Professor Marc Shell and student Katie Sevier created the course 'Why Braille Matters' to explore the significance of braille in the blind community. This unique course at Harvard combines discussions on literary, philosophical, and neurological aspects of reading and writing systems, while emphasizing the historical significance of tactile forms of writing. Sevier, who uses a braille display for note-taking, highlights braille as essential for independence and access for the visually impaired. The course invites guest speakers to share real-life experiences from the blind community, enriching the students' understanding.
"For me, braille is a sign of access, of freedom, of independence. Having this course come to life means so much. It is a course affirming a component of the blind experience - braille - which is so integral to many blind people's experiences."
"This is and is not a course about disability. It is really a course about reading and writing systems, and that is the main linkage with Comparative Literature."
"The history of reading and writing goes back thousands of years to tactile forms. These forms might be called 'pre-braille.' As our research is now revealing, blind people had many methods of reading and writing."
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