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Xylophones and pianos:
Braille writing on a standard braille keyboard
or writer requiresgood posturing, ergonomic
positioning, and dexterity of the fingers and
coordinated movements of various fingers for
different letters. Parents who particpated in
Braille Babies and had older children offered
comments that some of their children had
difficulty utilizing the correct fingers for
brailling. Therefore, parents were encouraged
to introduce toys with keys to push early in the
child's life. Toy pianos can be used to
encourage usign each finger in isolation or
combination with other fingers. Tape was
added to the six keys on one piano to help a
specficic child tactually dscern the keys.
Parents were encouraged to use these toys
with children to also work on posturing.
Braille can be very fatiguing to write for
many children, so helping them use good
posture early on will facilitate a smooth
process for when they use the braille writers.
Parents were also instructed to ensure the
child's feet were planted firmly on the
ground or step stool and to utilize angles
recommended for optimal positioning.
Braille Bits: Random Suggestions Parents Found Helpful.
Throughout the Braille Babies training programs, parents were provided with suggestions for
aiding them in some common issues. Below are the issues and suggestions.
• Large braille paper storage: Use inexpensive scrapbook paper storage folders. Available in
hard and flexible varieties.
• Child tries to read braille visually: Try covering materials with a tray stand or braille on
scrapbook paper that has a busy design!
Copyright notice: Photos and content in this article are under copyright and may not be
duplicated without written permission from Kimberly Avila.
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