Apparently and unfortunately an unpopular opinion
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GigiLucy
Thank you!!!! I’m not the only one. Braille is our pencil. One day, our technology is going to be shut down. What are you lot going do when that happens? Most of the blind population will be toasted by then. Literally sheep for the slaughter when it comes to being brainwashed. What then?
Dauad Yasar
Matt Cooper
Eddie Howitzer
The only braille a man needs to know is nipple braille! 
Robert Johnson
James
Dolce
James
Dolce
This comment is in response to Mat . Yes, the dictionary ties literacy to reading and writing. But it does not specify the medium. Braille is a writing system, not a separate species of literacy. And listening comprehension is indeed part of language processing, otherwise every sighted kid who learned through being read to would’ve been ‘illiterate’ until age seven. That’s not how cognition works. And honestly, the practical examples you gave (medication labels, elevators, whatever) don’t actually support the original claim,they just show Braille is useful, which I already agreed with. Nobody here said Braille has no value. I literally read Braille in two languages. What I’m pushing back on is the leap from: ‘Braille is useful’ to ‘If you don’t read Braille you’re illiterate.’ That’s arrogant as all hell. And even if, for the sake of argument, the dictionary definition did apply in this exact context (it doesn’t)… why would I tell a blind person that to their face? What does that achieve? Who does that help? What’s the point of announcing to someone who is blind for whatever reason: ‘By the way, you’re illiterate’? I fail to understand the purpose of saying something like that. It feels like kicking someone who’s already down, not educating them. Braille, Tech, Audiobooks are all valuable. Shame is not.
Dauad Yasar
Dauad Yasar
Dauad Yasar
Black Lightning42
Matt Cooper
I think this one is multilayered. To be literate by definition is to be able to read and write. It doesn't include listening. Your brain processes things differently if you are listening compared to reading. So is someone illiterate if they can't read print or braille? By dictionary definition, yes. Can this make some blind people uncomfortable when pointing this out? Yes. Is this particularly helpful to point this out? Probably not. So to Dolce's point in particular, I understand where your sentiment is coming from, but 2 things can be true at once. In terms of priorities with teaching newly blind people, I don't think braille should be the top priority, but I don't think you should completely disregard braille completely either. There might be situations where it can be more useful than tech. In my own personal life as an example, it's much quicker to read the braille printed on medication boxes, which in the UK is mandatory than to scan each box with my phone. Same in elevators where there is braille on buttons, which is very common now.
Black Lightning42
Eddie Howitzer
natemac29
JD
It's such a difficult topic to speak on. I agree with some things on both sides of it. I think really what needs to be said is if you are blind and are capable both physically and mentally of learning braille then you should have learned it or be learning it. I do think it's really sad that a lot of people now see braille as not worth learning and I completely disagree with that. Can we do things without braille? Yes, however I don't think braille is no longer useful. Also people learn and think about things differently than others. In a sense there are blind people who are still visual learners and benefit from seeing things in front of them. Although I don't currently have much access to braille I love using it. It gives me a different perspective opposed to listening to something. Obviously it's everyone's choice weather they use or learn braille and there are people with developemental issues which I understand could make it more challenging. The same is also said for sighted people with physical and mental issues. They might not be able to learn print or at least learn it at a slower rate than others might. Like I said if you're able to use braille and choose not to it's your choice but I would think most people would want to have as many tools and resources at our disposal as possible.
Dolce
I know braille in two languages. That being said, I’d rather be called ‘illiterate’ than be this confidently wrong. Audiobooks don’t make anyone illiterate, especially not blind people. Literacy is about language, comprehension, vocabulary, being able to understand and process information. It has nothing to do with whether the text comes through fingers, print, or speakers. If someone can follow a plot, analyze meaning, understand tone, learn new words, and engage with the material… that’s literacy. Braille is one way of accessing text, but it’s not the definition of literacy itself. So calling blind audiobook readers illiterate is quite frankly misinformed. And honestly? If I’m going to say something, it needs to be kind, true, or necessary. So let’s check: Was this post kind? No. Was it true? Also no. Was it necessary? Definitely not. And that’s why I’m explaining it.
Dauad Yasar
James
Dauad Yasar
Yeah my thoughts were kinda the same haha.
Eric S
Eric S
Dauad Yasar