Braille literacy training for specialist VI teachers and QTVIs – VIEW/NatSIP certificate course
Developed by RNIB, the online braille literacy course for specialist VI teachers and qualified teachers of children and young people with vision impairment (QTVIs) is for those who wish to refresh their braille teaching skills. Students need to be competent in contracted English braille before joining the course, and have regular access to at least one blind child or young person who is learning or using braille.
The online course follows a structured timetable and requires about 80 hours of study plus attendance at one training day at the start. All course materials are studied online using the Moodle virtual learning environment.
Assessment includes online discussion activities on key themes, written portfolios applying course content to students’ own situations and multiple choice tests of factual knowledge.
Course content covers:
- fundamentals of braille literacy
- emergent reading
- early reading
- fluent reading
- implementing braille literacy.
Students also select two specialist options – can choose to become more expert in braille for maths, science or modern languages, braille for late beginners, or learners with additional needs, or English as an additional language.
Tutored by QTVIs who are specialists in braille literacy, successful completion leads to an VIEW/NatSIP certificate. The cost of the course is £850 per place (£710 for VIEW members).
Apply for the next available course which begins in January 2024.
Free single unit braille literacy training for VIEW members
Current and new VIEW members can request free access to a single unit of online braille literacy training, giving you structured online learning materials and a blank portfolio to complete and take away at the end of the course. If you aren’t a member join now. Choose from: Maths, Science, Foreign languages, braille music, late beginners, learners with additional needs, learners with an additional language – individual unit descriptions are available in the application pack
Training for teaching assistants
Learning braille
- Teachers, teaching assistants and support workers, who support individuals using braille can learn to read and write braille by doing RNIB’s distance learning course. Parents are also welcome to take the course which leads to an RNIB Certificate in Contracted Braille. The course provides tuition in how to read and write contracted Unified English braille. No prior knowledge of braille is required. Students receive all the materials and tuition needed to complete the course, plus one opportunity to take a final examination. The course takes 12 months and starts in May and October each year.
- RNIB Cymru run a reading and writing Welsh braille course. The course is also accessible to non Welsh speakers who want to learn Welsh braille. There is also a library of Welsh books in braille and a catalogue is available on request. For more information about Welsh braille, contact RNIB Cymru on telephone 029 2045 0440 or email accessibleinfocymru@rnib.org.uk
Understanding visual impairment in children and young people course
The “Understanding visual impairment in children and young people course” is an opportunity to develop teaching assistants’ understanding of the issues affecting learners with a vision impairment. Helps professionals and parents to improve the quality of learning opportunities. You set your own pace. Delivered online. Includes assessment activities leading to an VIEW certificate. The course fee is £165 for VIEW members (£225 for non members).
Braille courses for children and young people
RNIB have a range of braille courses for VI children and young people. Download RNIB’s learning braille factsheet listing the courses and other resources to support young braille learners:
Network with colleagues supporting braillists
Teachbraillists is a UK-based email discussion group. It is for discussing all issues relating to the teaching of learners who have the most severe vision impairment and are, or are going to be, braille users. Join the Teachbraillists list to become part of this practical information-sharing forum. TheTeachBraillists forum is managed by RNIB.
Resources to support your teaching
- Braille resources for schools from RNIB – resources that can be used in schools to help teach children about what braille is, the history of braille and how it is used.
- You’ll find links to lots of classroom resources and information about sourcing reading materials on the curriculum resources page of RNIB’s web pages for education professionals. These are handy links to share with school staff.
- Read a review from VIEW member Alison Arnold of an American resource called Read naturally, which aims to increase the reading fluency of children who read braille.
- VIEW member, Julie Plant, recommends the raised line drawing board, which enables learners to produce raised line diagrams with a normal pen or pencil and paper, that is without having to use embossing film. The raised line drawing board is available for approximately 15 US dollars from The Braille Superstore, a family-owned business supplying products for people who are blind.
- Lego Braille Bricks – a fantastic tool that can help teach Blind and Visually Impaired children Braille in schools.
Talking to families and young people about learning braille
- Books recommended by the Book Trust with tactile elements, embossing, die-cut holes, braille and audio for children with VI
- resources to help you sell the positives of braille
- how to make learning braille less lonely
- Braille Resource Packet For Families Of Young Children – Paths to Literacy (USA)
- Braille courses for children and young people
- Why I Resisted Learning Braille
- WonderBaby.org – provides product reviews and advice on introducing toddlers with visual impairments to braille.
- The Royal Blind Learning Hub has a great range of free online teaching resources, as well as running seminars and events in Scotland
- The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired (a charitable organisation) is American-based and offers free online and distance courses for anyone with a visual impairment, and is currently the largest braille educator worldwide.
- Reading Together – Reading Together: Tips for Parents of Children with Low Vision or Blindness
Encouraging early literacy
This “Braille and your baby” interview with Debbie Siegel from Hadley School for the Blind, USA answers lots of the questions commonly asked by parents with babies and toddlers. Published by wonderbaby.org it is packed with practical steps families can take to encourage babies and toddlers to develop early literacy skills.
Paths to literacy
The Paths to literacy website, a joint project between Perkins School for the Blind and the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired offers lots of literacy strategies for students who are blind.
American Foundation for the Blind – Resources for teachers of braille
AFB’s Resources for teachers of braille webpages are packed with teaching strategies and resources.
Books from American Foundation for the Blind
Burns Braille Guide A Quick Reference to Unified English Braille, Second Edition MARY F. BURNS (AFB, 2015)
The Burns Braille Transcription Dictionary has been revamped as the Burns Braille Guide to usher in the new era of Unified English Braille (UEB). This easy-to-use reference guide includes common braille to print and print to braille conversions, as well as punctuation, new UEB contractions, and general rules and terminology. Available in paperback, e-book, and online subscription.
Beginning with Braille Firsthand Experiences with a Balanced Approach to Literacy Second Edition ANNA M. SWENSON (AFB, 2016)
This resource for educators teaching braille has been updated for using UEB. It includes new sections on general education literacy instruction, teaching the dual-media learner, adapting materials, and addressing diverse needs. Beginning with Braille also features new teaching materials, record forms, and braille activities. Available in paperback, e-book, and online subscription.
Reading Connections Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments CHERYL KAMEI-HANNAN and LEILA ANSARI RICCI (AFB, 2015)
A teacher’s guide for addressing the needs of students who read print and/ or braille with a focus on supporting those who have, or who are at risk for developing reading disabilities. Includes strategies and classroom activities. Available in paperback, e-book, and online subscription
Order from www.afb.org/store or call 00 1 800-232-3044.