Donna.Siren@p19.f5.n396.z1.fidonet.org (Donna Siren) (11/06/90)
Index Number: 11578
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
HK> who have been blind since birth. I have heard that hand writing is
HK> extremely difficult to master. Have you? What techniques did you
HK> use to do so?
It wasn't easy forr me, but there were several reasons for that.
For one thing, no one person had the time to sit down long enough
to work with me, and the next guy's handwriting was a bit different
and this was confusing to me. Finally, a friend took a piece of
heavy string and attached it (glued it, I think) in the shape of my
name to a piece of cardboard. I think my biggest problem was
connecting the letters. Another problem for me was trying to write
small. I had to write the letters big, so that I could get the
feel of it. It took a lot of time and patience, but finally I was
able to write my name a bunch of times and a friend took the best
signature and I had a stamp made. When I was in junior high, there
was a special ed teacher who knew that both of my parents were
blind and why she didn't teach me to sign my name is something I'll
never understand.
Donna
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!396!5.19!Donna.Siren
Internet: Donna.Siren@p19.f5.n396.z1.fidonet.orgBill.Koppelmann@f114.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Koppelmann) (11/06/90)
Index Number: 11602
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Henry, I'm not totally blind, but when it came to learning handwriting, I
learned tactilly from a letter board that APH had out in the sixties. I only
wanted to know how to write my name, but it did do the job. I hope this
feedback is of some help.
Bill K.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!104!114!Bill.Koppelmann
Internet: Bill.Koppelmann@f114.n104.z1.fidonet.orgWarren.King@p0.f429.n275.z1.fidonet.org (Warren King) (11/06/90)
Index Number: 11603
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Henry,
Not being a blind person myself, I am not acquainted with all of the
ways that a teacher might instruct someone to write their signature.
But being the type of guy who always tries to figure a way to get the
job done <grin>, what would you think of the idea of having your
signature cut into a stencil that you could then trace over when you
needed it? If signing checks were the main thing that you need your
signature for, you could take a piece of mylar and cut it to the size of
a check and then have someone "cut" your signature in the appropriate
location. Just an idea, for whatever it is worth. <grin>
-Warren-
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!275!429.0!Warren.King
Internet: Warren.King@p0.f429.n275.z1.fidonet.orgcampbell%hpdmd48@hplabs.HP.COM (Gary Campbell) (11/08/90)
Index Number: 11639 I learned handwriting in high school from a magazine article which my mother found, and from a teacher at school using the same article. Everyone told me my handwriting was very clear, but backed off when I wanted to use it, so I don't know how it really is. Since I never got motivated enough to just practice for the sake of practice, and since if I wrote something I wanted it to be understandable, I haven't done much with it since, except to sign my name. The article teaches cursive writing rather than printing, which I found easier because many letters are connected. The article describes the letters a stroke at a time. If you follow the instructions exactly you will come out with kind of block letters, but it also tells you to round the corners, and someone coaching you can help with the exact shapes. I didn't find people's attempts to guide my hand or raised representations of much help. I think that is because it must be harder to represent it so that it is easily felt than many people think. I tend to write small because I use my fingers to move the pen and hold my hand relatively still for a reference. Some have given me the impression that this is not how one normally writes. The article was probably published around 1968. If you are interested I could break out the old reel-to-reel machine and see if I can find the tape, but I can't guarantee when! <grin> As Donna indicated, I feel it is important to work with the same coach, since there is a *lot* of variation in handwriting. Gary Campbell
Linda.Iverson@f10.n130.z1.fidonet.org (Linda Iverson) (11/14/90)
Index Number: 11684
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi, Donna!
I recently had a discussion with someone about handwriting and how
I handle it and different opinions about the matter. I ended up feeling
real putdown and rotten. I, too, use a rubber stamp and I know at
least one other person on this echo besides you and me, Donna, who
uses a stamp. I love this echo, and from what I've see haven't read
any messages from anyone I'd never want to meet if I had the chance,
but sometimes here and blind people in general can come across as though
their way of doing things is the only way. I feel I am an expert on
my blindness and no one else's. Our backgrounds, lifestyles, interests,
childhood, skills, beliefs, etc., etc., etc. determine how we handle
anything--not just blindness issues. I think we should all try to
learn from each other. I know how to sign my name but have chosen
to use a rubber stamp. Donna, I agree that your teacher should have
pushed the idea, but I don't think there's anything wrong with using
a stamp as long as that is recognized as your legal signature. I believe
it is much harder for some people to learn to write print if they've
never seen it--not everyone, of course, and it certainly can be done.
I can sign my name and still do on occasion; however, I find reading
print with my Optacon much easier than writing it. For that matter
I always found reading foreign languages and writing them easier than
speaking them. In my opinion, blind people are like everyone--we all
have certain talents and would have them in any case. Donna, what
kind of rubber stamp do you have? I know someone who has a stamp with
lifetime ink. It is a one piece device that opens up and the user
just stamps what has to be stamped. I've not seen one like that, but
would love one. I have two stamps--one is my name printed, and the
other is script. I have an inkpad with my stamp, so I carry all of
this in a little coin purse, but I'd sure like one so that I'd not
have to use an inkpad. My friend has had this stamp for a long time
and has never had to replace the ink. Donna, I wasn't meaning by sending
you this message that I think you've ever implied your way is the only
way. I was simply sending this message to you and just threw that
in. I don't know if I ever told you how much I enjoyed our conversation
the other day. That was quite a neat surprise! Have you resolved
the problem with the Cooking recipes? I've just been downloading the
messages, and brailling it and then copying the recipes I want. I
think I'd rather be a point like you and Walter!
Take care!
Linda
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!130!10!Linda.Iverson
Internet: Linda.Iverson@f10.n130.z1.fidonet.orgLee.Kerr@f7.n300.z1.fidonet.org (Lee Kerr) (11/14/90)
Index Number: 11685
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
I have been blind since birth. I know handwriting but cant reaad it. I
can write it and can see enough to keep it on the line, but as far as it
ding me much good , i dont think it dose that much. It comes in handy for
signing documents, checks, and things like that, but when I use rint, i
use block print. I must deal with some print n my job
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!7!Lee.Kerr
Internet: Lee.Kerr@f7.n300.z1.fidonet.orgSteve.Bauer@f6.n291.z1.fidonet.org (Steve Bauer) (11/14/90)
Index Number: 11692
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
I've seen some teachers take clay and lay out the name of a blind
person on a sheet of paper or cardboard. Then they felt the raised
image and used that to learn how to sign their name. Seemed to
work pretty good.
Steve/
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!291!6!Steve.Bauer
Internet: Steve.Bauer@f6.n291.z1.fidonet.orgHenry.Kasten@p0.f33.n130.z1.fidonet.org (Henry Kasten) (11/14/90)
Index Number: 11707
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Lee, Thanks for the responce to my question about
handwriting. You stated that you mostly used print, and it
sounded like an apology. As a sighted engineer, I always used
print, so do other engineers and people in other technical
fields. I wouldn't worry about only using print, many sighted
people who can write primarily use print and only use cursive to
sign their name. How did you learn to print?
thanks, Henry
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!130!33.0!Henry.Kasten
Internet: Henry.Kasten@p0.f33.n130.z1.fidonet.orgLee.Mounger@f729.n106.z1.fidonet.org (Lee Mounger) (11/17/90)
Index Number: 11783
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Linda,
Don't ever allow anyone to make you feel badly because you use a stamp
to sign your name. As long as you get it done by yourself, I can't see
what difference it makes how you accomplish the task. Personally, I'm
just too busy to spend hours trying to learn to write my name simply for
the purpose of signature. I'll find someone I trust completely not to
empty my checking account or abuse my credit cards to sign my name for
the stamp. Then I'll hve the stamp made and forget about it.
I realize that finding someone trustworthy isn't always possible for
everyone and in that case, I'd say learn to sign your name, have the
stamp made and then use it. Or, if by the time you've finished learning
to sign your name, if it really brings you pleasure, forget the stamp
and sign away. To me, using a stamp seems easy and practical. Just
remember the next time you start stamping your name that I'll soon be
stamping right behind you, <grin>.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!106!729!Lee.Mounger
Internet: Lee.Mounger@f729.n106.z1.fidonet.orgLee.Kerr@f7.n300.z1.fidonet.org (Lee Kerr) (11/17/90)
Index Number: 11800
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi,
I learned to print when I was 6 and my mother taught me to do it. I have
some vision but not enough to read cursif. It was not an apology, but my
best reading form is Braille. It is an alternative form, but I feel just
as good, in many cases, as fast. The reason I use print on the job is the
cost of the Braille display is more then I have, and the other guys in the
telecatelog center dont read it.
What kind of engeneering are you doingh, I am interested in flyiung, I
flew ultralights and gliders, I have also joperated power mechines such as
laythes, punch presses, multi bitted drills, screw mechines etc, I also
am a jham radio operator and have interest in sound geer.
Chat again soon
Lee
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!7!Lee.Kerr
Internet: Lee.Kerr@f7.n300.z1.fidonet.orgMarda.Anderson@f9.n393.z1.fidonet.org (Marda Anderson) (11/20/90)
Index Number: 11879
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
I was interested in your comments on handwriting. As a totally blind
person who has never seen, I found handwriting to be one of the most
difficult skills to learn and I don't think I ever really mastered it.
It was taught without the use of tactile aids. The teacher would take
our hands and move them in the shapes of the letters. In a year of once
weekly instruction, I accomplished the goal of the class, learning to
write my name. Besides that, I had started to learn other letters. But
I was always self-conscious about my writing and always hated to sign my
name. A couple of years ago a friend of mine who is a rehab teacher and
who is sighted offered to teach me to write. She gave me a sheet of
paper with raised letters on it and some other learning aids. But after
a few weeks of instruction, I could tell she was discouraged. Now I'm
worse off than I was before because I know my writing is terrible but I
don't know how to fix it. The raised letters didn't help. Neither did
drawing in flour, another of her teaching aids. I don't be any means
want to say that a congenitally blind person couldn't be taught to write.
I am just recounting my experience.
marda
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!393!9!Marda.Anderson
Internet: Marda.Anderson@f9.n393.z1.fidonet.org