Bill.Burgess@f401.n229.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Burgess) (05/31/91)
Index Number: 15894
Ladies, many have wondered, and in fact been surprised by my
braille-ability, considering that I am sighted and self taught. To
explain how it all started, I met a sweet young guide dog user after
seeing her in a newspaper article and set about to improve her
working conditions, about mid September, 1986. In December of that
year I decided to learn braille, as I have always believed that you
deserved equal rights, meaning that if I truly believe in you, I
will communicate with you in the medium that you use. I went to the
Canadian National Institute for the Blind and bought a plastic 4
line by 28 cell slate and stylus plus a booklet from the RNIB in
Britain on Braille. In two weeks I had grade one under my belt, with
the exception of most punctuation and some contractions. Just in
time for Christmas, and I brailled Christmas cards in my usual
manner, namely the cover imprinting, verse, and my from and to and
such on the inside left page. Needless to say I didn't pick cards
with a 40 line poem or verse. Got caught and heavily teased by
another blind gal I later helped. She discovered that for security
in case I forgot anything, I took my engraver and embossed the back
of the slate with the alphabet, contractions and some grade 2 as
well. I also carry masking tape on the back of the slate. reason
being that if I go to your residence and you are not home, I leave a
brailled business card taped over your keyslot so you find it right
away upon your return and no potential burglar can ever read it.
Many have been surprised by this gesture, as none before me have
ever done this, including Gail Elliott-Ross. Left her the
information in the mailbox and the note on the door. She and many
others have said that I am the only sighted person whose mail they
can read. By the way, the marked slate is broken from frequent
dropping but saved for the memories. The brailler acquired last year
sees heavier service now, although the slate and stylus are always
in my suit jacket or in the car. Having 4 years of slating under my
belt came in very handy last December. Josette Kernaghan from
British Columbia sent me 23 pages of grade 2 braille on invoice
paper tripled for thickness to hold the dots. No problem, except
that I sight read rather than touch read, and this paper was
imprinted on the front with blue print every three lines. Couldn`t
see the dots in that area due to no shadow detail so struggled for a
while then woke up. Why not use my slating skills? So I turned the
page over and read the holes as if slating and it worked out well.
Could tell you more but the screen says 40 lines of type now so best
quit for now. Enjoy posting to each and everyone of you and am very
relaxed with braille too so I`ll take it any way you choose to send
it. The same goes for all others reading this. Best wishes to all
and may happiness reign with you forever.
Love and mega-hugs always,
Bill
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