I agree with Michael. Also, like Justin, I have trouble with "90%". How is the scoring determined? In general, I am a proponent of tactile graphics to the umpteenth degree, but I know full well that this method does not work as well for some individuals as for others. Nearly any blind person can become decent or better with cane use, mental mapping, problem-solving, etc. with SDCT. But tactile maps are currently so under-developed, under-used, under-taught, and sometimes time/resource intensive that pushing this modality on a blind person may be quite problematic right now. Also, it may be undetermined at this point how high-quality and consistent production of and education with tactile graphics may benefit blind individuals. In other words, how many blind people could benefit if everything becomes available, good and consistent? Nevertheless, I think that tactile graphics need to be given more attention by more blindness professionals. There are a lot of developments I know of that would make any past or present Optacon user jump for joy. Some will probably succeed and some probably won't. The soonest development may come out in 2019, but we never should be too sure too soon. I have established communication with multiple organizations who are developing tactile technology for the blind. There are indeed other projects in addition to the Graphiti. Still, if anyone wants to know why I am so optimistic about tactile graphics technology, and if you are going to the NFB national convention this July, please do examine the Graphiti at the American Printing House for the Blind table if indeed they will be showing off their Graphiti prototype. I know of other organizations who are working on technology that is conceptually much more similar than different. Some of these projects are using different underlying hardware to raise the dots, and some of the techniques are much less expensive than others, even if some functionality is lost. Additionally, it was in a recent 2019 Braille Monitor article that tactile graphics were discussed at some length. This discussion was centered on the Tactile Graphics and Education and Careers Symposium that the NFB held in October of 2018. One of the tactile graphics technologies that was discussed was from an Italian organization whose research does focus largely on independent travel. One can read more about this in the said article. When in May of 2018 I told the Italian organization about the Symposium in October of that same year, the person who replied acted as if she did not know about the Symposium beforehand. Needless to say, I care a lot about tactile graphics and the next generation/s of haptic technology in general. I do think we are close to gaining the ability to more naturally fit tactile graphics and other haptic modalities into some O&M training. At that point, we can teach blind students with tactile graphics when appropriate. This can only occur if we have down-to-earth research and available and affordable technology. I think it's inconsistent with the NFB and NOMC philosophy to be perminently pecimistic about technology in independent travel. I am trying to be general rather than preachy. But these things are important to me and probably many others too. Sincerely' Ben
On May 14, 2019, at 9:54 PM, Justin Salisbury <PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu> wrote:
Aloha Colleagues,
I write to ask for you all to give me a little feedback on an IEP goal that I see for a student who is about 5 years old. It seems odd to me. One of the O&M goals says:
When given a tactile map, Jane Doe will use the map to complete 10 campus route with 90% accuracy 3 of 4 opportunities.
The 90 percent accuracy thing rubs me the wrong way, but I?m particularly unsure about whether someone should be training a young child to try to read a tactile map and implement it when this student is still working on basic cane technique. I don?t really ever teach people to use tactile maps, especially not to give them a map and expect them to follow it like it?s one of the treasure maps that my friends and I used to make for each other at recess when I was that age.
What do you guys think about this?
Mahalo,
Justin
Justin M. Salisbury, MA, NOMC, NCRTB, NCUEB Honolulu Chapter National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii Phone: 808.797.8606 Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Justin_Salisbury
?Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.?
Cesar Chavez
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