(Reprint: List Discussions - MENVI News 10, Winter 2001) Slate and Stylus Don't Toss it Yet! Another wonderful stir brought about by one lister's question about the slate and stylus: "... With the vast amount of technology available to visually impaired and blind users today, do you think that the slate and stylus should be used as a practical tool for writing long documents in our school system? Following is a self-explanatory summary of some of the responses: "I think it is archaic ... If I were blind, I would carry a mini cassette recorder rather than a slate to put phone numbers, ... why would anyone bother with it?" (Editor's two cents: did anyone notice that this contributor is sighted? Have we not yet had enough problems resulting from the sighted thinking for the blind?) Here are a few comments and responses from blind listers: "I couldn't disagree much more (grin)! My slate and stylus are like a sighted person's pen and scratch pad. Even in this age of high-tech gadgets, how often do sighted people pick up that pen or pencil? My slate is cheap, portable, and has never needed to be rebooted! I am totally blind and have had a slate and stylus handy for all of my professional life. When I was studying for my undergraduate music degree, I used to take music dictation using my slate. I'd sing it back to my teacher or read him all the individual note names after class if it was a formal test". prominent Software Developer "... we developed an incredible speed that I found useful in college. My speed was comparable to a sighted person writing by pen, and I even beat some of them in college when teachers dictate something (a quotation etc...) Teaching a blind student to write with a stylus and slate is very important. It doesn't need power that would break down on you unexpectedly, or some sort of mechanical gadget that would not cooperate in some occasions etc... Although I have my Braille Lite with me all the time wherever I go, I always make sure to have my stylus and slate as well especially when I travel." Guitarist, University Graduate, and Educator