The contents of this column reflect the letters we had received by the time we went to press, April 25, 2023. Letters are limited to 300 words or fewer. All submissions must include the author’s name and location. Opinions expressed are those of the authors.
How Important Is Braille?
If we fiercely advocate for braille menus in restaurants, on elevator panels, soft drink vending machines, airport check-in kiosks, home appliances, shampoo bottles and medications, how can we not stand firm on demanding that our organization, the American Council of the Blind, produce every issue of its monthly “Braille Forum” magazine in braille? It’s a mockery, and it’s shameless.
How can we decry the fact that braille is being taught less and less to blind children in our schools and only half-heartedly being offered to older people who, in growing numbers, are experiencing vision loss and yet, at the same time, capitulate to the ACB Board of Publications and agree that producing hard-copy braille is, well, just too expensive and that besides, there are other ways for blind people to get the information.
How is it that the National Federation of the Blind can produce all issues of its monthly news magazine in braille, but we cannot? And how is it that we can call our monthly publication “The ACB Braille Forum” when half of the issues are not in braille? Is this not hypocrisy?
I only read the Forum issues I receive in braille, and other ACB members have told me they do the same.
There has got to be a way to produce “The ACB Braille Forum” in braille 12 times a year.
— Larry Johnson, San Antonio, Tex.