How exactly do adults learn Braille?
Today, we present an article on this topic from “Sichtweisen,” the magazine of the German federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (DBSV). In it, Sonja Schmidt reports on her work on a project that deals with precisely this issue.
It’s a project with a high degree of personal interaction that is not only challenging and complex, but also very fulfilling.
A big thank you to the team and especially to Sonja Schmidt for allowing us to publish the text in English.
You can find the original German article
here:
Learning and Teaching with Humor – The Braille Workers: My Work with Braille
Training Braille Instructors for Adults: A DBSV Employee Shares Her Experiences with the “Punktum” Project
Sonja has shoulder-length brown hair and stands at a table covered with materials for learning Braille: egg boxes and worksheets.
DBSV employee Sonja Schmidt teaches a Braille course · Image: DBSV/ Katerina Athanasiadou
Since 2022, I have been working at the German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (DBSV), and I’m fortunate to be involved in a project called “Punktum.” It helps many adults with deteriorating vision gain more independence in their daily lives by learning Braille. The project trains more and more people in Germany who already know Braille to become Braille instructors for adults.
In our week-long qualification seminars, future instructors learn everything related to teaching Braille. The program also includes basic psychology, didactics, and information on learning abilities in older age.
My work is exciting and fulfilling because I meet many different people and constantly gain new experiences: organizing seminars, creating learning materials, and coordinating the activities of other project participants.
For example, we commissioned the development of a specialised software for learning Braille, and it was fascinating for me to follow the development process and brainstorm ideas for improvements and potential use cases.
Three Ways to Learn Braille
Today, adults can learn Braille in several ways: with the software (if they already have a Braille display), with our comprehensive and engaging course materials that cover the complete German Braille system and are specifically tailored to the needs of adults, or by being taught by one of the trained instructors.
We want to show that learning Braille is not only achievable, but can even be fun. That’s why we ensure the practice materials are varied, humorous, and practical for everyday use.
From cooking to literature, Braille allows people to manage many tasks independently. And those who give it a try often discover that Braille opens up many possibilities for autonomy. Even if someone reads slowly or their sense of touch isn’t as sharp as they’d like, it’s still enough for the important things. The use of modern technology doesn’t change the fact that Braille remains a major asset for blind people, even 200 years after its invention.
What I especially love is that many of our seminar participants are blind themselves. Some even have lost their Vision only recently. They use Braille every day, manage their lives with it, and by doing so, show their future students how valuable it is. It’s incredibly rewarding for me to see them become role models who then proceed to inspire others.
More Seminars Planned for 2025
We’ve already trained over 60 participants, and because interest and feedback have been so strong, we’ve planned two more seminars for this year.
A personal highlight was a seminar in Poland that we organized last summer for rehab instructors from Ukraine. These professionals work with soldiers who lost their sight due to the war. During the seminar, we presented our approach and had extensive exchanges about Braille instruction in our respective countries. The feedback was very positive, and some participants even translated our Punktum Braille course into Ukrainian.
For me, it’s incredibly enriching to see how much participants grow throughout our seminars. The project is expanding, and I’m looking forward to continuing to support many more people on this journey.
I’m especially pleased that people continue to approach me with a wide range of questions about Braille. Whether they want to learn Braille for themselves or become instructors, I’m always happy to be a point of contact.
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