Reading, writing and arithmetic are things that many sighted people take
for granted. It becomes much more of a challenge for the visually impaired.
That's why the work of braille transcriptionists is so important.
"I know that what I do helps students achieve their potential," says Thea
Merz. She's a braille transcriber. "Having well-educated visually impaired
students will lead to well-educated visually impaired adults who will be employable,
and this will lead to their better quality of life.
"It was very rewarding for me when a visually impaired student sent me
a note to thank me for a specific diagram that she really enjoyed. Then I
knew that all the hours spent on getting it just right were worth it."
Her daily work consists of just over seven hours in front of a computer.
"The highest priority job is tackled first," says Merz. "This could change
at any moment as new requests come through, current requests are cancelled,
or workloads are moved around.
"I usually have several books going at a time, both brailling and proofing,
and juggle them around so that each student will be receiving the material
before they need it. This means that often students receive the first chapters
of a book in September, and later chapters arrive as they are completed."
An important part of the job is using the computer software.
"I get excited when I play around with the software to try to make it do
something differently, and then a whole new way of doing things comes out
of it. I like the creativity I am able to put to use to develop faster and
better ways to do things," Merz says.
Although Merz loves her job, she admits that it is very hard to get into
the field. Being in the right place at the right time can help. But if your
luck is not that good, there is still hope for you.
"Check out the incidence of visually impaired people in your area first,
as there may be none, nor any need for transcribers," Merz says.
"If there is a need for transcribers in your area, then I would definitely
recommend a career in this field. Otherwise, volunteer with agencies for some
time, and your name will come up when there is a transcriber needed."
Lawrence Rochon is a dedicated volunteer braille transcriptionist who works
from home in Michigan. He and his wife turn out about 12,000 pages of braille
per year for the Michigan school system and a program called Seedlings that
provides low-cost braille books for children.
Although his work is on a volunteer basis, he works six or seven hours
a day, seven days of the week.
"My motivation for this involvement is purely out of the tremendous need
for braille production," says Rochon. "There is so much braille illiteracy,
and if people don't learn the skills, they miss a very necessary step in their
education."
Rochon keeps on turning out texts out of a strong passion for helping those
without vision.
"There's certainly a big need for braille transcription, but it's an enormous
undertaking to learn braille," he says. "You must be turned on and motivated
to be able to learn braille. It's tough -- particularly when there's not a
dollar sign at the end of the learning curve."
Although Rochon doesn't get much contact with the students he provides
books for, he has had an opportunity to hear some feedback. Once, a student
who excelled in school was at a meeting Rochon attended. Rochon was able to
talk to the student and hear positive feedback about the high quality of his
transcription.
This appreciation also fuels Susan Graham, a braille transcriber for a
school board.
"I love the intrigue of the braille codes and also the gratification I
feel when I know that some kids are learning to read braille and are enjoying
it," Graham says. "I love to actually see the students being excited about
reading the materials and enjoying the illustrations that I've made for them.
"I always hope that tactile illustrations will help hook the young readers
into being excited about reading books. I recently brailled a book about mail
in which I hid a lollipop inside an addressed, stamped envelope, which was
attached inside the book.
"I was told that before the student was given the book, the classroom teacher
became so intrigued with the book that she held the envelope up to the light
to see what was inside it. I guess sometimes teachers are curious about these
books too!"
Graham believes that providing students who are blind with the materials
they need to acquire literacy skills will help them to be an integral part
of society at large.
"I believe that everyone has a purpose and a responsibility to participate
in our society in a meaningful way," she says. "People who are blind just
need appropriate services to get them there."
Braille transcribers are also able to create awareness about braille among
the sighted population.
Seema Kapoor works as an alternate format transcriber. After immigrating
from India in 1995, Kapoor got a job as a teaching assistant and was assigned
to work with a visually impaired student.
"I admired him, and how he would read the braille," Kapoor says.
"That's how I came across braille and decided to learn braille."
Kapoor says the other students also became interested in braille.
"At the end of that school year, they gave more respect to the visually
impaired student and learned that a visually impaired person is capable of
doing their job and being as independent as a sighted person."