOwever, unless there is a visual processing issue — which should be addressed — the issues with Braille are much the same as those with the printed word. The student still must make the association between the letters and the sounds, and learn all those little tricks fluent readers do like “sneaking a peak” ahead (which I think Braille readers do with the other fingers, but I”m not sure).
Many folks with dyslexia struggle with mastering codes and symbols. Braille would just be a different (and unfamiliar) code.
Also consider that manipulatives tend to tap gross motor (big movement)muscles; Braille is very much at the fingertip level.

Hi. I posted a very long article previously, describing a method I have used to teach letters and sounds using a very hands-on tactile approach. This is for letter recognition, phonics, and handwriting all together. If you would like a copy, just send me an email at [email protected]
Also just ask if you’d like all the rest of the reading instruction outlines.

As Sue says there may have been a kid or two, but you have to also consider that there are some BIG disadvantages to Braille. The no. of books is seriously limited and the size of the books is very large as it just takes a lot of space to represent.

I’d say to go at this directly, find a tutor for the kids (not Sylvan or other francise), you want someone who teaches reading, not just someone who teaches it slower and louder.

Take a look at the LMB (or is it LiPs thread) on this forum for some specific advice. I wouldn’t say no to Victoria’s ideas either.

—des

Check out the Association Method, too.

Nothing wrong with the Association Method, but I think it’s a bit harder to find nowadays. I think it is a bit similar to LiPS in some ways (came out of the speech and hearing community vs special ed.)

Also one more problem with Braille, even if they could learn it– remember lds can effect the ability to recognize things by feel as well (they used to test this commonly by drawing shapes in the hand and that sort of thing). But that it is unbelievably slow. No college student would go thru college with Braille alone any more. Not just the no. of things translated, but that it takes so darned long. I read somewhere re the fastest braille reading time and it is so slow it would considered a severe RAN (rapid naming fluency type) disorder if it were text.

—des

I don’t know if this would be helpful, but I have heard of cued speech being used to help the hearing impaired learn to read. If I had to choose between Braille and cued speech for a dyslexic, I’d go with cued speech (gross motor instead of fine, emphasizes vowel sound distinctions).

Realistically, though, cued speech might not help a dyslexic if the core difficulty is symbols (rather than sounds).

Nancy

Cued speech might be useful for severely dyslexic kids. Not sure if there has been any research on it though. (There has been research on OG, LiPS, PG, etc.).

—des