How Useful is Braille? Reports of Blind Adults

Thirty blind adults in California who had learned and used braille as their primary reading mode in public schools were questioned about their current use of braille. A telephone interview asked each participant various questions about how much and for what purposes he or she currently uses braille. Most blind adults reported using braille for personal notes and memoranda. They rely on readers and recordings for the majority of their reading and type most of their personal correspondence. These responses indicate a need to stress listening, typing, and technological skills at least as much as braille skills in our elementary and secondary school programs for blind students.