There are a lot of myths and misconceptions concerning Braille. Some people believe that Braille is obselete, that the tape recorder and computer have made it unnecessary. While tape recorders and computers are useful tools, they may not always be the most flexible and efficient way of performing many tasks. Electronic devices are subject to technical difficulties and dependant upon power. When a sighted person's hand held computer runs out of battery power, she or he can use pen and paper to write down a colleague's phone number. Blind people need to have that same degree of flexibility. That is why we teach our students to write braille with a slate and stylus. The slate and stylus are the braille equivalent of the pen or pencil. They are light-weight and can easily be carried in a purse, briefcase, or back pack.

Some people say that braille is slow and difficult to learn, but with instruction and concentrated practice, Braille can become an effective and efficient communication tool. Students as young as 9 years old and older than 80 years of age have learned to read and write braille in our program and gone on to use braille to enhance their personal and professional independence. That is why Braille class is an important part of our curriculum and the use of braille is integrated into all of our classes.