BraunerNotes
Christina’s notes on Diane Brauner’s talk.
- Diane’s contact info: DianeBrauner@earthlink.net
- Diane offered to take us to the kids she works with to try out our projects.
- Braille Writers:
- heavy
- have not been updated since their creation
- many kids are not strong enough to use them, and often get held back
- Other-senses myth:
- kids have to be taught to pay attention to their other senses
- they need to be taught young
- GB: Are there other factors that could cause children to neglect developing their other senses naturally? Maybe over-protective parents.
- Skills needed for orientation
- Everything needs to be named: hallways, rooms, each wall
- Landmarks are things that are always there.
- Intersections are important, as is identifying them
- Directions (left, right…)
- Tactile markers
- Used to tell the difference btw doors, etc.
- When kids are too young to walk on their own, Diane assists them in exploration walks where the child learns to use tactile markers
- Tactile maps
- Adding sounds could help make maps fun and easier to learn.
- Walmart map?
- iPod attachment to record sounds
- The kids are intriqued by noisy sounds
- GB: Intellikeys or a touch tablet could tell where it is being touched and a tactile map could be placed on top.
- Pictures of some Tactile Cards (same as tactile door markers, just put on 3×3” foam board squares so that the students can move them around to retell routes, learn shapes/textures correspond with the shapes/textures on the maps, etc.)
- Hark the Sound
- Gets kids to sit still
- Teaches skills like math, but also important computer skills
- Maze Computer Game
- Can be used with tactile maps, as a game or maybe a live maze of sitterson
- Currently, does not give enough auditory feedback to know where you are going
- Can currently add real maps, but not sounds
- Adding stories and different levels to the mazes would be fun.
- GB Surround sound
- record real sounds from different areas
- not yet added to any games
- Computer curriculum for blind kids
- Build up basic skills, familiarity with computers
- Braille textbooks
- always 1–2 years out of date
- no charts/graphs
- Braille Twister
- helps build strength in wrist for cane
- Social Skills
- learn not to bump into ppl or say “excuse me”
- maybe a game where you have to move around
- Other game ideas:
- games that build on eachother
- incorporate “sparkle” words (ex velvet instead of soft)
- Make a story with sounds
- typing games
- FLASH
- Bingo spatial exploration with arrow keys, different sound for each wall
- Braille positions, maybe with sound matching
- patterns with sound
- Resources:
- Andrews Elementary is really close
- contact GB for transportation