Yes, even I used to believe that one must learn Braille at least during primary school, but many children who are tech savvy are proving that it is not necessary. Adults talking about the need for blind children without knowing their perspective is similar to sighted people talking about the needs of persons with blindness without knowing what they think about it.
Similarly, many sighted people who thought that they cannot do without physical books are now switching to kindles and the likes. Sooner or later, all paper books be it Braille or print, are going to be extinct, so we would have to focus on electronic Braille. So if we really want to preserve Braille, then we need to focus on making electronic books readable and affordable with Braille devices rather than printing braille books in paper, because paper books are bulky, expensive(Braille books cost a lot if subsidy is considered), and making 50 lakhs books available in Braille seems impossible even for the richest countries in the world. On another note, printing Braille books is also environmentally detrimental. My main problem with such announcements is that mainstream media does not realize that there is something known as assistive technology, so for anyone who wants to be seen doing good work for the blind is compelled to use Braille as a symbolic gesture. Imagine a debate in the government office about whether to work on electronic books or on Braille books. Best Dinesh Mobile: +91 9718328272 "Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification". --Martin Fischer -----Original Message----- From: AccessIndia [mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of vivek doddamani Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 11:23 AM To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues concerning the disabled. Subject: Re: [AI] Centre no more blind to visually impaired, funds books in Braille The importance of braille for visually impaired persons is just like printed letters for sighted persons, for visually impaire children while starting school the braille is must without braille knowledge one cannot improve the language thoroughly to know the spelling of any word braille is must though computer is there if you read by computers or dezi readers but reading by braille willbe efficient & will be in memory for long time. On 1/20/15, sachu ramalingam <sachuramalinga...@gmail.com> wrote: > Dear All, > > I completely agree that Mr. Abedi ought to tender an unequivocal public > apology to the visually impaired community. > > It is aso equally important for the pionner to apologise for > publishing a statement from a person who has nothing what so ever with > the Braille or visual impairment. Are there derth of people in new delhi > from whom opinion could have been taken. > > Regards > > Sachu Ramalingam > On 19 Jan 2015 18:28, "Radio Udaan" <radioud...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> dear all, >> on behalf of radio udaan we also strongly condemn this statements of >> Javed Abidi. >> >> On 1/19/15, avinash shahi <shahi88avin...@gmail.com> wrote: >> > I've forwarded the mail to Mr Abidi >> > Dear Javed Abidi please see the conversation/thread and it would be >> > great if you justify your claim or offer an apology to the blind >> > community. >> > >> > >> > >> > On 1/19/15, AICB <aicbdelhi.110...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Dear friends, >> >> On behalf of All India Confederation of the Blind, we condemn in the >> >> strongest of expressions, the statement quoted to have been made by >> >> Mr. Javed Abidi about the relevance of Braille in the context of >> >> Government's initiatives to modernize Braille presses in the country. >> >> The discussion in reference to this statement, so far, has largely >> >> focused on justifying the relative merits of Braille in relation to >> >> other technologies. To us however, apart from what has been said by >> >> others supporting Braille, the issues underlying this discourse are >> >> much deeper than that. >> >> While we can debate the relative merits of a particular format of >> >> accessibility in reference to other applicable formats used by the >> >> visually impaired, the right to enter into a discussion of this >> >> nature, in our view, rests solely with the visually impaired. A person >> >> such as Mr. Javed Abidi, who has never used/read even a single Braille >> >> book in his entire life, does not have the right to speak on this >> >> issue. Therefore, rather than justifying the relevance of Braille >> >> (which is a firmly established truth in the visual impairment sector), >> >> we consider it imperative to take strong objection to a person, having >> >> no knowledge of visual impairment sector, meddling into our affairs. >> >> It may be noted here that AICB has the capacity of printing more than >> >> 40000 Braille pages per day, but even this proves insufficient and our >> >> Braille press has to often work in multiple shifts. >> >> Similar situation may exist in the case of other Braille presses as >> >> well. It is a well-known fact that the demand for Braille books is >> >> much more than the present facilities and infrastructure can claim to >> >> meet. If such facts, along with all that has so far been said >> >> supporting Braille, are not enough to make Mr. Abidi realize the >> >> ground situation with respect to Braille, then we can only feel sad at >> >> his ignorance despite claiming to be in the sector for so many years. >> >> >> >> It is unfortunate that Mr. Abidi often speaks out of turn and on >> >> issues about which he appears to have only little or no knowledge. The >> >> present instance is one such example, though by no means the only one. >> >> Some people are so keen to issue public statements and read their >> >> names in print (as appears to be the present case) that they do not >> >> care for the accuracy of their statement, nor do they bother about the >> >> sensitivity of others. By issuing the most deplorable statement in >> >> reference, Mr. Javed Abidi has not only hurt the sentiments and >> >> interests of the blind, he has also once again proved that he has no >> >> right to speak on behalf of the blind and represent them in any matter >> >> and on any forum whatsoever. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> AICB, like many other self-help organizations of the blind, has always >> >> believed in the philosophy of nothing about us without us. Therefore, >> >> any attempt to speak on our behalf by those who do not belong to us, >> >> such as Mr. Javed Abidi, must be strongly resisted and repelled in the >> >> present and at all times to come. Even the UNCRPD (which Mr. Abidi >> >> claims to champion by conducting workshops) advocates the voicesof >> >> persons of applicable disabilities in formulations and >> >> decision-making. His present statement clearly proves that Mr. Abidi >> >> has violated this fundamental principle of UNCRPD also. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> While Mr. Abidi owes the visual impairment sector a public apology in >> >> the very newspaper which published his statement, the newspaper must >> >> also ensure that comments on issues concerning the blind must be >> >> sought from those to whom the issues directly concern and not from the >> >> self-styled disability activists. AICB has already written to the >> >> 'Pioneer' newspaper about this matter. We are also writing a strong >> >> letter of protest to Mr. Abidi's organization demanding a public >> >> apology. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Please join us in the interests of the blind. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Dr. Anil K. Aneja. >> >> >> >> Vice President, >> >> >> >> All India Confederation of the Blind >> >> >> >> >> >> On 1/17/15, avinash shahi <shahi88avin...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> I do not think Braille is outdated as Mr Abidi quoted claiming in the >> >>> article >> >>> >> >>> Better, those who have never ever used the fully developed script, >> >>> and >> >>> lack will-power to learn; refrain from spreading rumour about Braille >> >>> through media. This script is still relevant and needs to be >> >>> preserved and promoted. Withstanding the tsunami in technological >> >>> advancement worldover which serves few lucky ones, Braille is an >> >>> equaliser for majority of blind people. As printed books are never >> >>> gonna off the hands so the case with Braille books. >> >>> >> http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/centre-no-more-blind-to-visually-impaired-funds-books-in-braille.html >> >>> >> >>> -- >> >>> Avinash Shahi >> >>> Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU >> >>> >> >>> Celebrating Louis Braille birthday Jan4th >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing >> >>> accessibility >> >>> of >> >>> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> >>> >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Search for old postings at: >> >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> >>> >> >>> To unsubscribe send a message to >> >>> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >> >>> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >>> >> >>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> >>> please >> >>> visit the list home page at >> >>> >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Disclaimer: >> >>> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking >> of >> >>> the >> >>> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >> veracity; >> >>> >> >>> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> >>> mails >> >>> sent through this mailing list.. >> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing >> >> accessibility >> >> of >> >> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> >> >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> >> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> >> >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> >> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >> >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> >> please >> >> visit the list home page at >> >> >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> >> 1. 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AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> >> mails >> >> sent through this mailing list.. >> >> >> > >> > >> > -- >> > Avinash Shahi >> > Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU >> > >> > >> > >> > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >> of >> > mobile phones / Tabs on: >> > >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> > >> > >> > Search for old postings at: >> > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> > >> > To unsubscribe send a message to >> > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >> > with the subject unsubscribe. >> > >> > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please >> > visit the list home page at >> > >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> > >> > >> > Disclaimer: >> > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking >> > of >> the >> > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >> > veracity; >> > >> > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> mails >> > sent through this mailing list.. >> > >> >> >> >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility >> of >> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >> the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its >> veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the >> mails >> sent through this mailing list.. >> > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > -- vivekananda Ph-9868954833, skype: vivekkavya, FB: vivek doddamani. Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
