VI Teachers rely on professional research data to determine best practice and to evolve new strategies, ideas and curricula. However, a review of the professional literature suggests that there has been very little research undertaken on the role of technology in braille literacy. This is also evident in the professional resources available to VI teachers. This lack of research based data relating to braille writing has resulted in a lack of understanding of the writing process and associated concept development, and often led to inappropriate tools and strategies being used (a speech based note-taker like the Braille’n Speak Scholar being used as a first tool for braille literacy is just one common example).

One of the few research projects focussing on braille writing has been the Emerging Braille Literacy Research Project in British Columbia Canada, conducted over 1998 - 2000, by Cay Holbrook (UBC), Anne Wadsworth (PRCVI) and Elaine Ferguson (SET-BC). The project involved 16 primary aged students, their teachers and parents over a three year period and was aimed at developing objective data to guide their technology policies for early braille literacy. The results indicated that the use of the Mountbatten Brailler had very positive effects on braille reading and writing skills in addition to enhanced opportunities for inclusion (full results can be found at http://www.setbc.org/projects/braille_lit/default.html

And it is very exciting that a new project focussing on braille reading and writing is being undertaken in Texas called the Early Braille Readers Project. This is a collaborative project between Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) and selected regional Education Service Centers throughout Texas . The purpose of this project is to increase the quantity and quality of literacy experiences for early braille readers in general education classes in the state of Texas and will be administered by the TSBVI Outreach staff. For further information go to; http://www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/winter03/braille.htm