From Deseret News archives:
Braille best: Visually impaired kids vie in reading, typing
The noise is similar to a typewriter, but it's a Perkins Braille writer.
It's what 40 visually impaired students used Friday at the Utah Braille Challenge at the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Salt Lake.
"It's old-fashioned," says Brittany Southworth, 16, of Cedar Hills, who attends Lone Peak High School.
The front of the Brailler has nine keys. Combinations of six main keys create Braille symbols. There is also one button on either side. The left button makes the paper go up to the next line. The right button is the backspace. A large middle button is the space bar. The impressions made by the Brailler can be "read" with fingers.
Learning Braille isn't easy, said Kristy Yang, 12, of Clinton, who attends Clinton Elementary School. "But once you get used to it, it's not that hard to learn," Yang said. "My fingers get a little numb sometimes, but they don't hurt."
The students type on heavy paper so the Braille letters can be imprinted.
In one competition Friday, contestants converted a tape-recording into Braille. Another had the students find spelling errors in Braille.
Many visually impaired people use a modern tool to write Braille, which has keys similar to the Perkins but is called a note taker and is more like a laptop computer.
Friday's event was sponsored by the Utah Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired, in conjunction with the Braille Institute of America, based in Los Angeles.
Competition categories included spelling, speed, proofreading and best overall. Students won ribbons, as well as medals that read "Braille Challenge" in Braille, of course, on the back.
Friday's scores will be submitted nationally. Seventy top visually impaired students will compete in the National Braille Challenge in Los Angeles in June.
Parent Marla Palmer, Centerville, has two children who are visually impaired and attend Legacy Preparatory Academy, a charter school in North Salt Lake. Although her children can see well enough to read large print, she believes learning Braille is a worthwhile supplement.
"It's a good literacy tool," Palmer said, adding the annual Braille competition is a good self-esteem boost. "And it motivates them to practice and learn," she said.
Recent comments
Congratulations Kurt, what a great kid. Good luck in Los Angeles....
Garrett | Feb. 3, 2008 at 10:37 p.m.
- FSU coach Bobby Bowden to retire 1:04 p.m.
- November auto sales struggle 1:03 p.m.
- Trial set for accused bogus bidder 12:58 p.m.
- Philpot may run for Congress 12:57 p.m.
- Did Eagar imply Palin endorsement? 12:42 p.m.
- Obama: More troops with deadline 12:28 p.m.
- New 3rd District judge appointed 12:12 p.m.
- Richmond woman dies after crash 12:10 p.m.
- Prep swim rankings 12:05 p.m.
- Woods' wife asked neighbors to call 12:03 p.m.
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
- 'Grandfamilies' a growing trend
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
900 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
482 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
395 - Max Hall issues apology
385 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
331 - Utes won't respond to Hall
270 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
159 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
124 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
120
The Sally Bytheway Chorale will have a Christmas concert to benefit The...
My husband was teaching his 6th-grade class in Salt Lake last year when...
Yepper's, you betcha, (as Sarah Palin would say), the same DNA is running in...
Wouldn't you think the victim would have been killed INSIDE the home if he...
The bottom line is no matter how much you don't like the other team you don't...
I HATE THE U | 12:02 p.m. You all have similar stories because they are...
This is a really cool story, thanks for writing it 7 congrats to the family.
No matter what the cougs do - they will be linked to the Vegas bowl - enjoy...
JT is an excellent player and I hate when people bag on him. Yes, he has poor...
What does scouting actually have to do with being awesome?... Answer:...
'And your last sad attempt, the James Early Ray "quote" is simply a lie.' -...
"One thing you can't hide, is when you're crippled inside." John Lennon.

