Access to Braille Literacy and Numeracy

Issue

Some New Zealanders with sight loss may not have the choice to learn Braille and develop Braille literacy and numeracy skills.

 

Statement

The RNZFB Board believes that:

• The teaching and production of Braille must comply with the Braille Authority of New Zealand Aotearoa Trust (BANZAT) standards.
• Access to electronic Braille equipment needs to be more readily available and affordable.
• People who are blind, deafblind or who have low vision need to have the choice to:
  • develop Braille competency,
  • access convenient and affordable equipment for reading and writing Braille, and have access in Braille to information that is available to the sighted public in electronic and print formats.

 

Background

Literacy and numeracy are key factors in determining success in life, including employment. The use of Braille has declined over the past few decades, but now there is a growing movement to encourage the take-up of Braille. American research shows a strong correlation between the ability to read Braille and employability.

Braille is one of several formats that support literacy and numeracy skills for people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision. Hearing about how learning basic Braille skills can support many activities of daily living: creating grocery lists, labelling clothing, identifying medications, using household appliances, and so on, is important.

The ability to develop Braille skills, access affordable Braille reading and writing tools, and have Braille material readily available are an important option for children and adults who are blind, deafblind or have low vision. Students and learners who use Braille as their primary literacy medium need to have curriculum material in Braille.

Braille users want to have Braille books, including magazines, newspapers, and appliance instruction manuals, at the same time and cost as printed versions are made available.

 

What Blind Low Vision NZ Will Do:

• Encourage everyone to learn Braille and promote its use for day-to-day activities.
• Urge Braille users to let organisations know when something requires transcription into Braille.
• Provide organisations with a Braille transcription and production service that complies with standards set by BANZAT.
• Encourage people who produce or teach Braille to complete the Trans-Tasman Certificate of Proficiency in Unified English Braille (UEB).
• Work with kindred organisations, including Māori and iwi organisations, Blind Citizens New Zealand Inc. on Braille production and training.
• Assist people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision to obtain funding for Braille-related equipment and materials.
• Advise on designing and placing Braille in the built environment.
• Increase the availability of Braille for recreational reading.

 

What Blind Low Vision NZ Wants Government to Do:

• Include Braille in legislation on the built environment, public transport, compulsory education, tertiary education, and in public service information.
• Ensure that all government-generated information produced in print is available in Braille at the same time the printed version becomes available.
• Fully fund the teaching of Braille and training in the use of Braille-related equipment.