Mitzi Tharin: Why I Believe Braille is Important

When my vision was going I was having a hard time reading. It frustrated me. I decided to learn Braille even though I was advised it was not a good thing to do while you had some vision.

Using a Braille wheel on a tape labeler I would label video tapes so that when my kids wanted to watch one I would be able to find the correct tape get them out for them. It made it easier to pick the one they wanted or even chose one for myself -- if I wanted to do an exercise tape or watch a movie.

I would Braille out recipes so I would not have to strain or get into just the right light to be able to read something.

Then I started marking my stove and oven, then the microwave, washer, and dryer, even though I really did not like marking things. Iit made me feel funny having labelled things around my home. It did make me feel as if I was different than everyone else but since I was able to do all these things for myself it gave me a sense of accomplishment and I started feeling so much better.

I was able to cook for my family, to do my laundry with no problem, and to do all kinds of other things that I could do earlier when I could see just fine.

As time went on I could read Braille books to my children and I marked even more things around the house. It just seemed to make life better for me. I was finding out that Braille made many things much better for me. I was able to enjoy life that much more.

You don't need Braille for everything. There are clocks and timers and caller I D boxes and cell phones that talk. But when you put all that together and add Braille it makes life easier and you can do what anyone with "good" vision can do.

At work it is very helpful to make notes in Braille. In meetings laptops are great, and they also talk to you, but sometimes it is so simple to have a page with notes on it so you can go over a few things without having to start up a computer and all the fuss that entails. There are, of course, times that you really need a note taking machine but it is very nice to have both options.

At work my computer talks to me and I keep everything important in it. Anyone I do business with is in a Brailled rolodex for simple ease in looking up information to be able to either call or email them. Again I could look it up in the computer but like having it all Brailled out and right at my finger tips - literally!

Braille can be an advantage in so many ways. One thing I really enjoy is playing cards and I could not do that if I did not know Braille. I am very good at cards (and have always been). I would be very sad if I couldn't play cards.