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Information About Braille

Picture of Lisa Hall writing on a slate and stylus.

On this page you will find interesting links that will give you information about Braille and some interesting sites or articles.

I grew up learning Braille at an early age and feel that it is important that every blind person should learn Braille. According to statistics, only 10 percent of blind people uses Braille. About 90 percent of the blind use Braille on their jobs today. With working age between 16 through 64, there is a 70% unemployment rate among the blind. Many blind people lack blindness skills, confidence, and a positive attitude about blindness. Adjusting to blindness is not a problem, however, misconceptions and misunderstandings and notions about the blind still exist among both sighted and blind people. Some blind people are unable to read Braille because of diabetic retinopathy or calluses in their hands and fingers. Some people do not have the sensitivity to feel the dots. Others lack the ability to memorize dot patterns and requires lots of repetition. Professionals in the blindness and rehabilitation fields feel that Braille is too hard and too slow to read and that it is too bulky. Some teachers of the blind feel as long as a low vision child can read print, he should not be forced to learn Braille; however, parents of blind children do have the right to request that it be put in the I.E.P. Others feel that because of innovations such as talking computers, books on audio cassettes and CDs, they feel that Braille will be going away. That fact is not true. Braille is good for the blind as well as print is good for the sighted. Together we are equal in that.

Below is a song called "Ode to the Code" sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells." This is the midi song you hear on this page.

Ode to the Code

Going to the school to write an I.E.P.--
The experts say "Choose print because your child can see"
But the equipment is too big, and large print is too rare,
And fifteen words a minute will get you anywhere.

Refrain
Braille is here, Braille is here, Braille is here to stay.
We will keep on using it; we don't care what you say.
Braille is here, Braille is here, we will sing its praise.
It's the system for the blind to get a job that pays!

They say that Braille's too tough to teach the newly blind.
Its codes and its contractions discombobulate the mind.
But contractions we've learned all, and codes we've mastered too,
For blindness has no negative effect on our I.Q.

Refrain

They say that Braille's complex; they say it's too slow.
They say the new technology's the only way to go,
But we'll keep using Braille because it is the key
To making sure that blind folks will be literate and free.

Refrain

About Louis Braille

Braille was invented by Louis Braille in the 1820's. Louis Braille lost his sight at the age of three after playing with his father's awl emitating his father's work making leather. When Charles Barbier brought the idea to him, there were 12 dots on each cell. He felt he could do it much better by bringing it down to 6 dots. Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809 and died on January 6, 1852 after suffering a very long illness of tuberculosis.

How Braille is Formed

Braille is made up of six dots with three dots from top to bottom on both sides. There are 2 dots going across for each row. Try imagining using muffin pan or half of an egg carton as a model and using small marbles or old golf balls as dots. On the left, there are dots 1, 2, 3. On the right dots 4, 5, 6 are formed.

For example, a is dot 1 at the upper left.

B is dots 1-2 with upper left and middle left.

C is dots 1-4 with upper left and upper right.

D is dots 1-4-5 with upper left, upper right, and middle right.

E is dots 1-5 with upper left and middle right. This is at an angle.

F is dots 1-2-4 with upper left, middle left, and upper right.

G is dots 1-2-4-5 with upper left, middle left, upper right, and middle right.

H is dots 1-2-5 with upper left, middle left, and middle right.

I is dots 2-4 with middle left and upper right.

J is dots 2-4-5 with middle left, upper right, and middle right.

For letters k through t we add dot 3 to the first ten letters a through j.

For example, k is dots 1-3 with upper left and lower left.

L is dots 1-2-3 with upper left, middle left, and lower left.

M is dots 1-3-4 with upper left, lower left, and upper right.

N is dots 1-3-4-5 with upper left, lower left, upper right, and middle right.

O is dots 1-3-5 with upper left, lower left, and middle right.

P is dots 1-2-3-4 with upper left, middle left, lower left, and upper right.

Q is dots 1-2-3-4-5 with upper left, middle left, lower left, upper right, and middle right.

R is dots 1-2-3-5 with upper left, middle left, lower left, and middle right.

S is dots 2-3-4 with middle left, lower left, and upper right.

T is dots 2-3-4-5 with middle left, lower left, upper right, and middle right.

For the next six letters we add dots 3-6 to the first 5 letters a through e. The only exception is the letter w.

Letter u is dots 1-3-6 with upper left, lower left, and lower right.

V is dots 1-2-3-6 with upper left, middle left, lower left, and lower right.

W is dots 2-4-5-6 with middle left, upper right, middle right, and lower right.

X is dots 1-3-4-6 with upper left, lower left, upper right and lower right.

Y is dots 1-3-4-5-6 with upper left, lower left, upper right, middle right, and lower right.

Z is dots 1-3-5-6 with upper left, lower left, middle right, and lower right.

For a word to be capitalize in Braille, dot 6 is placed in front of the first letter of a word. If a word is needed to be in all uppercase, 2 dot 6 place consecutively in a row is written before each word to be capitalized.

For forming numbers a number sign symbol (dots 3-4-5-6) is placed in front of the first ten letters of the alphabet.

For example1 dots 3-4-5-6 dot 1 is the number 1.

2 is formed with dots 3-4-5-6 followed by dots 1-2.

10 is formed by writing dots 3-4-5-6 for the number sign followed by dots 1 followed by dots 2-4-5 or the letters a j.

Methods of Writing Braille

There are fourways of writing Braille:

Slate and stylus with heavyweight or lightweight Manilla Braille paper

Perkins Braille writer with same type of paper as above

Computer software that translates text from print into Braille. There are some Braille translation program that offer a six-key entry on a typewriter-style keyboard using s, d, f, j, k, l as six keys. In addition, Braille printer with fanfold Braille paper or single sheet paper (depending on printer) is needed to produce hardcopy.

A Braille display either as a stand-alone device such as a notetaker or a Braille display hooked up to a computer configured with either Jaws for Windows or Window-eyes as a screen reader under Windows operating systems.

Levels of Braille

There are several levels of Braille:

Uncontracted Braille or grade 1 Braille which is spelled out entirely

Contracted Braille or grade 2 Braille which have 189 contractions. This is a very common method of reading many books in Braille. It takes up less space on the page than Grade 1 Braille.

Grade 3 Braille which is used in shorthand for taking personal notes. Not very many blind people use this level of Braille.

A fourth level of Braille is Grade 0 meaning that it is Computer Braille with 1 to 1 representation of what is on the screen. This is normally used with Computer Braille displays, however, with the use of some screen readers such as Jaws for Windows from Freedom Scientific and Window-Eyes from GW Micro, it is possible to have the material displayed in Grade 2 Braille as an option should the user desires.

There are Science and mathematics notation, music notation, and foreign language Braille as well as Textbook Braille formatting.

Additional Braille Resources

Check out the following links listed below: Braille School or "Blindness Related Learning" (BRL) is the leading provider of web-based communication learning tools for the visually impaired, their friends, and family. All services provided on their site is free. This requires setting up a user id and password for a school account to start learning. Donations are welcome.

The Braille Rap Song produced in 2001 with lyric and mp3 audio file This is a fun way to learn the dot patterns of the letters of the alphabet in a very short period of time. This is just the beginning for learning braille in a braille transcriber's course for braille instruction in the first lesson.

Braille bug web site Braille: Deciphering the Code

Braille Trivia

Braille Technology

Printable Braille Alphabet key

Louis Braille Biography (the inventor of Braille for the blind)

Games and Secret Messages of Braille

Louis Braille Center

LITERACY: ISSUES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND, PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS a site put together by Sarah J. Blake.

A Layman's Overview of Standard English Braille.

Check out Five-Minute Introduction to Braille. January of each year we're celebrating "Braille Awareness Month". Take an opportunity to meet blind people who are reading braille on a daily basis in your school, community, or in competitive employment at your workplace. Try contacting a blindness agency if a blind person is not in your local area. If a blindness agency is not available in your area, contact the state agency in your respective state that serves the blind such as a rehabilitation agency, special education agency, or school for the blind that serves k-12 children from ages 3-21. Don't forget to contact National Federation of the Blind at (410) 659-9314 or American Council of the Blind at (800) 424-8666. In addition, you can contact American Foundation for the Blind at (800) 232-5463. Send me an email listed at the bottom of this page for additional resources not listed on this site.

To learn more about Braille go to National Federation of the Blind Braille Resource page. In addition, You can also go to American Foundation for the Blind's Literacy page.

BRL: Braille Through Remote Learningoffers a Braille Reference desk for braille instructors, current/future braille transcribers, teachers of blind children, parents of blind children, social workers of the blind, and many others who are interested in learning braille remotely from their home or office. This is an excellent resource for everyone to use to learn all aspects of braille including literary, braille textbook formatting, music braille, math and science braille in relation to chemistry, and other specilized codes of braille. All contraction list of words, access to BANA publications and many other braille-related sites are listed there for your use. At this time this site have not been updated within the last few years. Some of the links are currently not working. Stay tune for further developments as the owner of that site finds a nonprofit organization that can host and manage the web site to keep it updated.

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) Library of Congress distributes talking books on cassettes, records, and produces Braille books in both fiction and nonfiction categories and magazines. NLS is a federal program that provides playback equipment such as headphones, cassette players, and record players to its borrowers throughout the United States and American citizens living abroad. They also provide Braille music to its patrons as well as audio recordings to be borrowed on loan for a certain period of time through the Music Section in Washington, D.C.

Check out The Fred's Head Companion: American Printing House for the Blind--How to find or become a Braille Transcriber. You will learn what it takes to become a braille transcriber or braille proofreader and the many resources available to assist in the learning process.

NLS provides a total of five training courses in both Braille Transcription and Braille proofreading to anyone that is blind or a sighted person who wants to gain the skills of Braille to give back to the community serving as paid transcribers or volunteers in producing Braille materials of all kinds for many school districts, nonprofit organizations and Braille printing houses. The main course that everyone takes is the Instructional Manual for Braille Transcription which is something that future braille transcribers and proofreaders take before moving up to the next level of certification. Once the Literary Braille is completed and a certificate is awarded, the transcriber must work at least six months to 1 year before taking other additional courses in the areas of math and science transcription and music braille transcription. A sighted person can also be a braille proofreader if they desire after completing certification as braille transcriber. If a sighted person wishes to take music Braille transcription, they must already know how to read print music notation on elementary, intermediate and complex music materials and possess a geneeral knowledge of music theory to enroll in that course.

In order to take the braille transcription or braille proofreading courses, the student must have access to their own equipment such as writing supplies, paper, six-key input software to run on IBM personal computers for direct braille input or a notetaker with a braille display or speech output to input the required lessons. No electronic lessons will be accepted by e-mail but a hardcopy of the lessons must be sent in to the Library of Congress for evaluation and grading. If you wish to learn Braille at the local location in your area or find out more about this field, contact NLS at (800) 424-8567 and select 3 for information about Braille Transcription or Braille proofreading courses available through NLS at no charge.

Hadley School for the Blind offers free correspondence courses in all subject areas in Braille, audio cassette, and some in large print to any blind person, family member, or paraprofessional who are working with the blind. They offer courses in learning to read and write Braille in both Grades 1 (uncontracted) & 2 (contracted), nemeth braille, and music braille.

Northwest Vista College is the first college of its kind in the nation providing training opportunities for anyone who have a desire to receive certification in Textbook Braille Transcription. At the time of this writing, I have completed all required courses as of August 13, 2005. I went across stage in a recent graduation ceremony on May 9, 2005 with standing ovation. I was the first blind person to go through the program to obtain certification as a braille transcriber. At the time of this writing, I was working as an Independent Consultant for Adaptive Technology with Northwest Vista College on contract writing polocies and procedures for students who request materials in alternative format, writing recommendations on how they can make their adaptive technology more accessible to students with disabilities, addressing the need for students with disabilities to receive proper training in the use of adaptive technology, etc. The contract that I held ran from May 17, 2005 through August 8, 2005. Since that time as of August 20, 2005, I have received a Level 1 certificate from Northwest Vista College as Textbook Braille Transcriber. Currently, I am working for Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired as Braille Proofreader in Cincinnati, Ohio which began on July 10, 2006.

There are some new courses that are being offered online through American Foundation for the Blind. These courses are free of charge to students studying braille transcription, teachers of the blind, rehabilitation professionals, and many others who wants to enhance their professional development.

Using Source Files: An AFB Online Course for Braille Transcribers Using Source Files is a self-directed professional development opportunity offered free of charge by the American Foundation for the Blind. This online course can help braille transcribers update their skills with the latest techniques for translating textbooks and other instructional materials. The course demonstrates how braille transcribers can translate materials from print into braille efficiently using publishers' source files.

Bridging the Gap: Best Practices for Instructing Adults Who Are Visually Impaired and Have Low Literacy Skills This free, on-line course is both self-paced and self-directed. It gives participants the freedom to select modules and topics that are relevant to them. It consists of six modules that are designed to provide an understanding of the social, legal, and practical issues faced by rehabilitation, adult education, and workforce development staff when working with adults who have varying types and degrees of visual impairment and low literacy skills. This thought-provoking course also aims to familiarize participants with the full range of instructional theories, technologies, and resources they can draw upon for teaching literacy skills. No textbooks are required. The course is approved by A.C.V.R.E.P. for continuing education (C.E.) hours.

AFB ePublications AFB Press offers subscription-based online access to two textbooks and over 200 articles from the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness (JVIB) which are of interest to students and professionals.

On-Line Transcription Course through National Braille Association (NBA) This course is for beginning transcribers and is based on the use of a computer for transcribing. There is no cost. You need a standard PC with any recent operating system, although some people with recent Macs have been successful with the software. You can create the braille on a program like Perky Duck (which NBA can help you download), Duxbury Braille Translator for Windows version 10.6 service pack 1, Duxbury Braille Translator for Mac, Megadots for DOS version 2.2, or Braille 2000 and e-mail the lessons for evaluation.

National Braille Association follow the Library of Congress lessons which have been adapted a bit for on-line learning. NBA can send you the lessons, unless you already have the course material. Each student has a "braille buddy" who corrects the lessons and offers help and support, either via e-mail or phone.

How long the course runs depends on how fast the student works. However, IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO BE A VOLUNTEER OR PAID TRANSCRIBER, YOU SHOULD ALLOW 10 HOURS PER WEEK FOR YOUR WORK, SINCE YOU NEED TO WORK AT LEAST THAT LONG TO KEEP UP WITH READER NEEDS AFTER YOU ARE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED.

Please contact Linda Horton at LindaHorto@cs.com for more information.

Literary Braille Refresher Course for Teachers and Transcribers Many people have taken the Library of Congress course in braille transcribing only to find that, for various reasons, they were unable to continue to work as transcribers. They always hoped that at a later date they would be able to return to this most fascinating avocation. However, braille transcription is like playing a musical instrument. It is a skill that must be constantly honed; one that needs persistent and dedicated practice. Taking the braille transcriber's course again is a daunting venture, to say the least.

Teachers, too, who have studied braille at the university level, but have not had a braille-reading student for several years, often find their braille skills wanting. They have additional motivation for reviewing the braille course because they are being encouraged, and in some states required, to take the National Braille Competency Test prepared by the Library of Congress.

It is for these reasons that this book was written to serve, as its name implies, as a refresher course. It contains exercises and self-tests to help transcribers, proofreaders, and teachers revise and refine their braille knowledge and facility. This course may be pursued either alone or with an instructor. The answers to every quiz, drill, and practice are given in the Answer Section. All study references are to the relevant sections of the official Code, English Braille American Edition, 1994 revised 2002, and the Library of Congress manual, Instruction Manual for Braille Transcribing, Fourth Edition 2000.

The three major Code changes of 1980, 1987, and 1991 are all noted in the appropriate sections in the text. These changes in the rules for anglicized and foreign words, letter sign, and symbols for weights and measures, among others, may come as a surprise to those who have been away from braille for many years. Copies of the latest official code book and the Library of Congress manual may be purchased from:

American Printing House for the Blind
P. O. Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206-0085
www.aph.org

An order form is provided for convenience in ordering the Literary Braille Refresher Course.

NBA PUBLICATIONS Order Form

National Braille Association (NBA) Braille Formats Course With the national thrust toward the education of every child, it is imperative that students who are visually impaired be provided with braille textbooks that present the print editions of those textbooks in a clear, consistent, and easily recognized format. The National Braille Association, an organization of professional braille transcribers--both volunteer and salaried--administrators, and teachers, has developed a course in formatting and organizing print to braille documents that is designed to assure consistency and quality of brailled work. The NBA Braille Formats Course is written for certified transcribers, teachers of the visually impaired, paraprofessional school employees who prepare braille materials, and other producers of print to braille transcription.

The purpose of the NBA Braille Formats Course is to endow transcribers with the skills to provide braille readers with well organized, consistent, and easily recognized formats in their reading material. Completion of the course by individual transcribers or school employees may aid employers in selecting the most qualified individuals when assigning difficult translations. Only with accurate braille transcriptions will individuals who are visually impaired be able to fully compete in our rapidly changing technological society.

One only needs to open a current textbook to recognize the need for the NBA Braille Formats Course. Commonly, today�s textbooks contain many visual features designed to provide further information, attract attention or hold interest. These features may be printed notes in the margins, boxes across the bottom of the page and sometimes continuing on to the next page, pages interrupted by complete pages of unrelated text, colored type, lists, charts, diagrams and tables. Such graphically oriented text emphasizes the need for well trained transcribers to present a brailled text that faithfully represents print.

Designed for self study, with or without an instructor, this course is a comprehensive review of the 19 rules of Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription. The course is comprised of two sections: 1) a question and answer review of the rules with selected sections in simulated braille, and 2) a formatted sample textbook with complete explanations of the format decisions and braille examples.

A test based on the Braille Formats Course is administered by NBA. A Certificate in Braille Textbook Formatting is issued by NBA upon successful completion of the test.

An order form is provided for convenience in ordering the NBA Braille Formats Course.

NBA PUBLICATIONS Order Form

There are organizations that are promoting the use of Braille by providing continuing education once a person becomes certified by National Library Service for the Blind Library of Congress. One such organization is National Braille Association (NBA) and the other is Braille Authority of North America (BANA). BANA is a national organization that writes rules on the Braille code, however, many transcribers and educators find themselves referring to their instructional manual, Braille formatting textbook manual, and a host of other resources to ensure that Braille is produced at the highest quality since accuracy and proper formatting and layout is very essential in the Braille industry.

One such organization that I am a lifetime member of is National Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB), a Division of National Federation of the Blind (NFB).

The Braille Revival League (BRL), an affiliate of American Council of the Blind (ACB) is another consumer organization that you can use as a resource to contact braille readers who are actively promoting the usage of braille.

International Council on English Braille (ICEB) is another organization on which its mission is to coordinate and improve standards for braille usage for all English-speaking users of braille. Such countries that are part of this organization include, but not limited to, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Nigeria, and South Africa.

California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Handicapped (CTEVH), is an organization providing continuing education opportunities for transcribers and educators on new techniques that are useful for Braille production.

Another organization that would be a benefit to network with is Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI). This organization consist of professionals in the field of rehabilitation for the blind, social work of the blind, orientation and mobility instructors, technology trainers, teachers of the blind, and many others who express an interest in working with the blind population in all age levels.

Lisa Hall served on the Board of Directors of a new organization in Texas called Braille Transcribers of Texas (BTT). This organization was started by students and their instructor, Vivian Seki who have been a braille transcriber for over 15 years before coming to Northwest Vista College. This group was incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c3) organization as of February 24, 2004. The group attended its first National Braille Association National Conference in Dallas, Texas on April 13-16, 2005. Lisa was on the board since the organization was formed until the end of June 2006 after finding a job as a Braille Proofreader at Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Cincinnati, Ohio which started on July 10, 2006. Stay tune for further developments in this group.

For individuals that lives in Canada, an organization called Canadian Braille Authority (CBA) produces publications regarding its guidelines for braille production in their country. This organization is a big promoter of braille

Are you an educator who is interested in learning Braille in the public schools? Would you like the idea of learning Braille alongside with sighted kids in grades 4th through 6th grades? If so, check out "Braille Is Beautiful Project" A Disability Awareness Program Curriculum for Sighted Children. This was a program that was developed by National Federation of the Blind.

If you are still not sure why Braille is important today, take time to read Why Braille is important? You'll be glad you did.

Please check back later to check out our Online Education Program. This is a new, innovative training program designed and taught by the blind and was built from the ground up. The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute Online Education Program is uniquely designed, by the blind themselves, to teach critical information about blindness and blind people. Educators, blindness professionals, family members of blind children or adults, and virtually anyone else interested in blindness related topics can benefit from courses in this innovative blindness education program. Imagine learning about the most critical topics affecting the blind and those working with the blind, today--all from the convenience of your school, home, or office.

The first series of courses in the program includes:

Introduction to the Education of Blind Children in the Regular Classroom

Introduction to Braille

Introduction to Access Technology for the Blind

Introduction to Nonvisual Web Accessibility

Each course is free and can be taken at any time from your home or office. It's an exciting time to take advantage of its offerings.

Another resource to check out is Braille Textbook Transcriber Curriculum. This is a set of curriculum that is currently being used at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas. The online version of this series of courses began in August, 2006. This will be an exciting opportunity for anyone wanting to obtain textbook braille transcriber certification through online distance education from anywhere in the United States. Check the videos and individual course content to learn what is expected before enrolling. This is a very rigorous and intensive training program currently not being offered anywhere in the nation in the shortest period of time. Anyone who have questions about this program can send me an email located near the bottom of this page.

Exciting good news! National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute has been awarded a contract to manage and administer the Braille Transcriber and Proofreader Certification Program of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress. The announcement comes on the anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille (1809-1852).� To learn more about the program, you can read the official press release here. In addition, you can hear an audio interview on one of the episodes of a show called Straight Talk About Vision Loss With Dr. Z, the Executive Director of the Jernigan Institute. She interviewed Jennifer Dunnam about�the new exciting program for braille transcribers and proofreaders certification program. She has been a long time reader of braille and a leader in the NFB for several years. Listen or download this interview here. Stay tune for more exciting news regarding braille transcription.

Read Braille Textbooks in reference to Production of Braille Textbooks. This gives you a step-by-step set of procedures that a textbook goes through in its production process. Braille Transcription with Publishers' Files goes through 18 steps in its process. In addition, Copying, Binding and Shipment of Braille Textbooks goes through 8 steps in its final process of production.

Check out AFB and Verizon National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology. In addition, check out State-by-State Chart of Braille Laws.

Are you looking for additional resources? check out Resources for Teachers of Braille, Resources for Parents, DOTS for Braille Literacy (a quarterly newsletter promoting braille literacy, and Where to Get Braille.

Picture of Lisa, Kathy Wilson from Grace Baptist Temple and Peggie at reception after graduation ceremony.

Are you a teacher of the visually impaired? Have you found yourself teaching for many years not having a braille student? Are you looking for ideas to refresh your braille skills? If so, check out a document called Tips for Refreshing the Teacher's Braille Skills. You'll be glad you've improved your skills to help someone else.

If you don't know how WebBraille is used, read Factsheet on Web-Braille explains our electronic files for registered braille readers.

Select Bibles and Other Sacred Writings in Special Media (1999 in HTML) to learn about sources of materials in accessible format to purchase or to borrow on loan from different libraries.

Select Magazines In Special Media 2005 to learn of magazines in alternative formats available for purchase or free from the regional library.

Select Braille Literacy: Resources for Instruction, Writing Equipment, and Supplies (2004) to learn of reference materials about braille, braille supplies, braillle notetakers, etc.

Select Sources of Braille Reading Materials (1996 in HTML) to learn sources of reading materials available on loan or to purchase.

Select Braille Embossers (2000) to learn where braille embossers can be purchased.

Select Copyright Law Amendment, 1996: PL 104-197, in HTML to learn what materials can be reproduced in alternative formats without copyright permission from the publisher.

Book and File Repository Search for textbooks, recreational readings, and downloadable files through Louis database.

Search for Academic Tests. Browse BANA Braille Codes and Manuals Browse Braille and Large Print Music Search the National Library Service Catalog Search Bookshare.org

Check out a listing of Companies that Make Braille Signs.

Princeton Braillists Produce a long list of tactile drawings and maps.

International Braille Research Center (IBRC) contains information about braille, a collection of downloadable files that can be embossed or read with a refreshable braille display or braille notetaker.

Art Education for the Blind, Inc. have developed a series of courses to teach art history and appreciation of audio tapes and a braille and print booklet containing tactile drawings. One book, European Modernism 1900-1940 is available from most of the regional libraries in the U. S. For more information contact:
Art Education for the Blind, Inc.
160 Mercer Street
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 334-8721
Fax: (212) 334-8714
E-mail E-mail Art Education for the Blind.

Fred's Head Database: American Printing House for the Blind. This is an excellent way to do research on blindness, products, services, organizations, techniques, and many topics of braille transcription or braille instruction. You will also learn about assistive technology in the blindness field as well. Read and enjoy. Use their search engine to find what you are looking for or send me an email and I can email you the article if you like.

You will find the following articles on the Fred Head database system; this is not a complete listing:

How to Find a Computer Keyboard That Can Be Used to Enter Braille

Dancing Dots: Music Technology, Software And Transcription

Essential Reference Books for Braille Transcribing

Learn to interpret and transcribe Braille online

Braille Codebooks - BANA

Braille Codebooks - NLS

A Bit About Braille

Finding, Researching and Downloading Books, Dictionaries and Encyclopedias on the Net

Learn Braille with the Pac Mate

Louis Braille: The biography

Teach Yourself Braille

Braille Translation Software

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TACTILE GRAPHICS RESOURCES

Below is a listing of resources that contains information on tactile graphics. You will learn what is tactile graphics, when it is appropriate to create tactile graphics, what subject areas are helpful in creating tactile graphics, companies who create materials with tactile graphics, and so much more. It is my hope that it helps you put together information that is interesting, informative, and educational.

Tactile Graphics, An Overview and Resource Guide. This is a paper put together by John A. Gardner back in 1996 in reference to tactile graphics.

Science Access Project Publications. This is a site compiling a list of various publications dealing with braille and tactile graphics with various technologies.

SensibleGraphics, a site for adapted graphics! Here is another site containing information on tactile graphics.

Tactile Graphics Resources. This is a resource page put together by Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired located in Austin, Texas.

Graphics and Tactile Displays. Here is another site listing many resources for tactile drawings and graphics, sources for adapted equipment, and so much more.

Tactile Maps and Graphics. This is another site listing various resources dealing with tactile graphics. Some of the links on this site is no longer working but some of the links listed there still works.

NCTD: Making Tactile Graphics. This is a site where you learn when to do tactile graphics and so much more. Be sure to read When Tactile Graphics are Useful, and What Tactile Graphics are Not.

Guidelines for Design of Tactile Graphics. This is a guideline written by American Printing House for the Blind (APH) as of July 1997. There will be an official publication that will be release by National Braille Association and Braille Authority of North America. Check this site for any update on the guidelines for creating tactile graphics.

International Council on English Braille (ICEB), Tactile Graphics Project. This is a site highlighting various projects done by this organization.

Tactile Graphics - MENTOR. A short article explaining how tactile graphics can be produce by using a combination of hardware/software for creating and modifying tactile graphics before printing to a braille embosser.

Basic Principles for Preparing Tactile Graphics. This is a document put together by American Foundation for the Blind.

Tactile Vision, Inc. A company producing many products containing braille and tactile graphics for children with special needs.

Hungry Fingers: Educational Tools for Young Learners with Special Needs. This is a company developing educational materials in braille and tactile graphics for children with special needs. Some educational materials come with audio cassette with stories on them demonstrating some of the concepts being taught.

INTACT Links. A site containing a variety of links on tactile graphics and related organizations of the blind. Some of the links on their site doesn't work at this time.

Adapted Curriculum Enhancement: Creating Tactile Graphics. Provides ideas for adapting curriculum enhancement for creating tactile graphics.

Tactile Math Graphics. A site containing resources for making tactile graphics in maps as well as links to math resources.

Tactile Visualization. A collection of papers and publications. Also contains a list of Manufacturers and distributors of Tactile Image Printers and Capsule Paper.

Braille Graphics & Tactile Graphics From Repro-Tronics. This is a description of some of the products available through Enabling Technologies.

Tactile Graphics: A beginner's guide to graphics for visually impaired children. This is a paper giving suggestions and methods for creating tactile graphics.

A Quick Look at Producing Tactile Graphics.

ViewPlus Embossers from A.T. KRATTER & Co., Inc.

Tactile Graphics Project at University of Washington Computer Science & Engineering in Seattle, Washington.

Marco Schuffelen: On Editing Grapics for The Blind (A Manual).

Tactual Displays. This article reviews the braille code, tactile graphics, and recommendations for creating tactile graphics.

Articles on how Braille is used or taught

BOOKS FOR FURTHER READING ABOUT LOUIS BRAILLE AND THE HISTORY OF BRAILLE

Below is a list of books that I have read through that are recommended for you to read in learning more about Louis Braille, the inventor of the braille system and the history of braille. Some of these books may be available through local public libraries or state library for the blind and physically handicapped. For books that are available in braille or audio form, a catalog number of these books are given with a short annotation if any. It is my hope that you find this information interesting and fun to read.

ALL ABOUT BRAILLE: Reading By Touch, by Laura S. Jeffrey; 43 braille pages; approximately 48 print pages; Published by Enslow Publishers, Inc.; produced in braille by National Braille Press, 2005.; Copyright 2004.; Annotation: Discusses Helen Keller, Louis Braille, and other noted blind persons, including mountain climber Erik Weihenmayer and musicians Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. Provides information on learning braille, using computers with braille displays, and walking with a cane or guide dog. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2004. All About Braille: Reading By Touch will tell you about Braille and finger reading. For those who cannot see or are losing their sight, Braille lets them read and communicate with others. Using special tools such as Braillewriters that work like typewriters and Braille displays that hook up to computers, people can write letters and send e-mail. Learn more about the history of Braille and how it has opened the doors of communication. BR 15653, 1 volume; RC 58906, 1 cassette.

LOUIS BRAILLE: Inventor, by Jennifer Fisher Bryant; 143 braille pages; approximately 111 print pages; Published by Chelsea House Publishers, a division of Main Line Book Co.; produced in braille by Associated Services for the Blind, 1998.; Copyright 1994. Annotation: Recounts the life of Louis Braille who, at fifteen, created a system of raised dots that allows blind persons to read and write. Describes Louis�s childhood, the accident that caused his blindness, the support he received from his family, and his education, which led to his creation of the braille alphabet. For grades 5-8 and older readers. Louis Braille was not yet 15 years old when he developed his alphabet of raised dots read with the fingertips, which allows blind people to read and write. When Braille was born in 1809, Napol@eon still ruled France and war raged throughout Europe. Braille's father was a harnessmaker in the quiet village of Coupvray, France. As a child, Louis enjoyed playing among the scraps of wood and leather in his father's workshop. When he was three years old, however, an accident in the workshop left him blind for life.Louis's family knew that he possessed a brailliant mind and insisted on giving him the best possible education. Working from memory alone, Louis earned the top scores in his village school. When he was only 10 years old, he enrolled in the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris. The dot alphabet he invented there met with resistance from school officials even after he became a professor at the Institute, and at one point the braille system was banned outright. But the speed and efficiency of Braille's method proved so irresistible to the children at the school that they fought to have it returned to the curriculum. Today, the braille alphabet offers millions of blind people around the world a gateway to unlimited knowledge and achievement. BR11716, 1 volume. RC 46863, 1 cassette.

LOUIS BRAILLE: The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind, by Margaret Davidson; 61 braille pages; Produced in Braille by Clovernook Printing House for the Blind, 1994. Copyright 1971. Annotation: A simple biography of Louis Braille, who invented an alphabet that enables blind people to read when he was only fifteen. For grades 3-6. Louis Braille was only twelve years old. And he was blind. But he made up his mind--somehow he was going to invent an easy way for all blind people to read and write. It took Louis three years to work out his alphabet of raised dots. With this alphabet, blind people could read as fast as other people. Today almost all books for the blind are printed in the alphabet called braille. Blind people read braille with their fingertips. BR 09495 in 1 braille volume; RC 41325on 1 cassette.

OUT OF DARKNESS: The Story of Louis Braille, by Russell Freedman; 69 braille pages; 81 print pages; Published by CLARION BOOKS; Produced in braille by National Braille Press, Inc., 1998.; Copyright 1997. Annotation: Louis Braille accidentally blinded himself with one of his father�s tools when he was three years old. In 1819, at the age of ten, Braille began attending the Royal National Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, where, by the age of fifteen, he had developed a system of raised dots for reading and writing that is now used worldwide by blind people. For grades 4-7 and older readers. More than anything else, Louis Braille wanted to read. He could not accept the fact that as a blind boy, in the year 1821, he was unable to communicate by the written word. So each night, in the darkness of his dormitory room, he punched tiny holes in paper. His friends told him he was wasting his time, but Braille's experiment with dots became a system that, as the plaque on the front of Braille's house reads, "opened the doors of knowledge to all those who cannot see." BR11319 in 1 braille volume; RC 44992 on 1 cassette.

THE READING FINGERS: Life of Louis Braille 1809-1852, by JEAN ROBLIN; 114 braille pages; Published by American Foundation for the Blind; Produced in Braille by National Braille Press, INc., 2003.; Published 1955 by American Foundation for the Blind. Annotation: First authoritative English-language biography of the French inventor of braille text. Covers Braille�s family background and how he became blind. Discusses his education, love for music, and contribution to intellectual advancement through his raised-dot system for reading. Translated from French. 1952. BR14555 in 1 braille volume.

THE SECRET CODE by Dana Meachen Rau; 7 braille pages; Published by Children's Press, A Division of Grolier Publishing; Produced in Braille by National Braille Press, 1999. Copyright 1998. Annotation: The class is learning to read, but Oscar has a special book with bumps instead of letters. Oscar is blind, and he shares his knowledge of reading braille with his friends. For preschool-grade 2. BR12369 in 1 braille volume.

THE WAR OF THE DOTS BY Robert B. Irwin; 83 braille pages; Published by American Foundation for the Blind; Produced in braille by Associated Services for the Blind, 1997. Annotation: Recounts the struggle to achieve a uniform type for English-speaking blind readers. Discusses various raised-type systems, from embossed Roman letters used in the 1830s to the establishment of Standard English Braille in 1932. BR 10878 in 1 braille volume.

Stay tune for additional titles on this page for more information.

Instructional Materials Accessibility Act (IMAA)

Access to Instructional Materials: Leaving No Blind Child Behind Textbooks on Time: Update on the Instructional Materials Accessibility Act (IMAA) Why We Need the Instructional Materials Accessibility Act (IMAA) Lack of Brailled Textbooks Leaves Blind Students in Bind Victory for Textbooks on Time by Kimberli Sollenberger, Future Reflections Report 2004 TOWARD EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: PROVIDING BLIND STUDENTS WITH ACCESSIBLE TEXTBOOKS IN HIGHER EDUCATION NIMAS Development & Technical Assistance Centers NIMAS guides the production and electronic distribution of digital versions of textbooks and other instructional materials so they can be more easily converted into accessible formats such as braille and text-to-speech. Check this site for more information on the New Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards (NIMAS). Solutions Forum Read this site to learn what is currently being worked on in improving services for braille readers. You will learn what studies have been conducted regarding issues including:

Lack of standardization of electronic file formats provided by textbook publishers.

Inaccessibility of multimedia textbooks, especially those delivered via the Internet and CD-ROM.

Variation in state textbook regulations regarding accessible instructional materials.

Expense of producing specialized materials and lack of fiscal incentives to develop new technologies.

Shortage of qualified braille transcribers and production resources.

Barriers to communication and collaboration, including duplication of efforts.

The following workgroups are working on the above matters: Electronic Files & Research and Development, Legislative and Policy-Making, Production Process, Training and Other Needs, and Communication and Collaboration.

Accessible Textbooks Clearinghouse provides information regarding accessible textbooks for blind students in the k-12 school systems. There are lots of resources there.

Another site to visit is Karlen Communications Alternate Textbook Production Resources.

GOOD NEWS! MORE CONTRACT WORK IS UNDER WAY!!!

For the last several months, I have been working hard to secure some contract work with the following companies or organizations: Ozone Publishing Corporation to do some public relations work in promoting and marketing materials in braille/large print and tactile graphics to be used in educational settings. This contract work began on March 11, 2006 at the Low Vision Expo in San Antonio, Texas. Check us out at comferences noted on the front page of this site and see the products for yourself. It is cool, educational, and fun and is made to last longer than on ordinary braille paper with newer technology paper.

Education Service Center Region 20 Braille Department doing contract work as braille proofreader for tests and textbooks produced in the state of Texas. As I write this section as of March 6, 2006, the contract work began on March 7, 2006. This is exciting. When I moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in early July 2006 to begin work for Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the contract was discontinued.

Another contract that is pending at the moment is with Braille International, Inc. located in Stuart, Florida doing braille proofreading primarily done at home working with a sighted copy holder reading literary materials being prepared under a contract for NLS Library of Congress program. Currently I am looking for someone in the Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan area who have the time to work with me in reading books in braille along with the printed book sent by the company supplying the material to be proofread in a timely manner. Send me an email if you are interested in doing this type of work. Your help is greatly appreciated. This is a good way to give back to the blindness community.

ONLINE RESOURCES FOR BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS, BRAILLE PROOFREADERS, AND BRAILLE PRODUCERS

Are you a braille producer, transcriber, or proofreader or someone who produces materials for blind and visually impaired braille readers? If so, below are links to pages that would have electronic files in both print (.pdf or .html) and braille (.brf) files for you to download and either print out for hardcopy or to put into a braille notetaker or accessible PDA for easier portability and quick reference when you are on the go. I will keep this section up to date as soon as I know when additional materials will be available.

BANA Braille Codes Update 2007. This codebook is effective as of January 1, 2008. It consist of changes to 3 of the codebooks being used today:

English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002.

Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription, 1997.

Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision.

Those materials above can be purchased in hardcopy form from American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky.You can call them at (800) 223-1839 or (502) 895-2405. You can even place your order online. It's fast, easy, and free to sign up.

If you are transcribing technical materials such as computer programs, spreadsheets, or any documents which may have numerous web and email addresses, you will want to consult a publication entitled Computer Braille Code: 2000 Revision. This is available in both .pdf and .brf electronic files and can also be purchased through American Printing House for the Blind in hardcopy form. APH; Braille: 5-24410-00; Print: 7-24410-00; Cost: $20.20.

To learn what other BANA publications are available and how much each cost, consult Publications List.

If you are transcribing music into braille, consult Music Braille Code 1997.
APH; Braille: 5-09651-00; Print: 7-09651-00; Cost: $41.00

If you are looking for instruction manuals for literary transcription, music transcription, or math and science transcription, check out these resources. When the electronic files for braille proofreading, nemeth proofreading and nemeth transcribing becomes available in electronic form, I will update this section. Stay tune for further information. It is my hope that this type of information is helpful to everyone. These files are available in electronic format in .pdf or .htm for print and .brf for braille. These can also be purchased in hardcopy through American Printing House for the Blind indicated earlier in this section. Check out NFB - Braille Initiative to learn how you can become a braille transcriber or proofreader. This is an exciting time to get some serious training to expand your future opportunities.

Employment Opportunities for certified Braille Transcribers and Proofreaders

Listed below are some links to some resources of directories, articles on job opportunities, and other helpful information pertaining to braille transcription.

Select this link to reach a listing of braille transcribing groups maintained by American Council of the Blind.

Select National Federation of the Blind Braille Resource listing of transcribing groups around the country.

Select Library Resources for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 2004 to learn where libraries are located throughout the country.

Select Sources of Custom-Produced Books: Braille, Audio Recordings, and Large Print (2001 in HTML) to learn of companies producing materials in alternative formats as well as a listing of state special education agencies, schools for the blind, and certified braille proofreaders for braille transcribers to use to have their work proofread before final production of the books are finished.

Individual Braille Transcription Services (IBTS) 2007 is a free downloadable publication available as a free service compiled by National Braille Press that list organizations that will braille a single copy of a document. Updated for 2007. They are listed as follows:

Another publication that will be worth checking out is Unified English Braille Code: Perspectives. This is a publication where you can read what the experts are saying about this historic decision in this free download. A hardcopy in braille can be purchased free from National Braille Press, Inc.. They are listed as follows:

If you wish to learn more about braille transcription and how to get started, read a document from American Printing House for the Blind entitled Braille Transcription: Getting Started. This document is available in .pdf and html formats.

To obtain a list of prisons that are providing training and employment opportunities to inmates, select Prison Braille Program Directory now available online!. This document is in .pdf, .brf (contracted braille), and html formats.

Another publication that is helpful in learning about the Braille Prison system and how it works is called Prison Braille Programs: The Inside Scoop.

Are you a producer of Braille, large print, or audio producer? If not and you are a braille transcriber or organization whose goal is to produce books in alternative format, please go to Accessible Media Producer form at American Printing House for the Blind to register. There is no charge for registering your services. This is how the world gets to know of your services by being in the database.