Enforcing the Quality Enforcing the Quality Language/ Literacy Language/ Literacy Academic ProgramAcademic Program

Jacy JonesJacy Jones

AbstractAbstract

A century ago, individuals who could not A century ago, individuals who could not write were considered illiterate. Literacy was write were considered illiterate. Literacy was a symbol of intelligence, and intelligence a symbol of intelligence, and intelligence was a symbol of personhood. was a symbol of personhood.

For the blind, literacy includes the ability to For the blind, literacy includes the ability to use Braille, print, and computers as well as use Braille, print, and computers as well as the ability to use readers and recorded the ability to use readers and recorded materials to gain access to and acquire the materials to gain access to and acquire the most knowledge from information. Receiving most knowledge from information. Receiving this help may be difficult for the blind. this help may be difficult for the blind.

The Quality Language/Literacy The Quality Language/Literacy Academic Program is a way for the Academic Program is a way for the children of the blind and others to children of the blind and others to

easily grasp the written language of easily grasp the written language of Braille. Braille.

BrailleBraille(a form of communication for the blind community)

In America alone there are nearly ninety percent of blind children who are not able to learn to read and write because they are not being taught Braille or given access to it.

THERE IS A

BRAILLE LITERACY CRISIS

IN AMERICA!!!

The Quality Language/Literacy The Quality Language/Literacy Academic ProgramAcademic Program has the ability to has the ability to enable American families to help enable American families to help their children in learning and their children in learning and understanding the Braille system.understanding the Braille system.

Enforcing the Quality Enforcing the Quality Language/Literacy ProgramLanguage/Literacy Program

Learning ProcessLearning Process

AssessmentAssessment Qualified Qualified

InstructorsInstructors Language PlanningLanguage Planning Parental Parental

InvolvementInvolvement

AssessmentAssessment

A collection of assessments that provide a A collection of assessments that provide a beginning snapshot or baseline of the beginning snapshot or baseline of the child’s abilities is recommended. child’s abilities is recommended.

An accurate understanding of the child’s An accurate understanding of the child’s language and literacy needs is absolutely language and literacy needs is absolutely essential in order to develop the most essential in order to develop the most appropriate educational plan. This is appropriate educational plan. This is critical from preschool through the high critical from preschool through the high school years. school years.

Qualified InstructorsQualified Instructors

FACT:FACT: Instruction in reading and Instruction in reading and writing in braille is not always writing in braille is not always available to students who need it.available to students who need it.

When a parent sends their child to When a parent sends their child to school they naturally assume that school they naturally assume that the teacher will possess all the the teacher will possess all the attributes required to provide an attributes required to provide an accessible education for their child. accessible education for their child.

, the requirements of a , the requirements of a high quality teacher of the blind are high quality teacher of the blind are vast when compared to the teacher vast when compared to the teacher of visual paired children. of visual paired children.

The Quality Language/Literacy The Quality Language/Literacy Academic Program looks into the Academic Program looks into the three developmental levels of three developmental levels of literacy: literacy: emergent literacyemergent literacy, , basic basic literacyliteracy, and , and functional literacy.functional literacy.

Emergent literacyEmergent literacy refers to the refers to the development of concepts about print, development of concepts about print, which usually occurs during the preschool which usually occurs during the preschool years. years.

Basic literacy refers to literacy experiences which occur during the school years.

Functional literacyFunctional literacy refers to the literacy refers to the literacy experiences involved in daily life, such as experiences involved in daily life, such as filling out a job application, keeping an filling out a job application, keeping an address book, and labeling items. address book, and labeling items.

General literacyGeneral literacy refers to the use of refers to the use of literacy to improve the quality of life literacy to improve the quality of life for oneself and others and the for oneself and others and the Quality Language/Literacy Program Quality Language/Literacy Program does just that.does just that.

Parental InvolvementParental Involvement Research studies show Research studies show

that during an average that during an average year a child stays awake year a child stays awake only 25% in the classroom.only 25% in the classroom. – What does this mean? Of What does this mean? Of

that 25% only a portion of that 25% only a portion of that amount is spent that amount is spent teaching language/literacy teaching language/literacy topics.topics.

– What does this mean for What does this mean for the parent? Clearly, given the parent? Clearly, given the short amount of time, the short amount of time, literacy and language literacy and language opportunities must extend opportunities must extend well past the school day. well past the school day.

Awake in class25%

Other/ Occupied

75%

Parents must be able Parents must be able to effectively to effectively communicate with communicate with their child. They need their child. They need to provide activities to provide activities that will further help that will further help their child develop their child develop braille reading and braille reading and writing skills. This is in writing skills. This is in addition to regular addition to regular schoolwork. schoolwork.

Enforcing the Quality Enforcing the Quality Language/Literacy ProgramLanguage/Literacy Program

It is the Quality Language/Literacy It is the Quality Language/Literacy Program purpose to prevent the Program purpose to prevent the negligence of the Braille system and negligence of the Braille system and instead enrich the learning process instead enrich the learning process to provide a fair opportunity in to provide a fair opportunity in educational success.educational success.

Works CitedWorks Cited

"Voice of the Nation's Blind." "Voice of the Nation's Blind." National Federation of the National Federation of the BlindBlind. Ed. Chris Danielsen. XCatalyst, 25 Feb. 2010. . Ed. Chris Danielsen. XCatalyst, 25 Feb. 2010. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.nfb.org/nfb/VNB.asp?<http://www.nfb.org/nfb/VNB.asp?SnID=1949652178>.SnID=1949652178>.

Doake, David B. Doake, David B. Literacy Learning: A Revolution in Literacy Learning: A Revolution in ProgressProgress. (1995) Bothell, WA: The Wright Group.. (1995) Bothell, WA: The Wright Group.

Spungin, S. J. (1989) Braille literacy: Issues for blind Spungin, S. J. (1989) Braille literacy: Issues for blind persons, families, professionals, and producers of persons, families, professionals, and producers of braille. New York: American Foundation for the Blind. braille. New York: American Foundation for the Blind.

Stephens, O. (1989). Braille--Implications for living. Stephens, O. (1989). Braille--Implications for living. Journal of Visual Impairment and BlindnessJournal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 83, 288-, 83, 288-89.89.