Braille Penfriends: A Message from Chris Norman at Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind

I’m trying to start a scheme at Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind to give our braille learners a real-world application for their braille. To this end, I’m writing to ask if anyone would like to be a penfriend to one (or more if you like) of our learners. I’m not 100% sure what this scheme will look like, other than that people will be matched based on their answers to the below questions, and there’s probably going to be a letter sent once a month or whatever. We’re not looking to create an environmental disaster or nations braille paper shortage here. Once matched, I’ll ask people for a postal address so that an initial letter can be sent. I’m more than happy for people to be individuals or another organisation who teach braille.

We don’t have a huge number of braillists, so there’s a possibility that this message will generate more responses than we have learners. If that happens, I’ll email people to let them know.

If you are interested, please send an email to [email protected] answering the following questions:

  • Name:
  • Age bracket (18-30, 31-50, 51-70, 71+):
  • Interests E.G.: Music, cooking, fishing, films:
  • Any other information you’d like us to know:
  • I understand that CRCB will hold this information (probably in a spread sheet or word document) for the purposes of matching me to a suitable penfriend (Y/N):
  • I understand that any future communications with that penfriend may be monitored (directly or indirectly), and I am free to terminate the communication whenever I like and am under no obligation to give a reason (Y/N):
  • I understand that any problems I have with the scheme or the person I’m pen-friending should be directed to Chris Norman on [email protected] (Y/N):

Braille Today, Two Centuries and Counting! Tuesday 30 January at 9:00 PM GMT

2024 marks the 200th anniversary of braille. To celebrate, Vispero is holding a special event to commemorate the major milestones that make up the history of braille. Join them and some very special guests as they discuss how braille is used at home, in school, and in the workplace. They will also share stories and ideas that illustrate the crucial role braille continues to play in all facets of our daily lives.

Register for Braille Today, Two Centuries and Counting!

Divide and Conquer – Exploring the Split Braille Feature on Brailliant BI X and Mantis with JAWS, Wednesday 31 January at 7:00 PM GMT

Join Elizabeth Whitaker and Rachel Buchanan from Vispero along with Andrew Flatres and Peter Tucic from HumanWare for a webinar that will delve into the all-new Split Braille feature offered in JAWS 2024.

Participants will learn how this enhancement offers the ability for a braille display user to view and control content in two screens simultaneously, greatly increasing productivity through multitasking. Ranging from analyzing font attributes alongside text in Microsoft Word documents to simultaneously viewing PowerPoint slide content and speaker notes, Split Braille can vastly improve workflows in any setting. Time will also be allotted for participant questions.

Register in advance for Divide and Conquer – Exploring the Split Braille Feature on Brailliant BI X and Mantis with JAWS

Setting Up Braille Displays on Windows and iOS, Tuesday at 7:30 PM

If you have a new braille display and you’re struggling to connect it to your computer, iPhone or iPad, or you have a new computer, iPhone or iPad and you’re struggling to connect it to your braille display, this session is for you.

We will cover:

  • The pros and cons of Bluetooth and USB
  • Pairing and unpairing your braille display via Bluetooth
  • Drivers and how to install them
  • Screen reader setup
  • Using braille without speech

The session will be presented by Matthew Horspool.

Register for the Masterclass here.

To join by phone, please use these details:

  • Phone number: 0131 460 1196
  • Meeting ID: 875 0022 0533
  • Passcode: 123456

Divide and Conquer: Overcome Challenges with Split Braille and JAWS, Thursday 18 January at 5:00 PM GMT

Celebrate US National Braille Literacy Month with Vispero as they take a deep dive into the Split Braille feature in JAWS 2024. They will take an extensive look at the new functionality it provides, plus discuss ways it can help boost productivity. Learn about practical scenarios for using it in views such as: Buffered Text
Annotations
Attribute Indicators
Speech History
Translation Split
JAWS Cursor
Window Text
Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams application-specific views

Freedom Scientific Presenters: Elizabeth Whitaker, Rachel Buchanan, and Ron Miller

ACVREP credits will be available for those who attend the live webinar.

Register for Divide and Conquer: Overcome Challenges with Split Braille and JAWS

Celebrate Braille Literacy with Focus, Thursday 11 January at 5:00 PM GMT

Information from Vispero:

Join Bill Kilroy, Ron Miller, and Shelly Klure for a webinar celebrating braille literacy month with the Focus Braille Displays. Ron Miller will demonstrate Split Braille, how to connect the braille display to a variety of devices and discuss the importance of braille literacy. Don’t miss out on this educational hour as we demonstrate live and answer your questions in real-time.

We will provide an overview of the Focus Braille Displays and show how you or your clients can benefit from the lightweight and compact design. We will demonstrate how to:

  • Connect up to five devices via Bluetooth and one with USB-C cable
  • Use the Split Braille feature
  • Improve braille literacy with a refreshable braille display
  • And much more!

ACVREP credits will be available for those who attend the live webinar.

Register for the “Celebrate Braille Literacy with Focus” webinar

The Braille You Need, When You Need It: A Special Event for World Braille Day, Thursday 4 January at 7:30 PM

Braille isn’t just for books! It can also be found on household products and signs; in restaurants, museums and theatres; and your personal and confidential documents can also be sent to you in braille. So how do you find it? Who do you ask? And if you think the braille you’ve found could be improved, how do you make your case without upsetting people?

In this special event for World Braille Day, we will be joined by a panel of braille advocates to explore these questions and more. We will examine when companies are legally required to provide braille, discuss how to encourage the provision of braille and consider how best to respond when braille is not available.

Register here.

To join by phone, please use these details:

  • Phone number: 0131 460 1196
  • Meeting ID: 894 8970 5649
  • Passcode: 123456

Braille and Breakfast from Sight and Sound Technology Ltd, Thursday 4 January at 9:30 AM

At Sight and Sound Technology, we’re passionate about Braille, the method of reading, developed by Louis Braille, almost 200 years ago.

In our work we see every day how Braille continues to revolutionise access to education, employment and a better quality of life for those who use it. We are delighted therefore to announce details of Braille and Breakfast, a very special online webinar, taking place at 09:30 am on Thursday January 4th.

Join Sight and Sound Technology’s Stuart Lawler, as he hosts a panel of Braille enthusiasts who will share their passion for the code that has changed so many lives.

If you love braille, and have your own Braille stories or comments to share, then please come along and join us for this very special celebration.

Please register here to attend this session.