How does refreshable Braille work?
There are different brands of braille displays. They all have a single row of braille, with as few as 14 cells of braille, all the way up to 80 cells. As you either braille yourself, meaning the blind person or use a keyboard like I do, the braille appears on the display. The braille pops up with retractable pins that appear in the cell. As you work on a computer, iPhone via Bluetooth or use a braille note taker the braille moves and one can scroll back, forward, etc. Hope that is clear. Maybe we can meet some time and can show you.
Being deaf-blind, what is your communication preference?
This depends on the situation and who I am communicating with. Nowadays, I prefer to use tactile sign language, this is when I feel someone’s hands as they use ASL sign language to communicate with me. IF I’m communicating with a sighted and hearing person I will have the person type on my keyboard and read the braille. If I need someone to contact me I prefer text or e-mail.
Can you tell me a little about your learning style and how it was for you growing up?
Interesting questions. I was in regular public schools until 3rd grade in which was transferred to Hayward school district, they had a program for hard of hearing kids. Was mainstreamed for half of my classes and in Special Ed for half. I was transferred due to falling behind in half my classes. For me, I believe I have a visual learning style. I struggle learning when things are strictly audible. However I believe I may also be kinesthetic learner. It is interesting since I thought I was stupid, I did not apply myself due to my struggles learning. For example, I did not understand algebra until went to community college when I was 26 years old and started out with basic math and worked my way up to statistics. As my vision decreased I had to rely on my hearing to learn, which was a hard transition. I would read some things in braille for college but took too much time so I had to depend on my hearing. Thank goodness I finished my math prior to having no useful vision.
Palmer and a student using tactile sign.