From the ICEVI-WBU Global Braille Campaign: Braille as a Tool for Spatial Imagination and Structured Thinking

8 May 2026

Braille is often seen primarily as a tool for reading and writing.

But it does much more.

For blind learners, Braille is the way to see text on the page — to understand not only the words, but also how information is organized. It allows a child to discover patterns such as lines, paragraphs, columns, tables, and other meaningful formats.

By reading through touch, children develop their sense of perception. This helps them recognize shapes and spatial arrangements, first on the page and then beyond it in the physical environment. In turn, this supports spatial imagination, structured thinking, and independence in learning and orientation.

Braille is therefore not only a literacy tool. It is a foundation for understanding text, space, and the world.

Braille is more than reading and writing — it helps blind people understand structure and space, shaping how they think and engage with the world.

#Braille #Accessibility #Inclusion #InclusiveEducation #DisabilityRights #LeaveNoOneBehind

Unveiling Canute Scientific from Bristol Braille Technology, Tuesday at 7:30 PM

Join Chris Turner and Ed Rogers of Bristol Braille Technology as they lift the lid on Canute Scientific, the next generation of multi-line braille technology designed specifically for blind people working, studying or exploring Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Based on the already popular Canute Console multi-line braille workstation, but with an upgraded system board, new chassis, greater connectivity options, roadmap for future development  and a suite of custom applications designed with feedback and advice from braille readers at the forefront, BBT truly believes this is their best product to date.

IN this session, Ed and Chris will:

  • Explain how Canute Scientific came to be and who will benefit most from it
  • Describe the physical layout and appearance of Canute Scientific and how it differs from Canute Console
  • Introduce Canute Scientific’s operating system and user interface
  • Demonstrate some of the applications developed specifically for Canute Scientific
  • Outline which features will also be available to Canute Console owners
  • Explain the upgrade options available to owners of Canute Console and Canute 360

Register for Unveiling Canute Scientific

To join by phone, please use these details:

  • Phone number: 0131 460 1196
  • Meeting ID: 835 4384 4879
  • Passcode: 123456

With thanks to Bristol Braille Technology CIC for sponsoring this session.

Dot Pad X with BrailleSense, Monday 27 April at 5:00 PM

What happens when you combine the power of the BrailleSense with the revolutionary tactile graphics of Dot Pad X?

Join Dave Williams and Timothy Hornik from Dot Inc. with Jenny Axler from Selvas BLV for a special webinar to find out!

This session will share:

The work Selvas BLV has been doing to make the BrailleSense connect seamlessly with Dot Pad.

A live demonstration of Dot Pad X with BrailleSense.

Q&A with our expert panel.

Register for Dot Pad X with BrailleSense on Zoom

Tek Talk Features Orbit Research, Tuesday 28 April at 1:00 AM

Tek Talk welcomes Venkatesh Chari, President of Orbit Research, to discuss What’s New with Orbit Research including a new subsidy program.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/839935813?pwd=eXFMRHpxNnhFZlRiMHAzRWNWYXM3Zz09

Meeting ID: 839 935 813

Passcode: awz

We are proud to announce that Tek Talk Programs can now be heard on ACB Media 1. Please visit the ACB Media Network Home page at https://www.acbmedia.org/ for upcoming events.

Podcast feed

Those wishing to subscribe to past Tek Talk program archives can do so using their mobile device and podcast app of choice or using their computers and podcatcher program of choice. The link with which to subscribe follows:

https://accessibleworld.org/feed/podcast/tektalk

Presenter contact info:

Venkatesh Chari, President of Orbit Research

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 888-606-7248

Website: www.orbitresearch.com

Braille Space at Bath Spa University, Wednesday 29 April, 4:00 PM-6:00 PM

BSU are hosting one of Bristol Braille Technology’s Braille Space events. These are a series of events, usually hosted at their workshop in Bristol, where people can get their hands on equipment, try things out, bounce some ideas round with like minded folk. This one is a bit special as they’ve been working with a group of students at BSU engaged in their Creative Industries Challenge. They’ve been set the task of developing a  fun application for the Canute Scientific which introduces new users to the machine. BBT are hoping the guys will be able to show their progress so far.

To confirm attendance at Braille Space, please email: [email protected]

Invitation to Expert Table Talk on Using your Braille Display — create the content with your braille display, Wednesday 29 April at 5:00 PM

Hello Braille readers,

The Braille Working Group of the European Blind Union (EBU) has already brought to you three interesting and informative sessions of table talks on braille displays usage — Use Your Braille Display Like a Pro. You can find the articles about our first three sessions on livingbraille portal:

The articles will lead you to the YouTube recording of each session.

As announced at the beginning of the series, the last Wednesday of each month from January to April has been dedicated to expert discussions on using braille displays. Today, we invite you to the fourth and final roundtable, focused on using your braille display like a pro:

  • 📅 Wednesday, April 29, at 18:00 CET (17:00 UTC)
  • on Zoom

The topic of our fourth table talk is: Creating Content with your braille display.

  • Braille display with a braille or QWERTY keyboard? What are the pros and cons? “Playing chords” on your braille display.
  • File types on stand-alone braille display, the impact of contracted and uncontracted braille input, and what to be aware of when transferring files. Code pages versus file types and braille display capabilities.
  • Important information about braille table settings when creating the content with your braille display whether as a stand-alone device or when connected to a computer or smartphone.

A panel of experts will give short presentations and you are invited to share your experiences and ask your questions.

If you registered for our first session in January, you should have received the Zoom link by e-mail. The link remains the same for all sessions and we will send it to all participants who have already registered for previous sessions. In that case you do not need to register again.

If you did not register yet, we kindly request that you register for the table talk here: Registration form to the Expert Table Talks.

So come join us for our fourth expert table talk—and take your Braille display skill to the next level!

Braille eMotion Firmware Update: V1.5

Selvas BLV is pleased to announce this major upgrade for Braille eMotion, V1.5.

This upgrade adds the popular Braille Practice application that exists on the BrailleSense, as well as the ability to create language profiles and emboss directly from the eMotion. It also fixes issues using HID with several screen readers. JAWS key maps are also updated to reflect current functionality via HID, which will also apply to Bluetooth in the May update to JAWS.

Please find the complete list of fixes and improvements in the release note download below.

Release Note Download

Read full newsletter

Blazie Technologies Seeking Ideas for Future Online Training Sessions

Blazie Technologies is soon going to be offering free training webinars. Each webinar will provide training on various topics with the goal of making you a more proficient BT Speak or BT Braille user. Initially, this is not going to be a multi-session course. Instead, each training session will provide one lesson covering one specific topic, followed by questions from participants.

If you own a BT Speak or BT Braille, David Goldfield would be very interested to know what topics would be most helpful, interesting or relevant to you. Please email [email protected]

Thank you in advance for your input.