Braille Reading Pals

November 1 – December 31 

Braille Reading Pals is an early literacy program that gently encourages and rewards parents for reading daily with their blind or low vision children ages 0-7 (or older if the children have developmental delays) who are not yet reading. Sponsored by the Jernigan Institute, this free two-month program begins November 1 and concludes December 31.

The purpose of the program is two-fold:

• to increase parents' knowledge about Braille and the importance of early literacy experiences for their blind children, and
• to help parents promote early literacy skills, a love of reading, and a positive attitude about Braille through daily reading with their blind children over a two-month period.

Here’s How the Program Works…

1. Fill out and mail in the Braille Reading Pals Registration Form, or use the online version to register.  Both versions are available by following the appropriate link near the top of this page during registration periods. Sorry, registration for this program is now closed.

2. By or before November 1 you will receive a packet of materials for the program. It will include an entry form, a reading journal booklet, a reading journal wall chart, a print-Braille children’s book, a large stick-on label sheet filled with your child's name in Braille, a Beanie Baby Reading Pal, instructions about how to complete the program, a Braille alphabet card, a paperback book about the importance of Braille in the lives of blind people, a booklet about reading Braille books with young blind children, and resource information about sources of children’s print-Braille books. If your child is four years old or older, the packet will also include additional articles about how to discuss and explain blindness to your child and a special print-Braille book for your child called, Some Kids Are Blind. After receiving the packet, here’s what you do:

3. Schedule time to read to your child a minimum of fifteen minutes a day through the months of November and December. Note: We will honor any sincere effort to participate in the program as fully as your schedule will permit. If you start before November 1, that’s okay, too. However, we only ask that you keep a log for the months of November and December. You will not be penalized for failing to read daily or for reading less than fifteen minutes a day.

4. Read the articles and other literature. Even if you have done the program before, review the literature again to refresh your memory. If your child is age 4 or older, be sure to read the additional materials about discussing and explaining blindness to a child.

5. As much as possible, read from print-Braille books so that your child becomes accustomed to “seeing” Braille on a regular basis and begins to associate Braille with the pleasure of reading. To help you get started, your packet includes a print-Braille book for you and your child to keep.

6. Find the label sheet with your child's name in Braille, cut out a name, and stick it on the print-Braille book enclosed in your packet. You can use the rest of the name labels for other favorite books, toys, and so forth.

7. Introduce the Beanie Baby Braille Reading Pal to your child. Explain that this is his/her Reading Pal to keep, BUT it only comes out when it is time to read. The Reading Pal is never played with any other time—only during reading time. Ask your child to name his/her Reading Pal, and encourage your child to develop a personality for the Reading Pal. You may want to discuss what type of animal it is, what type of voice it would have, and so forth. There are lots of possibilities for reading games with your Braille Reading Pal. Be creative, use your Because Books Matter: Reading Braille Books with Young Blind Children booklet and other literacy materials to get ideas. Don't be dismayed or disappointed; however, if your child doesn't like the beanie baby. You can do the program with a substitute or with different objects that illustrate the book. In the end, all you really need is the book. The time your child spends with you while reading is what is most valuable.

8. Get into a comfortable position where your child can begin to independently hold the book, feel the Braille, and turn the pages. In the beginning, you just want him/her to get the concept that reading involves holding a book, touching Braille, and turning pages. Most importantly, do not hold or move your child's hands to "force" them to look. Please see Because Books Matter: Reading Braille Books with Young Blind Children, pages 9-10, for an explanation of how to guide your child's hands.

9. Every time you read, make a habit of filling out the journal for that date. You may choose to use the journal booklet, the journal wall chart, or both. It will take less than 30 seconds to initial it, date it, fill in the amount of time read, make a couple of yes or no notations, and add a brief comment about the reading activity for the day.

10. PRIZES TO SHARE! Between December 31, 2008 and January 18, 2009, mail or fax your reading journal and the "We Did It!" one-page entry form to Braille Reading Pals, and get neat Braille prizes to share with your child.

11. If you agreed to participate in the evaluation of the program, you will be contacted by phone, e-mail, and/or letter. Participation in the evaluation study will have no affect on the contact you have with the Braille Reading Pals Program or the NFB. While prizes will be given to those families who complete the program, you will not be paid for the study portion.