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:
Have you ever downloaded a book from Bookshare or Reading Services, but struggled to extract the zip file? Have you ever had a BRF file emailed to you, but not been able to copy it to your braille display? Does your braille display only support text or BRF files, but you want to read Word or PDF files on it?
If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, our Masterclass on Tuesday is for you!
Matthew Horspool will be in the presenter’s chair and he will take us step by step through extracting zip files, converting files from one format to another, and copying files from your computer to your braille display. Demonstrations using a screen reader will form an integral part of the presentation, and as ever there will be plenty of time for your questions at the end.
N.B. most of the demos will be carried out on Windows, but the concepts discussed should apply equally to other operating systems.
Register for the Masterclass here.
To join by phone, please use these details:
The topic for the September 14, 2023, Many Faces of BARD program will be Using Your Braille Display to Read Braille BARD Books on Your iPhone. The program will begin at 7:00 p.m. eastern time and last for one hour. This program will be recorded.
For this session, Judy Dixon will demonstrate how to access BARD braille books located on your iPhone and read them with your braille display. Note that information in this session will apply to any braille display including the NLS Braille eReader. After the demonstration, Judy and the rest of the NLS staff will take questions about the demonstration or anything else relating to BARD.
For further information, please visit Many Faces of BARD.
Online delivery – £50 for all three or £20 each
5 September 2023, 3.30-4.30pm (Collaborate)
Let’s visit the landmarks of UEB! We can float in the sea of Letters Written Individually, cross the UEB Bridge, and take a short walk through the newly landscaped Garden of Shortforms. Come along on this fascinating road trip! Kyle will look at writing letters individually, bridging, new shortforms plus common errors.
Target Audience: (Q)TVIs, Support Assistants, Transcribers. Some knowledge of braille required.
Presenter Kyle de Jute, APH
26 September 2023, 3.30-4.30pm (Collaborate)
We will “pack our bags” with references and practice material for an exploration of rules of UEB that are particularly important to mathematics and science. On this particular “hike,” we will focus on Algebra and Geometry (high-school maths). Kyle will explore updates to Unified English Braille Guidelines for Technical Material, braille grouping indicators, fractions, specific symbols and common errors.
Target Audience: (Q)TVIs, Support Assistants, Transcribers. Some knowledge of braille required.
Presenter Kyle de Jute, APH
31 October 2023, 3.30-4.30pm (Collaborate)
What are some ways to get from point P (a print document) to point B (a braille file)? We will discuss some of the available paths and how they differ. We will also point out some “shortcuts” that might speed up the process of going from PDF to BRF. Lastly, we will practice using the braille transcription software Duxbury Braille Translator. If you can, please have Duxbury Braille Translator open and ready for you to use in this session.
Target Audience: (Q)TVIs, Support Assistants, Transcribers. Some knowledge of braille required
Presenter Kyle de Jute, APH
Ahead of World Blind Awareness Month this October and in response to global demand, the LEGO Group announces LEGO® braille bricks are available to purchase for the first time through LEGO.com.
The new product – LEGO® Braille Bricks – Play with Braille – is aimed at kids aged 6+ and has been designed so that anyone who is curious about braille, be they blind, partially-sighted or sighted, can have fun getting to know the braille system at home with their family members in a playful, inclusive way.
LEGO Braille Bricks – Play with Braille includes 287 bricks in five colours: white, yellow, green, red and blue. All bricks are fully compatible with other LEGO products and the studs on each brick are arranged to correspond to the numbers and letters in the braille system, with the printed version of the symbol or letter situated below the studs.
The set also includes two baseplates to build on and comes in packaging with braille embossing. To enhance the play experience and support pre-braille skill development, a series of supporting play starters are available on LEGO.com and will teach players how to orient, attach and stack the bricks through well-loved games such as Rock, Paper, Scissors, which all members of the family can take part in.
With its ongoing commitment to make its play experiences more inclusive, the LEGO Group has also partnered with the free mobile app Be My Eyes. The popular app connects blind and partially sighted people with companies to help with everyday tasks through a live video call. As part of the partnership, LEGO Customer Service colleagues will provide confidential, live visual assistance through the app covering support from a wide range of topics from unboxing, to general product support.
The LEGO Group is also pleased to announce that LEGO® Audio & Braille Building Instructions will now become a permanent offering. Inspired and co-developed by entrepreneur Matthew Shifrin who is blind, this experience gives builders the option of having select LEGO building instructions available as audio or text for braille readers.
The full press statement is available online.
You can purchase the braille bricks for £79.99.
A braille reading device creator has been given a £60,000 prize in a surprise presentation by cricketer Stuart Broad MBE.
England bowler Broad, who retired in July, visited Bristol Braille Technology (BBT) after the firm won the Sage Small Business XI competition.
The not-for-profit company create Canutes, e-readers that help those with visual impairments enjoy sport.
Thank you very much for publicising the braille labelling on food products message.
If braillist foundation members do not wish to participate in the Disability Equality Scotland poll, would they kindly consider signing and sharing, as widely as possible, the on line Scottish Parliamentary petition
With sincere thanks,
Marie Harrower.
Movement For Good are running prize draws of £1,000, and the Braillists Foundation is eligible to enter! We need as many nominations as possible from the community to maximise our chances of winning, so we would really appreciate it if you could take 30 seconds to fill in the form at this link:
Nominate the Braillists for a £1,000 Prize Draw
If successful, we will use the funds to help promote our services to people who do not have access to the internet, by delivering resources on SD cards and USB sticks.
Thank you for your help!
The Braillists Foundation will be closed between Thursday 27 July and Tuesday 5 September 2023. We will answer all enquiries on our return.
New College Worcester is a nationally regarded non-maintained residential special school, devoted to the education of children and young people who have a severe sight impairment aged 11 – 19.
We are seeking to appoint a teacher of Braille, which is a crucial role within this setting.
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.
TEACHER OF BRAILLE, 0.6fte (AC234/0923)
Grade: UQT 1-6 (depending on experience) £19,340 – £30,172
Pro rata salary (0.6/3days equivalent) £11,606 – £18,103
Are you passionate about Braille – both for yourself and teaching it to people who are both vision-impaired and fully sighted? Are you able to talk about the importance of Braille to parents and professionals? Do you have ideas for promoting Braille both internally and to the wider community? Can you rise to challenges and think on your feet and out of the box? If your answer to these questions is “Yes”, you might be the person New College Worcester is looking for.
We are looking for a Braille instructor to assist the Head of Braille in teaching and promoting Braille and the development of new resources. A thorough knowledge of the Literary Unified English Braille code is essential; knowledge of other codes would be advantageous.
NCW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is conditional on an enhanced DBS clearance and Registration, satisfactory and verified references, medical clearance and a six-month probationary period. NCW is an Equal Opportunities employer.
Full details and application form can be downloaded from NCW’s website (www.ncw.co.uk/vacancies) or telephone 01905 763933 for details. Interested candidates are welcome to visit College, or speak with Head of Braille ([email protected]) or SL: VI Education ([email protected]). Candidates must complete an NCW application form, CVs alone will not be accepted.
CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 09.00 on Monday 4 September 2023.
All applications will be acknowledged by email.
Candidates will be advised by pm on Friday 8 September if they have been shortlisted for interview.
