Braille Instruction for Blind Diabetic Adults with Decreased Tactile Sensitivity

Abstract

Special educators may assume that diabetic persons who are blind and have decreased tactile sensitivity cannot be taught to read braille. This article describes a three-part study that compared the tactile sensitivity and braille-discrimination ability of blind diabetic and blind nondiabetic adults. In the first phase, the diabetic subjects required 80 percent more stimulation before reporting any tactile sensation on a modified Optacon. In the second phase, no significant difference was found in the subjects’ ability to discriminate standard and enlarged braille characters. In the third phase, four tactually impaired blind diabetic adults received training and demonstrated ability in learning to read enough braille for use in daily living.