Should Dad learn braille?
Is braille difficult to learn? My father's vision is severely enough impaired that he can't read, even with the help of magnifiers. He says he's too old to learn braille, but I'd like to encourage him.
Expert Answer
First, I wouldn't assume your father can't read print if he hasn't already tried a CCTV (closed-circuit television), which magnifies much more than the strongest magnifier and provides a large area for viewing. Most people with age-related macular degeneration, for example, can at least read bills with a CCTV, and many can even read the newspaper.
If your father can't use a CCTV, then the question is what he wants to read. If it's books and magazines, for example, the Library of Congress National Library Service has an excellent -- and free -- audio book and magazine program that provides a user-friendly tape player and tapes by mail. Almost any book you can think of is included, and you can keep it for as long as you like, returning it postage-free in the provided mailing pouch. If your father wants to read other materials, some scanning devices read print out loud.
These strategies may be quicker and easier for your parent than learning braille, although some seniors do enjoy learning it. The Hadley School for the Blind offers a distance-learning course in braille.