Over the years, blind people have benefitted from incredible enhancements in the fields of electronic braille and accessibility in general. In fact, it’s now possible to purchase a fully accessible Amazon Fire tablet for under £50 which, pared with an inexpensive braille display such as an Orbit Reader, and Amazons Kindle store which offers access to quite literally hundreds of thousands of digital books, makes for an incredibly cost-effective braille reading setup. But how does it work? In this...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Parents reading with their children: it’s an experience common to many households in virtually every country of the world. It’s a uniquely special experience for both the parent and the child, remembered for years to come, and often relived as children become parents themselves, and parents become grandparents. For many blind people in the UK, it’s been facilitated for decades by the Clearvision project and its collection of over 14,000 books, each designed in such a way as to simultaneously ena...
Jun 14, 2021•43 min•Ep. 27
This week’s Masterclass has a more low tech flavour as we take a wander into the heart of the household. If you’ve ever wondered how to read braille recipes without ruining them or what to do when the label is too big for the jar, this session is for you. Emma Williams led the session – teacher of Independent Living Skills at New College Worcester, and a familiar voice to many from our Clever Cooking events last year. She drew on a wealth of personal experience of using braille in the kitchen, a...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 1 min
In this session, we covered: Rests: quaver, crotchet, minim, semibreve and dotted versions of the above Clef signs: treble (G) and bass (F) Octave signs and their use Interval signs and their use A mid-month clinic will take place on Monday 14 June at 8:00 PM in the UK and Ireland. The next teaching session will take place at the same time on Monday 28 June and cover hand signs, in accord, ties, slurs, articulation, fingering and maybe tongueing....
Jun 01, 2021•37 min
If you’re a blind Android user, you’re bound to have come across Steve Nutt at Computer Room Services . He’s blind himself, been in the accessible smartphone business for over 20 years, and has a vast amount of knowledge and experience when it comes to using smartphones with braille displays. We’re delighted that he joined us on Tuesday 18 May to present an introduction to using an Android device with a braille display. He covered which braille displays work with Android, how to connect them, ho...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 3 min
You don't have to have been in the blindness community very long to have come across HumanWare and their two flagship brands: Victor Reader and BrailleNote. Indeed, on the second episode of this podcast , we talked extensively about the BrailleNote Touch, which has since been succeeded by the BrailleNote Touch Plus. BrailleNote is not the company's only line of braille product, though. In 2003, thanks to an agreement with Baum, HumanWare launched its Brailliant line of refreshable braille displa...
May 17, 2021•56 min•Ep. 26
We’re starting to hear more and more about BRF files. They’re the default braille format on platforms such as RNIB Reading Services; they’re regularly used in the transcription industry to share braille versions of documents between producers; and notetaker users have used them to transfer files from one brand of braille device to another. But questions still prevail: What, exactly, is a BRF? Why would you use BRF files over more mainstream file formats? What are the limitations of BRF? How do y...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Topics covered in this session: Debunking some myths Notes and note values - quavers, crotchets, minims, semibreves and dotted notes Sharp, flat and natural signs Time signatures and their placement - 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, common time, 6/8, 9/8 Key signatures and their placement - D major (2 sharps), A major (3 sharps), B major (5 sharps) and F sharp major (6 sharps) Resources of interest: RNIB Music Advisory Service Braille Music for Beginners for the Piano by Joan Partridge: available from RNIB , pro...
May 03, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 22
We were delighted to be joined by renowned braille display expert Jackie Brown. Jackie is a freelance writer, regular reviewer of braille technology, and author of “Braille On Display” (published by Mosen Consulting), a comprehensive comparison of braille displays and guide to choosing the right one. On Tuesday 20 April 2021, Jackie talked us through the process of choosing a braille display. She outlined which factors to consider and why, and the key features of the braille displays which are c...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 21
Based in Houston, Texas, Dr Robert Englebretson is widely recognised for his contribution to braille research. In 2008, his work on updating the Braille International Phonetic Alphabet was published by the International Council on English Braille , and in 2019 the Braille Authority of North America made him a recipient of the Darleen Bogart Braille Excellence Award in recognition of this work. More recently, in his role as Associate Professor of Linguistics at Rice University , he has begun to t...
Apr 19, 2021•52 min•Ep. 25
On Friday 28 August 2020, Everette Bacon joined a Braillists Foundation Stay Safe: Stay Connected call to talk about how the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) promotes braille literacy across the United States. Everette is a member of the Board of Directors of NFB and President of the Utah State Division. He told us how he has personally pushed to make assistive technology more widely available and explained the kinds of resources and programmes that NFB provides for its members, including ...
Apr 12, 2021•1 hr 4 min
If you've been following Braillists Foundation events recently, you'll be aware that we've been hosting a number of sessions thanks to a grant from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust . But why is the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust interested in the Braillists Foundation? In September 2017, Ed Rogers, Managing Director of Bristol Braille Technology CIC and himself a Fellow of WCMT, undertook a four-week trip around India to discover more about braille usage in that part of the world and to as...
Apr 05, 2021•35 min•Ep. 24
RNIB, which operates one of Europe’s largest braille lending libraries, has recently announced changes to the way books will be produced from April 2021. Since the announcement, there has naturally been much discussion about what these changes will mean for braille readers in the UK and around the world. The Braillists Foundation and colleagues from RNIB explored these changes and answered questions from the public on Tuesday 23 March. RNIB Braille Library - important update Dear RNIB Braille Li...
Mar 29, 2021•1 hr 18 min
This session talked through advocacy strategies that you can use to facilitate access to braille in the wider world. This includes having healthcare and other personal communication sent to you in braille, as well as advocating for braille signage in public places. This session was recorded on Tuesday 16 March 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page .
Mar 22, 2021•1 hr 3 min
This session covered how to obtain braille through the Access To Work and Disabled Students Allowance schemes. We talked about how to advocate for the braille you need and what options you have. We also looked at advocating for braille textbooks and braille signage in work or education. This session was recorded on Tuesday 9 March 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page .
Mar 15, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Led by Holly Scott-Gardner, this session looked at how to take effective notes in braille for your own personal use. We covered increasing your speed when note taking, ways to organise your notes and the tools that you may wish to use. This session was recorded on Tuesday 2 March 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page .
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr 2 min
If you are required to take notes as part of a team, whether that's in a meeting or for group projects, this session is for you! Led by Matthew Horspool, it guides you through using braille to take notes that are also visually accessible. We talked specifically about taking notes using a braille display, and writing Markdown in braille to format your notes. This session was recorded on Tuesday 23 February 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page ....
Mar 01, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Led by Holly Scott-Gardner, this session guided participants through using braille to present more effectively, especially useful if you need to deliver speeches for work, school, or as part of one of your interests. We covered writing a presentation script, using cue cards and the best way to set up your braille display or hard copy braille when speaking. This session was recorded on Tuesday 16 February 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page ....
Feb 22, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Led by Holly Scott-Gardner, this session covered using a braille display with Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides. We guided you through how braille output works with these applications and the ways in which braille output can enable you to deliver more effective presentations. This session was recorded on Tuesday 9 February 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page .
Feb 15, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Led by Matthew Horspool, this session explained how to pair a braille display with an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and how to get the most out of using braille with these devices. This session was recorded on Tuesday 2 February 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page .
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Led by Holly Scott-Gardner, this session explained how to pair a windows PC with a braille display, which screen readers support braille output and some tips and tricks for using braille output. This session was recorded on Tuesday 26 January 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page .
Feb 01, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Led by James Bowden, Braille Technical Officer at RNIB, this session answered questions such as: How does UEB differ from Standard English Braille? Where can you learn about the changes? What tips and tricks are there for switching to UEB? This session was recorded on Tuesday 19 January 2021. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page ....
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Judy Dixon is something of a braille icon. She is Consumer Relations Officer at the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled , part of the Library of Congress in the United States; President of the International Council on English Braille ; and has written a myriad of books for National Braille Press relating to braille and assistive technology. She also owns what is widely considered to be the largest collection of braille slates and styluses , containing over 280 unique design...
Jan 18, 2021•49 min•Ep. 23
On 4 January, people across the world celebrated World Braille Day . This day, which marks the birthday of Louis Braille, is an important one for blind people and those connected to the blind community, so the Braillists Foundation couldn't let it pass without recognising it and the significance of braille. The Foundation hosted a panel discussion, inviting three braille users to speak about their lives with braille. More importantly, perhaps, they also shared their thoughts on how braille may a...
Jan 11, 2021•58 min•Ep. 22
Happy new year, and happy World Braille Day ! Today (4 January 2021) is the 212th birthday of Louis Braille, inventor of the code that revolutionised literacy for blind people all over the world. In spite of intense opposition in Louis Braille’s lifetime, the code has been adapted for use in dozens of languages and disciplines and is widely recognised throughout the world as the most effective means by which blind people can read and write. There’s even a braille chess code! But what about peopl...
Jan 04, 2021•37 min•Ep. 21
Index Braille is synonymous the world over with braille embossers. Founded by Bjorn Lofstedt and Torvald Lundqvist as Polar Print Production in Sweden in 1979, its first incarnation was as a university project to develop a braille typewriter with copy function. The company took shape in 1982 and, by 1984, a small batch of Index Computer Braille Printers (known as “Index 3.7” embossers after the firmware version) were manufactured in Bjorn’s garage. The current premises were obtained in 1985, fin...
Dec 28, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 20
What is an Abacus and why would you use one? In this session, led by James Bowden, participants learnt about the various features of the Abacus and why it is ideal for use as a blind person. The session covered: Physical description and orientation The beads and their meaning Setting numbers Basic addition Overflows and carries If you have an Abacus, you might find it helpful to have it with you so that you can follow along. This session was recorded on Tuesday 8 December 2020. For further infor...
Dec 21, 2020•59 min
This event introduced participants to the various types of braille labels available and how to create their own labels using a range of materials. The session covered using a slate and stylus, a Perkins brailler and a braille labeller to produce labels, as well as tips for labelling various products around the home. It also took a look at writing greetings cards in braille. This session was recorded on Tuesday 1 December 2020. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media ...
Dec 14, 2020•1 hr 3 min
This session was a practical introduction to braille music. We covered basic music notation and where to access braille music. This session was led by James Bowden, Braille Technical Officer at RNIB . This session was recorded on Tuesday 24 November 2020. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page ....
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 2 min
This session introduced participants to the many ways of using braille when learning a language. Knowledge of English braille would be helpful when listening, but is not essential. We took a look at using braille in conjunction with various language learning apps, where to learn other language codes and accessing books in other languages. We also heard from blind people who have used braille when travelling and how this has helped them. The session was led by Holly Scott-Gardner . This session w...
Nov 30, 2020•1 hr 11 min
