Hadley

Contracted Braille Writing 19: Shortforms Set 1

Hadley presents Contracted Braille Writing Workshop 19: Shortforms Set 1.

If you don't already know how to read these short forms, we recommend first, doing Hadley's Reading Workshop, Contracted Braille Workshop 19: Shortforms Set 1.

Okay, let's check out these shortforms. Turn to page 12 in the workbook. At the top of the page, read the shortform contractions: him, your, paid, today, tonight, tomorrow, about, again and after.

Let's practice writing paragraphs using these contractions. The paragraphs you'll be writing will be read in this recording and will also be written in uncontracted braille in your workbook. You can use these uncontracted braille paragraphs on pages 13 through 15 to check the spelling of words and names, and to check how numbers and other symbols are to be written.

Write the sentences in contracted braille.

Start by indenting and writing this first paragraph: Do you have a pet at your house?

If so, comma, your family is with about 71 million American families today who have pets.

If you are like the majority of these, comma, your pets are considered members of your family.

Continue with the second paragraph:

Doctors and researchers are telling us about the many health benefits pets give.

Your pets may be valued companions who bring safety, comma, comfort and support, comma, but there's more, exclamation mark.

About 97 out of 100 doctors report the positive effects of owning pets.

Tonight, comma, you might want to hug your pet again and again, exclamation mark.

Begin the next paragraph here:

Today we know that pets provide important roles in child development for your kids or grandkids.

Kids learn social skills and more about responsibility when they take care of pets.

After kids grow up with pets, comma, they can have more immunity to allergies and asthma.

Matt Coffindaffer, comma, the Executive Director for the Pet Care Trust has said it is obvious to him that pets in the classroom might solve behavior problems and enhance learning for students who struggle.

Continue with the next paragraph:

Today, comma, we know more about the positive effects pets have on your heart health.

Stress and blood pressure levels are reduced, comma, and doctors have said you are about 60 percent more likely to get moderate and vigorous exercise when you have a pet.

Now indent for the next paragraph:

The National Institute of Mental Health has said that pet therapy can be more effective than paid therapy in the treatment for depression and other mood disorders.

After taking care of pets, comma, their owners are more active and less isolated from society, comma, having more interaction with others.

Let's continue with this paragraph:

Psychiatrist Dr. Gregory Fricchione is director of Harvard's Behavioral Health Institute for Mind Body Medicine and has said that to him, comma, research is clear that after humans form bonds with pets, comma, depression and anxiety lessen.

Start a new paragraph here:

Tomorrow's research with older adults might include more pet, hyphen, related therapy.

One study found that older adults who owned pets have more ability to perform daily living skills, like climbing stairs, semicolon, bending, comma, kneeling, comma, or stooping, semicolon, taking medication, semicolon, preparing meals, semicolon, and bathing and dressing independently.

Another group is studying how those with pets have a longer period of independence prior to paid care, hyphen, giving being used.

Finally, write this paragraph:

Will workplaces of tomorrow have pets?

Research shows many benefits of having pets at work.

Fewer sick days were taken, comma, better job satisfaction rates were given, comma, and employee stress level was reduced.

Tonight, comma, as you prepare for your workday tomorrow, comma, imagine one day getting your pet ready to go to work with you.

You can now check your work with the contracted braille paragraphs found on pages 16 through 18 of the workbook. Did you notice how the short forms can be used in longer words, and with punctuation like in the word, tomorrows?

Congratulations! You've learned to braille the first set of shortforms. Do you have any questions? Do you need extra practice? Reach out to a Hadley braille expert at 847-784-2816. We are excited to help.