Braille literacy is essential for students with blindness and severe vision impairment, providing them with the same access to literacy as their sighted peers. This one-day workshop is designed for educators, support staff, and specialists who work with students learning braille. Through interactive discussions, hands-on activities, and collaborative exercises, participants will gain foundational knowledge on teaching braille literacy, developing tactile perception skills, creating engaging resources, and integrating braille into mainstream literacy programs. By the end of the workshop, educators will be equipped with practical strategies to support emergent and early braille learners, conduct effective assessments, and foster an inclusive learning environment in collaboration with classroom teachers.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the significance of braille literacy and its role in supporting students with blindness and severe vision impairment.
2. Recognise the differences and similarities between print and braille learning processes and how they impact instructional methods.
3. Apply strategies to develop tactile perception skills, hand positioning, and movement techniques to support early braille learners.
4. Facilitate early braille learning through engaging activities that introduce the braille alphabet and numbers.
5. Create effective braille resources, including tactile storybooks and preschool materials, to enhance learning experiences.
6. Assess braille literacy skills using specialist and adapted literacy assessments to monitor student progress.
7. Engage in collaborative discussions with educators and specialists to exchange best practices and overcome common challenges in braille instruction.

Note: You will need access to a braille writer such as a Perkins or Mountbatten, and also a hand frame (slate and stylus) to participate in this course.