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
- TAVIP Masterclass: The Canute Scientific from Bristol Braille, Tuesday 14 July at 7:30 PM
We are pleased to promote this event from TAVIP as an alternative to our Braille Bar which is taking place at the same time. From TAVIP:
I am pleased to invite you to a TAVIP Masterclass with Ed Rogers from Bristol Braille who will be talking about the development and launch of the Canute Scientific.
The inspiration behind the Canute Scientific has been to develop a machine which will empower blind people studying or working in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM subjects).
Incorporating a 360-cell refreshable Braille display (9 × 40 cells) with a 13-inch synchronized visual monitor, the Canute Scientific enables blind and sighted users to collaborate equally on technical content.
As an evolution of their Canute Console, the Canute Scientific has a faster processor, new system board, thinner and lighter chassis and is built with improved production processes. It also has a lot more in the way of connectivity options, allowing people to work on various hardware projects and a suite of custom applications to work with various forms of data and schematics.
As with their other devices, this was built with feedback and testing by Braille readers.
Ed will talk about the design concept, the product details, and how it will be able to help people studying or working in technical career roles.
Whether or not you are in the market for a multi line braille display, do join us for what will be a really interesting discussion about the development of braille technology and it’s relevance in a wider range of subject areas.
Background to Bristol Braille
Whilst there have been efforts to develop more affordable single line displays, multiline Braille has typically been beyond the reach of most Braille readers, with devices costing into multiple thousands. This is despite the obvious advantages for productivity and greater context awareness that multiline Braille offers.
To try answering this, Ed rogers founded Bristol Braille with the mission to bring an affordable multi line Braille display to the market.
Since inception, Bristol Braille Technology has worked closely with Braille readers to test and develop their innovative solutions. They created the award winning world’s first affordable multiline Braille display, the Canute 360, releasing it in 2019. This followed many iterations and hands on feedback from Braille readers both in Bristol and beyond.
The Canute 360 display was followed by the Canute Console, a stand alone multi line Braille workstation. The console combined the 9 line Braille display with a high contrast visual HD monitor meaning both blind Braille readers and sighted colleagues could view the same information simultaneously.
Their machines are designed and built in the UK at their Bristol based workshop, which also hosts regular Braille Space events. These offer opportunities for people to try out the equipment and share ideas with likeminded folk.
Bristol Braille will also be taking the Canute Scientific on the road to various events this year, including Sight Village. Further details of events can be found at https://bristolbraille.org
As usual, the zoom details for the Masterclass are as follows:
If you are already logged in you can enter our ID 2222 397 064, or Connect to the TAVIP Zoom Room by clicking or tapping this link: https://zoom.us/j/2222397064 If you’d prefer, you can dial in on 0203 695 0088 and enter our meeting ID 2222 397 064. You don’t need to enter a participant ID.
- Orbit Research July Meeting, Wednesday 15 July at 5:00 PM
The next Zoom call with Orbit Research is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 15 July at 5:00 PM UK time (11:00 AM CDT).
Join the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84091906758?pwd=6bwbwWeyaavYGrcNMWea5jGEqKrpw2.1
Meeting ID: 840 9190 6758
Passcode: 022695
- ICEB Mid-Term Executive Committee Meeting, Sunday 9-Thursday 13 August, 9:00 PM-Midnight: Information and registration
The ICEB Mid-Term Executive Committee meeting will take place virtually on Zoom over five days, from Sunday, August 9th to Thursday, August 13th.
Each day’s proceedings will run from 20:00 to 23:00 UTC, with a 10-minute break midway through the agenda.
Interested observers, including individuals and organisational representatives, are welcome to attend. Observers may be invited to speak if time permits, but they do not have voting rights.
Please register here to attend any or all sessions.
Registration and meeting materials:
Please register by July 31st so that relevant materials can be sent to you in advance. Registrations received after July 31st are still welcome; however, meeting documentation cannot be guaranteed for late registrations.
You can download the agenda for the five days of the meeting in various formats below.
ICEB Executive Committee Mid-term Agenda 2026 (PDF)
ICEB Executive Committee Mid-term Agenda 2026 (Microsoft Word)
ICEB Executive Committee Mid-term Agenda 2026 (BRF)
Further information:
If you have any questions, or require further information, please email [email protected]
- Job Vacancy: Alternative Formats Manager, Glasgow University, Deadline 28 July
The Alternative Formats Service Manager will lead the Alternative Formats Team and Service and will strive to deliver an outstanding student experience, supporting a whole university approach to accessibility. The post-holder will provide operational management and expert knowledge regarding accessibility of teaching materials, texts and assessment materials.
The role will involve managing a team of Alternative Format Officers to deliver support to disabled students and ensure that the service provision of physical and digital accessible materials meet and exceed, where possible, statutory requirements. The post-holder will act as a leading advocate in the promotion of inclusivity and accessibility and ensure promotion and implementation across the University. They will also lead in the evaluation and, where appropriate, the deployment of innovative solutions to accessibility within teaching and learning.
- Braille Layout Survey from A2I Transcription
From A2I:
We’d love your thoughts about Braille documents.
We’re exploring people’s preferences when it comes to Braille layouts and how we can make Braille documents even easier to read and navigate.
Your feedback will help shape the future of accessible information.
Your input plays an important role in helping us improve the Braille documents we produce and ensure they meet the needs of the people who use them.
Please click the link below to take part in our short survey (around 5 minutes) and tell us what you think.
Thank you for taking the time to share your views. We really appreciate your feedback.
- Take WebAIM’s Screen Reader Survey, Deadline 31 August
WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey #11 is now open, and we encourage all screen reader users to take it.
Though not strictly a braille survey, there are opportunities to indicate on the survey whether you use a braille display with your screen reader, and this is important data to collect.
WebAIM’s User Surveys are widely used across the web accessibility field to inform development decisions and track trends over time.
- Closes: 31 August 2026
- Duration: Approximately 5–10 minutes
- Results published: September 2026
- The Braille Monitor: Now In eBraille
The Braille Monitor, the flagship publication of the National Federation of the Blind, NFB, is now available in the new eBraille format. Three issues are available so far.Read the Braille Monitor
- From Eyes On Success: Braille Blooms with New Tech from Perkins
eyes On Success:
2626 Braille Blooms with New Tech from Perkins (Jul. 1, 2026)
Show Notes
TranscriptThe Perkins Brailler is getting a digital upgrade that helps blind students transition into STEM careers and access online content. This budget-friendly tool translates mechanical typing into digital text. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim Charlson and Megan Gagne about how the Braille Bloom brings paper braille into the modern digital age.
You can download the episode from the link above or subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts if you don’t want to miss an episode. You can also listen on your smart home device by saying “play the Eyes On Success podcast”.
Eyes On success is now also available on YouTube at:
www.youtube.com/@eyesonsuccess Enjoy and help promote the show by sharing with a friend!
- From the EBU Braille Working Group: Recording: Table talk Extra 1, Braille at Sightcity
Did you miss the chance to visit SightCity this May or our June Table Talk about braille related technology news from Frankfurt? Do not worry – we are bringing a little piece of the exhibition atmosphere to you.
Check our livingbraille portal and the article Expert Table Talk Series on Braille Displays: Table talk Extra 1, Braille at Sightcity.
In the article, there is short description of the discussion and link to our recorded session on Livingbraille YouTube Channel. We wish you a very nice summer time.
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.