is Braille dying?

 Not to be picky(pick, pick, pick), but if Braille is not dying, then why would we need to talk about revitalizing it? 

But revitalizing it is exactly what we need to do.  How do we do this?  School districts are crying the budget woes.  Special Education teachers are not receiving training in Braille.  Parents are frightened of Braille.  And the percentage of Braille users is shrinking.  How do we turn the corner?  I have known a number of blind Braille users who are so concerned about passing the skill along that they spend Saturdays and evenings volunteering their time to young students.  Can more of us spare the time?  How many of us show up at school board meetings to express our concerns?  Do we write our legislators?  Do we organize Braille clubs?  Do we go to our local neighborhood library and offer to teach Braille to anyone interested?  Blind or sighted?  Do we go to our local schools and offer to do speaking engagements to demonstrate the many uses of Braille? 

In short, Braille will surely die if we are not willing to find ways and spend time to promote it. 

 

Curious Carl