Latest News
- Braille Bar on Tuesday
Our popular Braille Bar returns this Tuesday at 7:30 PM. No question is too small, from kit to code – just ask and our experts will assist you!
Or, to join by phone, use these details:
- Phone number: 0131 460 1196
- Meeting ID: 880 3508 8878
- Passcode: 123456
- Join BITS for Braille Across Devices, Thursday 16 April at 1:00 AM
Join BITS and presenter Nicki Keck for Braille Across Devices.
When: Wednesday April 15 at 8:00 PM Eastern (5:00 PM pacific).
Where: BITS Zoom
Join Blind Information Technology Solutions (BITS), and presenter Nicki Keck, for Braille Across Devices.
This presentation will include an overview, and demonstrations of setting up the Brailliant BI 20X/Chameleon 20, the Mantis Q-40, and the Focus 14 Blue from Freedom Scientific, on Windows, IOS, and Android.
We will also take a look at how to get help navigating each of the devices.
Nicki will switch between each device when demonstrating setup, so there will be a variety of methods demonstrated.
If you have a problem registering for this event, please contact:
Brad Snyder
BITS Presentations Chair
- 2026 new braille devices on the Buzz! Thursday 16 April at 1:30 AM
The Braille Revival League is a special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind which is interested in doing all that it can to promote the use of braille.
One of its activities is a bimonthly zoom call which happens on the third Wednesday of even-numbered months. Our meeting will happen on April 15 at 8:30 PM Eastern time.
Much of our meeting this time will be devoted to exploring some of the new braille technology products that have been released this year or are soon to arrive on the market. Humanware will release the BrailleNote Evolve. Selvas BLV will be issuing the BrailleSense 7. Orbit Research has two new lines of braille products. Hable is marketing the Hable Easy braille keyboard.
In addition to exploring all of these products we will hear from our President about our convention program that will happen in St. Louis late in July!
Patty Slabby is now President of our organization but has been kind enough to allow Paul Edwards to continue to run this activity!
Patty and Paul and the rest of the Board hope you can join us as we explore braille technology that has been released in 2026!
Want the Zoom link? Email Paul Edwards on [email protected]
- Braille Space at Bath Spa University, Wednesday 29 April, 4:00 PM-6:00 PM
BSU are hosting one of Bristol Braille Technology’s Braille Space events. These are a series of events, usually hosted at their workshop in Bristol, where people can get their hands on equipment, try things out, bounce some ideas round with like minded folk. This one is a bit special as they’ve been working with a group of students at BSU engaged in their Creative Industries Challenge. They’ve been set the task of developing a fun application for the Canute Scientific which introduces new users to the machine. BBT are hoping the guys will be able to show their progress so far.
To confirm attendance at Braille Space, please email: [email protected]
- 3rd edition (2024) of the Rules of Unified English Braille available in hard copy from RNIB
The Rules of Unified English Braille (RUEB) is the definitive reference book for all things Unified English Braille. It covers all the signs available in UEB and the rules for using them.
The International Council on English Braille (ICEB) published the 3rd edition (2024), superseding the 2nd edition (2013). Highlights in the new edition include:
- a comprehensive index
- more cross references
- inclusion of all the rules and symbols since the 2013 2nd edition
New symbols include the tick (✓) and German sharp S ß; there are clarifications about shortforms including medial capitals, updated rules for quotation marks and more.
You can download print (PDF) or braille (BRF) copies from www.iceb.org and now we are delighted to announce that you can purchase hard copies in print or braille from RNIB.
Go to shop.rnib.org.uk, or call RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
Product references:
- TC21463P – Rules of Unified English Braille 3rd ed (print)
- TC21463B – Rules of Unified English Braille 3rd ed (braille)
- Canute Scientific YouTube Videos
Bristol Braille Technology recently launched the Canute Scientific. For a taste of what it can do, they’re now uploading some videos to their Youtube channel.
First, a quick audio described overview of the device: The Canute Scientific Braille display: audio description
In this one Holly and Steph demonstrate the Braille chess game Holly wrote. It’s a great example of how you can create and adapt applications to make the Canute Scientific truly your own: Braille Chess on the Canute Scientific
The Braillists is a grass-roots community group offering high quality training and support to emerging and established braille users. We also work with family members, friends, colleagues and teachers of braille users, and connect braille users with braille technology developers and funders.
Everyone at the Braillists would sincerely like to thank our sponsors and partners.
What Is Braille?
Braille is a simple code for representing written language. We believe braille has the potential to transform the life of any blind person who has the opportunity to learn it.
Discover more about braille on this page.
Learn Braille
We support hundreds of adults to read braille by touch in a few short weeks through our innovative and approachable Braille for Beginners course. Free of charge, it comprises hard copy resources through the post and a series of short pre-recorded lessons, supplemented by email and Zoom support from highly qualified and experienced tutors.
Find out more about Braille for Beginners and register here.
There are plenty of other courses available too, for both children and adults, reading by touch or by sight. We have made a list of these on our Learn Braille page.
Perkins Repairs and Other Braille Equipment
The Perkins Brailler is the most established braille writer in use today, and even machines from the 1950s can still be serviced and repaired. We have compiled information about Perkins repairs, places to purchase Perkins Braillers, and other types of braille equipment on our Braille Equipment page.
If you are looking for braille paper, you can find it on our Braille Consumables page.
Our Aims
- Promote the value of braille as a proven literacy tool that enriches the lives of blind people.
- Support efforts to make affordable braille and tactile reading technologies available to all blind people irrespective of education and employment status.
- Provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas about the development of future braille technology.
Find Out More
Join our announcements only mailing list to receive our weekly newsletter.
Join the conversation and meet other Braillists on our discussion forum.
Connect with us on Twitter (@Braillists) or like us on Facebook for up to the minute Braillists news.
Listen to some braille-related audio on Soundcloud (braillists).
Please see our Sponsors and Partners for information on organisations who are supporting us.
Get In Touch
Email [email protected] or call 020 3893 3392. Further details on our Contact Us page.