Onkyo Braille Essay Contest 2006 -- International Section (Middle East, Central and Southern Asia) ■ Highly Commended "How Braille Changed My Life" Mr. Bekeshev Dastan (Kyrgyzstan: 23-year-old) |
My first experience with Braille was at school for blind and visually impaired children, when I studied in the first form. At first we were taught to make six-dot cells, and then, step-by-step, learned the alphabet. At that time I was not completely blind, so my parents taught me to read and write printed letters. They didn't know that there exists such a wonderful thing as Braille. That's why it was difficult for me to memorize these dots. My father learned Braille himself, and helped me with it at home. Despite all difficulties I had, it was interesting to learn Braille. I was amazed by the thing, that it is possible to make pictures for the blind. I remember the first book I read in Braille: "The Wizard of Oz". It was so exciting to read it by myself. When I was in the fifth form, I started to learn to play chess. And, here Braille was a great help too. I could read books about chess, analyze games of famous Grand Masters, etc. I participated in different competitions, was given several awards. I have the first category in chess. I am certain, without Braille it would be impossible. Besides chess, I have a lot of other hobbies. Among them is playing the guitar. It is very convenient to write down chords in Braille, or to read the notes of the song I want to learn. I used Braille even to learn to work on the computer. My first book about computers, "Windows 98" was in Braille. Nowadays there are a lot of ways for a blind person to get information (audio books, computers with talking programme) but it doesn't make Braille less important. I use it at work and in everyday life: to make notes, to write down telephone numbers or an important date, or just to make a reminder for myself. I always have a small notepad with me, where I put everything, that I don't want to lose or forget. Braille is like a language, which helps blind people to communicate, to learn things and receive information, to be literate - read and write like others. I am sure that I would not be able to acquire all of my professional skills, to reach my goals and make all the achievements I have made without Braille. |
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