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You are absolutely right, Honey. Refreshable electronic Braille is virtually the answer to everything, which is why I am currently on a campaign to have this fact more recognised among assessors. The Braillenote is precisely how I cope with the kind of issues which Elaine has raised. It allows me to carry not just 1 but 20 or more books on holiday or anywhere else, and I don't even have to do any work translating the printed file because the Braillenote software does it all for me. E-Braille of this kind is definitely the way forward, as it allows Braille in bulk, which is a luxury that we've never had before. Last time I went to the Greek Islands, I took a guide in Braille to all five of the islands that I was visiting, and it was just an astonishingly liberating experience. I also took that particular week's TLS and a number of book reviews from The Guardian, plus two novels, all in Braille. The Braillenote also has a media player, so I also took an audio book on a flash card. Of course the prohibitive factor about these Braille note-takers, whichever one you choose, is the cost. One word of advice on this front: look out for the new Braillesense, which is apparently performing miracles at roughly 1000 pounds less than anything else on the market. I'm just awaiting my evaluation one to arrive. Just out of curiosity, how many of you in charge of assessment centres have one, let alone a choice, of Braille notetakers for students to view? Paul. Paul Jarman, Disability Support Officer, 2.39 Francis Bancroft Building, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, LONDON. E1 4NS Tel.: +44 (0)20 7882-2757, Fax: +44 (0)20 7882-5223, E-Mail: [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Honey Lucas Sent: 06 February 2007 14:03 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Books in Braille Hi Paul, That's a fair point, however as we are always racing against time to get information to students (in whatever format) I was suggesting screenreading as a stop-gap. I also take your point about taking a laptop to the beach, but a Brailled book is often not much more portable! What has worked quite well here is for Braille-using students to use BrailleNotes and PacMates, giving them the portability of a laptop (within its limitations) but the ability to read and write in their preferred medium. It also gives the student the control over what they read in Braille, rather than having to rely on external organisations who might have differing priorities. best wishes, Honey. On 06/02/2007 12:41, Paul Jarman wrote: >Honey, > >I don't disagree with you at all, but this is exactly what I mean about >Braille becoming a second-class medium for study. I think that there is one >thing that sighted people so easily overlook: Braille is reading--real >reading--using a screen reader is not. Okay, so it's a very useful >substitute, but just imagine you wer forbidden as from now ever to pick up a >paperback and actually read? Imagine always taking your laptop to the >beach? If anyone's first medium is Braille, we should always be encouraging >this. Screen-readers are a solution, but far from being an answer. > >Paul. > >Paul Jarman, >Disability Support Officer, >2.39 Francis Bancroft Building, >Queen Mary, University of London, >Mile End Road, >LONDON. E1 4NS >Tel.: +44 (0)20 7882-2757, >Fax: +44 (0)20 7882-5223, >E-Mail: [log in to unmask] > >-----Original Message----- >From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. >[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Honey Lucas >Sent: 06 February 2007 11:43 >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Books in Braille > > >Hi Emma, > >can the student access the books in a format other than braille, eg >using a screenreader? It would be quicker to scan the books (if you >have the publisher's permission to do this) and put them into Word than >to get them brailled. > >best wishes, Honey. > >On 06/02/2007 10:36, Uden, Emma L wrote: > > > >>I am trying to locate several books in Braille: >> >>The Two Executioners-Fernando Arrabal (London: John Calder 1962) >>The Bald Prima Donna, trans.-Antonio Ionesco (Donald Watson (London: >>Calder, 1977.) >> >>I have checked on reveal web and although it says they are available >>via RNIB or NLB the student has contacted them and they are not >>available. We have tried the publisher but they do not have them in >>electronic as they are very old texts. What do I do now? Do I need to >>get the books transferred into electronic, then into Braille can >>anyone suggest a company, how expensive is this likely to be? >> >>Any answers/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. >> >>Regards, >> >>Emma Uden >>Disability Adviser >>Student Enabling Centre >>University of Wolverhampton >>www.wlv.ac.uk/sec >>Tel: 01902 321353 >>Fax:01902 321021 >> >> >> >> > >-- >Honey Lucas >Disabled Students' Adviser > >Student Services >Oxford Brookes University >Headington Campus >Headington Hill >Oxford OX3 0BP > >Tel: 01865 484689 >Fax: 01865 484656 > >Please visit our website for information >about the Student Disability Service: >www.brookes.ac.uk/student/services/disability/ > > > -- Honey Lucas Disabled Students' Adviser Student Services Oxford Brookes University Headington Campus Headington Hill Oxford OX3 0BP Tel: 01865 484689 Fax: 01865 484656 Please visit our website for information about the Student Disability Service: www.brookes.ac.uk/student/services/disability/