Lenny Hawkins

Lenny Hawkins

Male

Age 15

UK

RNIB

1,101 words

Braille is Brilliant

When I was 5 years old I started to learn Braille. I practised using the keys on the Perkins brailler. When I was working with my teaching assistant she showed me all different letters. She showed me a line of Braille letters and asked me to find a different one. I learnt all of the Braille alphabet I loved it because it was fun. I was a bit nervous because I thought I would get it all wrong. I found the contractions exciting. Contractions were helpful because they are short-forms, so that I don't have to do the grade ones. I've got a good memory because I can remember important things and things from a very long time ago. Braille is the most important because it is my reading and writing. I enjoy Braille books and talking books because the Braille tickles my fingers. It gives me information and I like listening to Roald Dahl, Harry Potter David Walliams I can ask for books in Braille and work from my Teaching Assistant and Support Teacher. When I first went on my Braille note I thought it was just a normal Braille note but I can save files on to memory sticks and the Braille note reads back my work. My work comes out of a document so that I can print it off in letters so that everyone can read it. At home I have got a Perkins to review the books I’ve read, my home work and write anything. Also at home I can label CDs and DVDs. I've labelled the washing machine so that I can do my washing at home. I know how to do the dryer. At School I have a library with Braille books in. I look at them when it's reading club.

When I was at Primary school I fell asleep on my brailler with my spellings on top of the brailler,when I fell asleep I had my spellings that were on top of the brailler on my forehead. The Perkins brailler was a bit strange because of the clanking sounds. It was like playing a drum but I was writing. I can read the same as my class on guided reading.

At school I have mobility lessons where I can go out to places. I went to the bus station and I found Braille on the pillars to tell me what bay I was at. When I went in the lifts they had Braille on the buttons to tell me what floor I could go to and a voice telling me ‘doors open’, ‘door closed’. I have noticed recently that medicines had Braille and other cleaning products like bleach have Braille on them.

Also on dust bins they have got Braille to tell you what colours they are and what you can put in them.

Some of the places I would like to have Braille are cash machines even though I haven’t used one yet I think it would be useful for me when I am older. More public places like museums, I would like Braille in these places so I can get more information, without people having to tell me what it is I am looking at. When I was practising going up and down in lifts we went up and down that much that my teaching assistant felt sick that she had to meet me at the top floor. When I go to the restaurant‘Whistling Goose’ I would like Braille menus so that I can read independently without my Mam and Dad having to read the menu to me. I am growing up and should be able to order my food.

I would like Braille on shop signs to tell me what isle I am down or where things are and how much things cost. I read Braille in double line spaced so that I can read my Braille with my sausage fingers because my hands are so huge. I love my fingers just because I am blind I still have my four senses like my hearing, smelling, tasting and touching and feeling.

When I was young learning Braille was very difficult and it made me really tired that I remember once I fell asleep on the cello so my teacher and my TAhad to take the cello and the bow off me before it fell on the floor.

In my school there is only me and my TA who read and writeBraille. We did a Braille awareness day to teach everyone Braille. We used Perkins braillers, raised dots and tactile pictures. Everyone enjoyed it but they said how hard it was and how clever I was for being able to reading and write Braille.

My memories of learning Braille is that once I ended up brailling on my sister's homework because I enjoyed brailling so much I would Braille on every piece of paper, I got into big trouble!

Without Braille I wouldn't be able to read anything or come to school and learn anything. Braille allows me to be included in class. In English lessons we have read Gangster Granny, Mr Stink and Skellig everyone else had a normal print book but I have them in Braille, they were 7 volumes long. Braille makes me part of my class even though they write in pen but I can still write in Braille. Because of the Braille I feel like I am a part of the school community I am not mad because I am blind because I have a fabulous life a wonderful family and nice friends.

When I bought my keyboard I had some music lessons to help me with the notes I had Braille on the keys. At school I am a school councillor I went to meeting to talk to head teachers about what our school was going to do in the community. I did a presentation to 12 Head teachers all my notes were in Braille and they were very impressed with my reading skills. I also met a man who is involved in the City of Culture Hull 2017. He was talking to us about what we will see during the City of Culture year. I put me hand up and said What about me? I am blind what can you do for me? I am now involved in the City of Culture. I am telling them what would be good for Visually Impaired people which will include Braille signs, Braille information packs, tactile models etc. I wouldn’t have had this opportunity if I were not Visually Impaired.