Author: Matthew Horspool

The Royal National College for the Blind, Hereford are currently recruiting a Perkins Brailler Repair Technician. You can find further information on the RNC Job Opportunities page.

Closing date: Wednesday 19 June.

“Touch the future”

Braille Literacy Canada (BLC) will hold its fourth annual virtual braille symposium on Friday, June 14, 2024 from 1 – 5 PM EDT (10am-2pm Pacific/11am-3pm Mountain/Saskatchewan, 12pm-4pm Central, 2pm-6pm Atlantic, 5pm-9pm UTC).

The schedule of events is as follows

• 1:00pm EDT: Teaching Braille to Adults: Beyond Just Knowing the Code (Jennifer Ottowitz, CVRT, National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision)
• 2:00pm EDT: Where are We Now? An Update on the Monarch Dynamic Braille and Tactile Graphics Display (Peter Tucic, Humanware)
• 3:00 pm EDT: What’s the Problem with Pre-Braille? Re-Visiting Early braille literacy (Adam Wilton, Ph..D, Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired)
• 4:00pm EDT: Braille Music – using technology, how do we learn it, how do we find resources? (Jordie Howell, Vision Australia, International Council on English Braille)

Each presentation will be approximately 30 minutes long, followed by a 15 minute question-and-answer period, and then a 15 minute intermission. More information on our exciting line up of speakers will be provided soon!

Stay tuned – a presentation in French will also be announced shortly!

Thank you to our incredible sponsor!

We would like to take a moment to thank our sponsor, Humanware, who through their generous support, are helping to make this event a true success, including by donating an incredible door prize!

Registration

Registration will close on June 11th, 2024. Live automatic captioning will be provided for the presentations through Zoom, and written transcripts of the presentations will be made available after the event. Once you have submitted your registration, your request will be reviewed and a Zoom link will be e-mailed to you within a few days. Email any questions you have to [email protected].

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

This event is open to anyone in Canada and internationally with an interest in braille. It is free of charge to members of Braille Literacy Canada (or members of organizations who are corporate members of BLC) and $20.00 for non-members. Interested in becoming a BLC member? Annual membership (open to all Canadians) is $20 – check out our membership section (https://www.brailleliteracycanada.ca/en/membership) for more information

Presentation Information and Speaker Bios

Teaching Braille to Adults: Beyond Just Knowing the Code

Speaker: Jennifer Ottowitz, CVRT
Time: 1 PM Eastern

Adults of all ages who are blind or have low vision may benefit from learning braille. In addition to goals for using braille for extensive reading, even learning a few symbols can result in increased independence with identifying items or increased socialization through playing games. Whatever the braille goal, effective instruction involves more than just teaching the braille code. How do you get started and what approaches work best? Discover how to incorporate adult learning theory into assessment and instruction to make learning more meaningful and relevant. Information will be shared about a free resource that provides strategies and suggestions for how to approach braille learning with adults, how to use assessment and instructional strategies for reading and writing braille, and how to keep learners motivated. Customizing instruction for individuals with unique learning needs and additional comorbidities will also be discussed.

Objectives:

• Identify how to positively address misconceptions about learning braille.
• Explain how adult learning theory can be incorporated into braille assessment and instruction.
• Describe the Teaching Braille to Adults course offered by the National Research and Training Center On Blindness and Low Vision.

Bio:

Jennifer Ottowitz is a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist and Older Blind Specialist with the Older Individuals Who Are Blind Technical Assistance Center (OIB-TAC) which is part of the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision housed at Mississippi State University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Special Education for the Multiply and Orthopedically Handicapped from Kent State University and her Master of Science in Education degree in Special Education for the Visually Impaired from Northern Illinois University. She is co-editor of the Foundations of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy textbook and brings over 30 year’s experience providing direct service to adults who are blind or who have low vision. As a braille reader herself she understands firsthand the importance of braille as a tool for literacy and independence.

Where are We Now? An Update on the Monarch Dynamic Braille and Tactile Graphics Display

Speaker: Peter Tucic
Time: 2 PM Eastern

Join Peter Tucic, the Director of Strategic Partnerships at HumanWare, for a discussion on the Monarch tactile graphics and multi-line braille display. With the release being only months away, Peter will provide updates on availability, results of educational field testing and teacher trainings, and the feature set that will be ready for launch for this revolutionary device. Peter will also talk of what is to come, and will have time to answer participant questions.

Bio:

Peter Tucic graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. Peter is currently the Brand Ambassador of Blindness Products for HumanWare. He travels throughout the US and Canada, supporting teachers and students and presenting at state and national conferences. Peter has presented at such conferences as the National ACB and NFB, in addition to the CSUN and ATIA conferences amongst many others. Peter has also been published in Closing the Gap magazine and regularly creates written and video tutorials for a wide array of products.

What’s the Problem with Pre-Braille? Re-Visiting Early Braille Literacy

Speaker: Adam Wilton, Ph.D.
Time: 3 PM Eastern

This presentation looks critically at the skills and techniques generally referred to as “pre-braille” skills in the early literacy development of learners who are blind or partially sighted. We’ll look at how strategies and approaches have evolved to support the development of these skills in increasingly digital learning spaces. We’ll review the tactile strategies that are essential to early braille reading and writing and how they can be adapted for a range of learner profiles – using the Braille Bites series as a foundation. Finally, the presentation will provide a rationale and call to action for prioritizing tactile strategies for all blind and partially sighted learners. Join us for a lively discussion of tips and tricks about touch!

Bio:

Adam Wilton, PhD, is the Program Manager of the Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI) in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has been an educator for 17 years, working mostly as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and Orientation and Mobility Specialist. Adam has numerous connections to the braille world – he is a Director for Braille Literacy Canada, the Coordinator of the BC Regional Braille Challenge, and the past Chair of the Canadian Association of Educational Resource Centres for Alternate Format Materials.

Braille Music – using technology, how do we learn it, how do we find resources?

Speaker: Jordie Howell
Time: 4 PM Eastern

It is incredible to think of Louis braille, a teenager in the 1800s geeking around with dots to create what we now call braille and braille music. In addition to literary braille, Louis Braille’s system for music in braille is still the only international braille code in existence. If you borrow a braille music score in Canada, Australia, Norway or Vietnam, you will recognize the note values, time signatures and fundamental signs. Formatting differs quite drastically though.

This presentation will be split into three parts:

• Introduction: brief description of what braille music is and how does it work?
• Resources available to learn braille music: books, YouTube videos and podcasts.
  I will direct participants to some online resources in different countries to assist them to begin their journey in braille music learning.
• Demonstrations of braille music translation programs from a braille using perspective on how to convert print music into braille.
  Examples of conversions with Goodfeel, Musescore and SMB will be included as well as an overview of the DAISY Music Braille Project.

Bio:

Jordie is the Immediate Past Chair of the Australian Braille Authority, and the Australian representative to the International Council on English Braille for which she also chairs the music committee. She is a braille music transcriber for Vision Australia where she works with volunteers to convert print music to braille, as well as help develop automation processes in braille music translation. Jordie is also the music teacher with the Statewide Vision Resource Centre in Victoria where she enjoys working with children learning braille technologies along with braille music, and running professional development for teachers in braille music.

Braille music has been a vital tool in Jordie’s professional singing and teaching work.

Jordie is a classical soprano and sings professionally as a soloist and in choirs. A passionate advocate for braille and a lifelong braille user, Jordie is in her happy place when braille and music are in almost every aspect of her life.

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Braille Literacy Canada / Littératie braille Canada, founded in 1990 as the Canadian Braille Authority, is a national charitable organization dedicated to the promotion of braille as the primary medium of literacy for those who are blind or visually impaired. BLC is recognized by the International Council on English Braille as the authority for the development, adoption, and establishment of standards relating to braille in Canada. With a membership comprising organizations and individuals, educators, braille transcribers, braille producers, parents of braille users and braille users themselves, BLC represents a broad cross-section of those working with or impacted by braille and is led by a volunteer board of directors elected by the BLC membership.

Visit our web site at https://www.brailleliteracycanada.ca or join us on social media:
On X: @BrlLitCan
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrailleLiteracyCanada/
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3502741/

Save the date! Fourth Annual Braille Literacy Canada virtual Symposium!

Wherever you are located, the international braille community is strong. As we look ahead into the bright future of braille literacy, there is much to celebrate and share.

Braille Literacy Canada (BLC) will be holding its fourth annual virtual braille symposium on Friday June 14th, 2024 from 1 – 5 PM EDT. This event will be of interest to braille readers, educators, transcribers, parents and anyone else who is passionate about braille literacy!

A host of exciting and world-renowned speakers will give half hour presentations (beginning at the start of each hour) followed by time for Q&A and discussion, with exciting door prizes sprinkled throughout the day!

Last year, this international event brought together braille enthusiasts from around the world, and a line up of exceptional speakers: check out the recordings here: Braille Symposium 2023 Playlist

The symposium will be free of charge to members and $20 for non-members. Interested in becoming a BLC member? Annual membership is $20 – Write to us to learn more! [email protected]

More details on theme, registration and schedule coming soon – Mark the date in your calendars! This will be an event you will not want to miss.

Your Braille Literacy Canada team

Due to the half term holiday and the eighth General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille, the Braillists will be closed between Friday 24 May and Tuesday 4 June. There will be no Braille Bar on Tuesday 28 May and no Book Club on Thursday 30 May, and we will not be responding to emails during this time frame.

View on the NCW Website

Salary commensurate with Teacher’s Terms & Conditions, for Unqualified Teacher pay spine 1-6 (currently £20,598 – £32,134 depending on experience and skills) plus SEN allowance (minimum currently £2,539).
Full time or part time by agreement, to start September 2024.

The purpose of this exciting role is to lead on the teaching and learning of Access Technology across the College. You will lead on training staff to support the effective use of Access Technology appropriate to the needs of our students, and to advocate for the accessibility needs of students and VI staff with the NW community.

The ability to read fully contracted Braille is a requirement of the post. The role would be particularly suited to someone with lived experience of VI, especially if they are a fluent Braillist. However, it is open to anyone with the commitment to become fully competent in Braille within the first year of employment. Because of the highly specialist nature of this role, we do not expect the successful candidate to be a qualified teacher, but experience of teaching or training would be an advantage.

In return, alongside their salary, the successful applicant will be welcomed into a busy and supportive school community. The teaching of Access Technology will be one-to-one, allowing for the specialist provision and individual attention that each learner will require. Our green and peaceful campus overlooks the Malvern Hills and has an onsite canteen with discounted lunches available, a state-of-the-art multigym and a full-sized swimming pool which can be used by staff. We also offer a Wellbeing Package to all staff and free car parking.

Candidates are strongly recommended to arrange a tour of the College by emailing . Please note that we close at 16.00 on Friday 24 May for half term the following week.

Closing date: 10am on Monday 3 June 2024
Interview will take place during w/b Monday 10 June 2024

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application. All applications will be acknowledged by email, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted after the closing date.

NCW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is a regulated activity, and is conditional on two satisfactory and verified references, an enhanced DBS Clearance and Registration, a medical clearance and a six-month probationary period. NCW is an Equal Opportunities employer.

All candidates must complete an NCW application form, CVs alone will not be accepted.

NEW COLLEGE WORCESTER (NCW)

NCW is the only school of its kind in the UK. As a nationally regarded non-maintained special school, all the students here have one thing in common which is that they all have a vision impairment. Aside from that each young person is unique, individual and incredible in their own way. It is our mission to ensure that each child learning with us is able to reach their own potential, in order to leave NCW as an independent young adult in all aspects of their lives. The majority of our leavers go on to their chosen University, to further education or to apprenticeships and then on to rewarding and fulfilling careers.

A message from Nan Eshelby on our Forum:

Hello Everyone

I have a companion braille book to have alongside my Brilliant Bombus Bumblebee book suitable for age 2-4. For world bee day on 20th May I am giving the braille book away free for anyone who buys the companion book for just £5 for both. If you know anyone who might be interested do please ask them to get in touch as the offer is not on my website site yet.

Help test a new game being developed to support learning to read braille and get a £15 Amazon voucher!

“Braille pop-it” is a multisensory game designed to develop braille literacy skills in blind and partially sighted individuals.

The project, being run by the University of Lincoln, aims to create accessible child-friendly, audio-tactile Braille-reading games for visually impaired and blind individuals which aim to improve and support learning to read Braille.

The research team are looking for adults and children willing to test the game and provide them with feedback!

Your child will be given a small goodie bag containing sensory fidget toys. Goodie bags are also given to individuals who are not able to finish the experiment.

Please find two links below, one for the consent form for children and one for VI and blind individuals who are 18 years and older.

Please click on this link and complete the consent form if you are interested for your child to participate

Visually impaired and blind individuals who are 18 years and older can also participate in the game: Please click on this link and complete the consent form if you are interested.

Many braille displays include an SD or Micro SD card slot. However, when it comes to purchasing a suitable card, there are so many options! Which is best, and which work with your braille display?

In this session, we will be joined by friend of the Braillists Ben Mustill-Rose to help make sense of them. He will cover:

• Technical terms – SD, Micro SD, SD HC, SD XC and card classes
• How much capacity you need
• Card readers and adapters
• Avoiding poor quality cards
• Unpacking and setting up your new card, including formatting and write protection

Register for the Masterclass here.

To join by phone, please use these details:

• Phone number: 0131 460 1196
• Meeting ID: 894 0824 3262
• Passcode: 123456

A message from Hims, Inc.

Please consider joining us on Tuesday, May 7 at 11:00 AM (CDT) for a discussion and demonstration of the latest addition to the HIMS Braille product family – The Braille eMotion.

During this webinar, we will do a product overview and demonstration, as well as discuss how Braille eMotion is changing the modern Braille display landscape.

As usual, there will be ample opportunity for questions and interaction following the presentation.

The webinar details follow:WhenTuesday, May 7, 2024 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)TopicHIMS Braille eMotion

Use the link below to register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_q6isfNLhQ-ih1VZHjLYUuw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

We are enthusiastic about the release of the Braille eMotion, and cannot wait to share all of its perks with you!

A message from HumanWare:

While HumanWare has long provided the hardware component of braille displays, there historically has been a significant gap between our hardware offerings and screen reader manufacturers.

To close this gap, HumanWare collaborated with eye.t an organization specializing in creating learning curricula for screen readers, in a joint webinar. To watch the webinar, please click on collaborative webinar: Diving into Braille Displays.

By focusing on the effective use of screen readers in conjunction with braille displays, this partnership has enabled us to seamlessly integrate our braille hardware with screen readers, providing educators and users with improved resources.

The curriculum serves as a valuable tool for personal learning and a demonstration resource for customers.

HumanWare braille display owners get a 30% discount on eye.t learning curricula

Webinar participants were given complimentary access to a new curriculum. In addition, owners of HumanWare BI X or Mantis Q40 worldwide can take advantage of eye.t’s generous 30% discount on all curricula.

How to benefit from this offer?

To receive your 30% discount, visit eye.t Braille Display Discount Page. Once your serial number is submitted and checked by our system, you will receive your discount via email.

This initiative is another testament to HumanWare’s commitment to enhancing customer experiences by providing hardware, comprehensive support, and learning opportunities. We believe in going beyond limitations and are excited to share this valuable resource with you.