Latest News
- Introducing eBraille, Tuesday 31 March at 7:30 PM
For many years, we have had the ability to use electronic files to store and retrieve braille. Perhaps the most well-known file format for this purpose is BRF. However, working with these files presents a number of challenges, from the point of view of both embossing in hard copy and reading on electronic braille devices.
The recently released eBraille standard from the DAISY consortium addresses many of these challenges.
In this session, we will hear from Willow Free, Tactile Technology Product Manager at APH and Co-Chair of the DAISY eBraille Working Group. Willow will give a brief history of the eBraille project, explain how the standard works today, describe how to create and obtain eBraille files, and provide an overview of where eBraille is currently supported. Particular topics will include:
- The differences between a BRF file and an eBraille file
- Converting BRF files to eBraille, and the limitations of this process
- Some products and tools which currently support reading and creating eBraille files
There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions at the end of the session.
To join by phone, please use these details:
- Phone number: 0131 460 1196
- Meeting ID: 815 7769 8751
- Passcode: 123456
- Orbit Research March Meeting, Monday 30 March at 5:00 PM
The next meeting with Orbit Research CEO Venkatesh Chari will take place on Monday at 5:00 PM.
Join the meeting (no registration required)
Meeting ID: 858 0066 3113
Passcode: 585328
- That All May eRead: Open Forum, Wednesday 1 April at Midnight
The March 31, 2026, That All May eRead online program is an open forum. We will answer any questions you have about the NLS Braille eReaders for the entire hour.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. eastern time and will last for one hour. The meeting will be recorded. To access the meeting, go to https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1603971745?pwd=AAyByFXmbZ94WHMCroPt1Iw28Se5mU.1
Meeting ID: 160 397 1745
Passcode: 471174
If you choose to dial in to the call, use the telephone numbers provided below. The Zoom.gov ID will not work with standard Zoom.us.
- +1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)
- +1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
- +1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
- +1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)
- +1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)
- +1 551 285 1373 US (New Jersey)
- International numbers
Remember that the meeting is recorded. Do not speak if you do not wish to be on the recording.
You can find recordings and transcripts of previous That All May eRead programs on the NLS website at www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/that-all-may-eread.
For more information, please contact:
Tamara Rorie
Head, Patron Engagement Section
[email protected]
or
[email protected]- BT Braille 20 and BT Braille 40: Pre-orders Can Now Be Purchased Online
Pre-orders for BT Braille 20 and BT Braille 40 can now be purchased from the Shop page of the Blazie Technologies website.
- SM BungSang Braille Music Translator on Mac
The Sao Mai Centre for the Blind is developing a Braille music translation app for MacOS named SM BungSang. This app is mainly used to read and translate MusicXML scores into Braille. It doesn’t provide other Braille conversion features for text, math and tactile graphics as Sao Mai Braille software on Windows does.
Interested testers should email Phúc Dang Hoai on [email protected]
- Spanish PhD Student Looking for Testers of Braille Dictionaries
Hello everyone,
My name is María García Garmendia. I am a Sworn Translator and Interpreter for Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For the past year, I have been pursuing doctoral research at the Faculty of Translation and Documentation of the University of Salamanca on the accessibility of digital dictionaries for blind people through the use of screen readers and refreshable Braille displays.
As part of this doctoral research, I am looking for blind participants to test a range of monolingual and bilingual dictionaries.
The participants should ideally meet the following requirements:
- Be blind and, if possible, hold a degree or postgraduate qualification, or be a doctoral student or doctoral graduate, in Translation and Interpreting, Philology, language teaching, or another language-related subject, or have a big experience in accessibility.
- In addition to English, speak in high level Spanish, Portuguese or Italian, or some of them. Any other language would also be very welcome.
- Use a screen reader and a Braille display.
- Use WhatsApp, as instructions, questions and general communication will be handled through this medium for convenience.
- Be reliable and honour any commitments made.
- Have an interest in accessibility and in testing both monolingual and bilingual dictionaries in different languages.
If you are interested, please write to me at: [email protected]
The tests will be carried out by means of audio recordings, which may be made using your own mobile phone and uploaded to a Google Drive folder. Communication will also take place through a WhatsApp group created for this purpose.
There will be no payment for taking part in the tests.
Many thanks to everyone, and I look forward to hearing from you.
- Braille Doodle Update
We have been informed by the Touch Pad Pro Foundation that, unfortunately, production of the Braille Doodle is currently on hold due to the manufacturing molds becoming defective. Fundraising to create new molds is currently underway. Readers may Visit the Go Fund Me page for more information.
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.