Jumbo braille is an alternative way to write for the blind and visually impaired, with slightly increased spacing between dots and cells. It is useful for those with less sensitivity in their fingers or for beginners. However, it is not widely used by publishers. Braille characters are placed inside a small rectangle called a braille cell, and the system was invented by Louis Braille in the 1820s. Jumbo braille is easier to read and write, with larger cell windows.
Jumbo braille, also called expanded cell braille or large cell braille, is an alternative way to write the special “language” of the blind and visually impaired. In jumbo braille, the dot combinations are identical to those used in traditional braille, but the horizontal spacing between dots and cells is slightly increased. The dots themselves are the same size as those used in standard size braille.
Jumbo braille was developed especially for blind people who have less sensitivity in their fingers and, therefore, cannot accurately feel the dots used in the traditional style. Individuals who are just learning the Braille language may also find this larger Braille to be a good first step. Many beginner workbooks start students with jumbo braille and then shrink them down to the standard size. However, jumbo braille is not widely used by publishers and very few books are produced in this larger format. So while jumbo braille is considered an excellent learning tool, it might be a good idea to switch to reading full-sized braille after a fairly short time.
In all braille sizes, characters are printed on paper and then read by lightly running the fingertip over the manuscript. Each braille character is placed inside a small rectangle called a braille cell. Each letter and symbol is represented by one to six raised dots, and the different arrangements of these dots indicate various letters, numbers, capital letters, and punctuation.
This touch-reading system was invented by a Frenchman named Louis Braille in the 1820s. After losing his sight when he was just a young boy, Louis Braille looked for a way that he and his blind friends could communicate privately. By adapting a code that had been tested and rejected by Napoleon’s army, Braille was able to create a method for blind people to read and write independently.
Individuals can write braille by using a special stylus to press dots into a piece of paper held between two hinged metal plates. When the sheet is flipped, the raised dots should point up and read from left to right. It is also possible to write this language using an electronic embosser or a Braille typewriter. Not only is jumbo braille easier to read, but it’s also easier to write because the cell windows are larger and it’s easier for beginners to position the stylus correctly.
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