News

Esteemed blind musicians

I am a blind musicologist, music educator, and performer writing to you from Edinburgh. I am here as a guest of the University of Edinburgh to assess the challenges visually impaired musicians encounter when using Braille notation and audio technologies during their secondary and high school education, and to develop scientifically grounded solutions from the perspective of a blind expert.

The title of my research is: “Exploring the Functionalities of Braille and Audio Technologies in the Listening, Tactile Exploration, and Interpretation Practices of Visually Impaired Musicians: An Experimental Study.” This project is hosted by the Moray House School of Education and Sport at the University of Edinburgh and is supported by a nine-month scholarship from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey.

The project is under the guidance of Prof. Dr. John Ravenscroft, whose expertise is invaluable to the development of the study.

I am reaching out to you through Elizabeth McCann, Teaching Fellow – Visual Impairment & VI CPD Coordinator at the Scottish Sensory Centre. Ethical approval for the project has been granted. Our aim is to reach blind and visually impaired students who are currently studying at the secondary school level in Scotland and have an interest in music, whether amateur or professional. We seek to assess their proficiency in using Braille notation and audio technologies, the challenges they face, the competence of their teachers in supporting them, and the current state of inclusive education for blind students in both mainstream and specialized schools.

The more blind and visually impaired young musicians we can engage with, the greater the success and impact of this project. However, I would like to clarify that our focus is specifically on the challenges that blind and visually impaired students encounter in participating in music education within general middle or high schools. More specifically, we aim to explore how a blind student in high school learns in music lessons with the aid of Braille notation and audio technologies, how they communicate what they have learned, what fundamental difficulties they face in learning musical instruments, whether there are specific issues that need to be discussed in relation to musical genres, what their needs are in gaining sufficient knowledge and experience in solfège, harmony, counterpoint, and choral studies, and what challenges they encounter in becoming successful musicians in stage performances.

To ensure that the project proceeds on a scientifically sound basis, we seek to engage with blind and visually impaired students aged 11-18, as well as their teachers and parents, through a series of academic activities, including surveys, in-depth interviews, and observations. Specifically, we wish to evaluate:

1. The teacher’s sensitivity to the challenges faced by blind students and their problem-solving abilities;
2. The student’s approach to using Braille and audio technologies, and the teacher’s guiding attitude in addressing these challenges.

Your insights, perspectives, and recommendations would be incredibly valuable to us as we move forward with this research. I am eager to meet with you and the blind and visually impaired musicians you may recommend, as well as their teachers and parents, in order to begin this important project.

Kind regards,
Assist Prof. Dr. Yusuf Dumlupınar

2219 International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Programme for Turkish Citizens

RESEARCH PROPOSAL FORM

The proposal form should not exceed 5 (five) pages and expected to be prepared in Arial 11 font. Form must fill in taking into account the explanations given under each topic. Instructions, which colored in gray for the proposal form, should be deleted.

Name of the Researcher (Fellow): Yusuf Dumlupınar

Name of the Research: Exploring the Functionalities of Braille and Audio Technologies in the Listening, Tactile Exploration, and Interpretation Practices of Visually Impaired Musicians: An Experimental Study

Name of the Host: John Ravenscroft

Host Institution: The University of Edinburgh

Date: 22.07.2024

SUMMARY OF THE RESEARCH PLAN PROPOSAL

This research aims to evaluate the potential of Braille notation and audio technologies in facilitating the effective participation of visually impaired musicians in daily life activities. The primary objective is to examine in-depth the opportunities these technologies can provide in music education and to understand the challenges faced, particularly focusing on the roles of Braille notation and audio technologies in the learning processes.

It has been observed that Braille notation can slow down the learning process for some visually impaired musicians and may hinder active participation in mixed classroom environments. However, this notation is regarded as an indispensable part of the musical identity for blind and visually impaired musicians.

In this context, updating Braille notation to facilitate easier access to information and integrating it with new audio technologies is believed to make it a more effective and comprehensive tool in music education.

During the research process, both quantitative (surveys, tests) and qualitative (in-depth interviews, focus groups) data collection methods will be used to evaluate the daily life activities and learning processes of visually impaired musicians in a multifaceted manner. This data will be collected and analysed in collaboration with visually impaired students studying music at leading middle and high schools in the Scotland. The findings will provide a crucial foundation for assessing the effectiveness of current practices and developing innovative solutions in music education.

The results of the research could highlight the potential of Braille notation and audio technologies in supporting the musical abilities of visually impaired musicians, thereby having a profound impact on educational policies and practices. This study aims to make a significant contribution to the scientific literature by providing a resource for visually impaired individuals in the field of music education through an interdisciplinary approach.

Keywords: • Musical Experience • Visually Impaired Individuals • Braille Notation • Audio Technologies • Music Education

Happy new year from the International Council on English Braille (ICEB).

As we join with the global Braille community in marking the 200th anniversary of the invention of the Braille code we are excited to announce the first in a series of online town hall meetings, where you can find out more about our work and meet our team.

Our first event is taking place at 20:00 UTC on Thursday January 30th, and, at that event, we’ll be telling you all about the 3rd edition of the rules of Unified English Braille, which we launched last month.

This comprehensive reference is a must for transcribers, teachers and Braille users alike, so why not join us and find out more about the rulebook, what it contains, and, who knows, you might even learn some fun facts about how it was put together!

Please register here to join us for this first session. We look forward to your company.

World Braille Day means a lot to us at VICTA, even more so as 2025 celebrates 200 years of Braille. Help us celebrate and shine the spotlight on this life-changing system of dots by entering the VICTA Braille Art Competition 2025.

Who can enter?

The competition is open to VI children and young adults from 0 to 29 years. There are different age categories to enter into with different themes, a category for school entries, and amazing prizes up-for-grabs, so it’s time to get creative!

Category 1, open to 0 to 10 years

Braille your name

Find a unique way to represent your name in Braille. Previous entries have used everything from cupcakes to footballs!

Category 2, open to 10 to 29 years

Change and adapt

Create a piece of Braille art on the theme “Change and Adapt”, this year’s topic for British Science Week. Be as creative as you like!

New for this year! Category 3, open to 10 to 29 years: Take up Clarke’s Braille challenge!

VICTA Patron Clarke Reynolds is a blind artist who LOVES braille! This year he has set you a special challenge, create a piece of braille art themed around the word “Love”. Watch the video on YouTube to find out more.

Would your VI organisation or school like to take part?

We are welcoming group entries from VI organisations or schools and colleges. Groups and schools can enter all three categories.

In need of some inspiration?

Check out last year’s gallery of entries to get some ideas!

The competition closes on 31 January, so why not give it a go this weekend?

For all the details on the categories, prizes, competition terms and information on how to enter, visit this link. We can’t wait to explore your creations along with our judge, Blind Braille Artist and VICTA patron, Clarke Reynolds!

We are pausing our regular Tuesday evening schedule throughout January to pilot a brand new format: Braillecast Live. We will be recording interviews for publication on our Braillecast podcast, and giving you the audience the opportunity to ask some of the questions.

This week, meet Graham Longley from Aspire Consultancy. We will be finding out more about the business and how they are supporting the Orbit family of braille products in the UK.

Please note: this event begins at the slightly earlier time of 7:00 PM.

Register for Braillecast Live.

To join by phone, please use these details:

• Phone number: 0131 460 1196
• Meeting ID: 859 7317 7463
• Passcode: 123456

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to really see the world differently? The HumanWare team is excited to unveil our newest project: See Things Differently with HumanWare, a podcast dedicated to exploring the world of blindness and low vision.

Each month, charismatic show hosts Peter Tucic and Rachel Ramos deliver story-driven content based on human-interest. Listeners will be able to access truly engaging conversations with captivating guests, including HumanWare’s own team members and partners in the blindness and low-vision space.

What to expect

Each episode will offer a blend of insightful and entertaining content, including featured guest interviews with inspiring stories and fresh perspectives, conversations with partners who make an impact in their communities, lively debates on trending issues in blindness and low vision, practical advice to simplify and improve life, and, of course, a Cringe/Funny Story of the Month—because we all enjoy a good laugh, even at our own expense!

Mark your calendars!

The first episode of See Things Differently with HumanWare drops on Thursday, January 16, 2025, and will be available on all major podcast platforms. New episodes will be released on the third Thursday of every month.

Why you’ll love it

Whether you’re part of the blind and low-vision community, a tech enthusiast, or someone who simply loves a good story, our podcast has something for everyone.

Expect friendly banter, expert insights, and moments that will make you laugh, think, and connect.

In celebration of 200 years of the braille code, and following the immense success of our first ever World Braille Day conference, we’re keeping the momentum going throughout January, which is observed in some countries as Braille Literacy Month.

In place of our regular Tuesday evening schedule, we are piloting a brand new format: Braillecast Live. Each Tuesday in January, we will be recording three interviews for publication on our Braillecast podcast, and giving you the audience the opportunity to ask some of the questions.

The interviews will centre around braille technology, giving you the opportunity to engage directly with manufacturers and distributors from the UK and further afield.

Each event will start at the slightly earlier time of 7:00 PM and will end at the much later time of 9:30 PM, ensuring we have enough time to interview each of our guests in our usual thorough but relaxed manner. You are welcome to either join us for the whole event, or drop in and out throughout the evening.

In our first event, taking place on Tuesday 14 January, we will hear from:

• Sight and Sound Technology (7:00 PM)
• Paige Braille (7:50 PM)
• Bristol Braille Technology CIC (8:40 PM)

Register for Braillecast Live.

To join by phone, please use these details:

• Phone number: 0131 460 1196
• Meeting ID: 859 7317 7463
• Passcode: 123456

Robert Bolick has been collecting artists’ books since 2012. His collection ‘Books on Books’ contains over 1200 items, and a selection of over 150 works featured in an exhibition curated by Robert, Alphabets Alive! which toured from July 2023 to January 2024.

He has recently procured a new book from artist Masoumeh Mohtadi, which modifies and transcribes into braille the Persian fable called “The Little Black Fish” to teach the reader how to make an origami fish. He is working with MyVision Oxfordshire and Oxford University to run a workshop to enable blind people to handle and explore the book for themselves.

The workshop will be taking place on Tuesday 21 January, 2:00 PM-3:00 PM at:

Weston Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG

Attendance is free and lunch will be provided beforehand.

Please register your attendance in advance by emailing Nathan Tree, Community Engagement Lead for MyVision Oxfordshire, on [email protected]

Without the generous support of our sponsors, it would have been extremely challenging to plan the World Braille Day conference. We extend our thanks to them all for their support of this event, and we are looking forward to seeing many of them in person tomorrow.

AccessMind

AccessMind is a new enterprise founded by Orbit Research and a team comprising Adi Kushnir and Avi Mann, with a mission to transform the Assistive Technology industry by bringing the benefits of mainstream technologies to products for people who are blind or visually impaired. Their primary product is the Optima, a braille laptop computer which combines the functionality of a braille display with mainstream computing technology.

The optima is designed to be modular, offering consumers the chance to choose from different types of braille cells, laptop processers, memory, and storage, so that they can purchase a product that meets their specific needs.

You can listen to the team behind the Optima discuss the product and their hopes for it on this episode of TechTalk, which was recorded in 2023.

All Formats

All Formats has been producing Braille, large print, audio and accessible digital information for 30 years. If you are someone who receives bills, bank statements, or other documents through the post, it’s possible that you’ve benefited from the transcription service offered by All Formats without even knowing it. All Formats believes in ensuring that everyone has access to the information they need, and they work to the highest standards to ensure that the braille you receive will be clear and perfectly matches the print copy.

All Formats is a not-for-profit company owned by Queen Alexandra Charity with roots tracing back through Birmingham Royal Institute for the Blind, established 1848; the opening of a school for blind and partially sighted children and the continuous teaching of Braille to the present day. The expertise of the All Formats team, combined with their links to the college, means they truly understand how critical it is that blind people are given access to information.

If you’re wondering just how much they celebrate braille, you can read this blog post by Paul, an All Formats staff member who is also blind, talking about how braille has had a positive impact on his life.

Email: [email protected]

Aspire Consultancy

Aspire Consultancy is an independent company which provides training and advice on assistive technology for blind and visually impaired people. They work with private clients and individuals, as well as businesses and education providers across the UK.

Aspire Consultancy are UK distributors for the orbit research family of products. Orbit Research is a company that develops innovative and affordable braille and tactile products designed to enhance accessibility for people who are blind or visually impaired. Orbit products are known for being cost effective when compared with more traditional braille products. Their products are robust and designed to withstand frequent use, and they focus on creating user friendly interfaces that work across multiple languages.

Their line-up includes products for both reading and writing braille, viewing tactile graphics, and establishing communication between braille and non-braille users.

Beyond braille, Aspire Consultancy sells many other interesting products, such as white canes, magnifiers, and media players.

Bristol Braille Technology CIC

In 2011, Bristol Braille Technology CIC decided that their goal to create more affordable braille wasn’t enough. They wanted to build a multi line display that blind people could use for reading books, music, and looking at diagrams. In 2019, after many years developing the product in consultation with blind people, they launched the Canute 360. The Canute has 9 lines of 40 cells, meaning that the device gives the user a total of 360 cells of braille.

Since then they have gone on to develop the Canute Console. It has the same number of cells as the original Canute 360, however rather than being a stand-alone display, it is built on a Linux terminal. Users can create their own code to run on the device, as well as making use of existing projects, which include a city map viewer and classic games. They will be bringing the Canute Console along to the Braillists conference, and you can contact them if you would like more information.

Dot Inc.

Dot is changing the way blind people access not only braille, but tactile graphics as well. A standout product is the Dot Pad, the first smart tactile graphics display. Equipped with 300 cells in an equally spaced array, it can render both Braille text and tactile graphics in real-time, allowing users to access visual content such as maps, graphs, photos, and equations from any source. The device includes an additional 20-cell Braille display for text, enabling simultaneous interaction with text and graphics.

Dot’s technology is integrated into public transportation kiosks in Busan, Korea, enabling blind people to access essential information such as tactile maps when they are travelling in the city. It’s one of the most interesting new developments in tactile navigation, as it works alongside a custom-built navigation app, that blind people can use to find the accessible kiosks within the station. Once there, a destination can be selected and then explored on the Dot Pad. Having on-demand access to tactile maps would certainly have an impact on how many blind people travel.

HumanWare

Most braille users will have come across a HumanWare product at one time or another. Whether you used an early 2000s BrailleNote, or have just got your hands on the latest Brailliant, HumanWare braille is a part of many of our lives.

Since 1988, HumanWare has developed over 50 different products that have benefited the lives of blind and visually impaired people. Their products are used in classrooms, workplaces, in the home, and on the move.

Their latest offering is Monarch, a multi-line dynamic Braille display that renders both Braille and tactile graphics simultaneously. Whether you want to zoom in and out of a map or read a book you can do it with 10 lines of 32 cells.

Index Braille AB

Index Braille is the world market leader when it comes to Braille embosser production. By continuously raising the technical level, Index Braille has made braille more accessible for people worldwide.

One thing you might not know about Index is that they are committed to having a positive impact on the environment, and reducing any environmental harm that arises from producing their devices. Their electricity comes from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and water. They also commit to being absolutely sure that all of their electricity is fossil-free at all times.

In 1984, Index started out as a business ran from a garage. In 2016, they released the V5 line of products, which includes user-friendly features like remote support and a web interface, as well as WiFi and Bluetooth. They continually work with their users to create products that have a positive impact, not only on braille readers, but on the world around us.

Paige Braille

If you’ve ever thought it would be cool if you could use your Perkins in conjunction with the technology that you own, now you can. Paige Connect is an affordable adaptation for your classic braille writer that connects it wirelessly to any phone, tablet or laptop for instant braille translation and gamified learning. The Paige Connect board is posted to you in a package that fits through your letterbox and simply replaces the base of your braille writer to transform it into a Bluetooth keyboard. This makes it compatible with any software that accepts SDFJKL braille input.

It’s perfect for braille learners and the team behind the Paige Connect made sure they worked with blind students to create a product that would be genuinely useful. A blind person can write on their Perkins, contributing to a collaborative document that sighted students are also working on.

If you’re curious about how you might use the Paige Connect, you can book an online demo at paigebraille.com/buy

Sight and Sound Technology

Sight and Sound Technology is the leading supplier of assistive technology in the UK and Ireland. They offer assistive technology training as well as selling a variety of products, including popular software such as JAWS. They sell a wide variety of braille displays, including the Focus product line, the BrailleSense and Braille EMotion, as well as the Paige Connect and the Canute. Sight and Sound works with over 35000 customers, supporting them to access life-changing technology.

Sight and Sound Technology keeps the community up-to-date with assistive technology through their webinars and podcasts, which are all made available on their website.

Thomas Pocklington Trust

Thomas Pocklington Trust strives for equality of blind and partially sighted people in every aspect of society. Over half of their staff are blind or partially sighted, and they work directly with the community to ensure that everyone’s views are heard and represented. They are committed to making a genuine difference to the lives of blind people, and a project which has made a significant impact is their Get Set Progress internships. They work with partner organisations to offer nine month paid internships to blind and partially sighted people who may either be looking to get on the career ladder for the first time, or who are wanting to return to work after a break.

They also work with blind and partially sighted students to ensure that they receive access to an equitable education. Students can get in contact with the Student Support Service if they are experiencing any barriers that are preventing them from fully accessing their education. As well as this, Thomas Pocklington Trust supports those who are working with blind students, to make sure they have all of the necessary resources so that their students can thrive.

Have you ever wondered if a blind person could deliver audio description, as well as benefiting from it? Eleanor Stollery tried, and she found that by using braille, it was more than possible.

At 13, Eleanor Stollery has already performed on the West End and presented the audio description for a play to over 70 blind and visually impaired children. After this ground-breaking achievement, Eleanor said “It was amazing being given the opportunity to do something that has never been done before and that the team felt that they could put their trust in me to deliver. With the right help anything is possible.” Trying new things and making them possible seems to be a feature of Eleanor’s career so far.

Eleanor was only 8 years old when she made her theatre debut, playing the part of Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol. She has since gone on to voice the character of Lark in the popular Channel 5 animated series Milo. The show was shortlisted for best pre-school programme at the 2022 Broadcast Awards. Most recently, she was featured in >My Life: How I See It, a CBBC documentary which followed her journey to audio describe a live show at the National Theatre. Eleanor voiced the audio description for her documentary, as well as making sure it was fun for the young audience it was aimed at.

Not only does Eleanor perform, she also advocates for better access to the arts for all blind people. In a 2022 interview, Eleanor explained that few live shows are accessible when you are blind, and if you need audio description, you may only have the option of attending a single performance a year. Eleanor also explained that braille is a critical part of her work. She uses it to learn scripts and to read her lines, she used it when delivering audio description, and she also writes stories when she needs some time to herself. Eleanor’s choice to speak out and be honest about the ways in which the arts both enriches the lives of blind people as well as failing us is so important. It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that some access is good enough, whereas she has made it clear that whilst audio description is wonderful, we need more of it if we are going to have an equitable experience.

We can’t wait to meet Eleanor tomorrow and to hear her story. It is always such a pleasure to connect with young braille users, especially those who are using it to do such interesting things.

Eleanor shares her journey as an actor, as well as updating people on her ongoing medical treatment for a brain tumour, on her website: eleanorsvoice.com.

New College Worcester has a proud tradition of teaching braille to generations of blind people including many famous alumni. In 1866, Worcester College for the Blind Sons of Gentleman was founded, and so began high quality secondary education for blind boys in England. But what about the girls? In 1921, Chorleywood College for girls with little or no sight opened, and finally young girls who were blind could receive an equal education. In 1987 the two schools merged, becoming the New College Worcester that we know today.

To celebrate 150 years of New College, 150 wonderful memories were gathered. These included stories from those who are currently working or studying at NCW, as well as stories from those who have left. Interesting accounts were taken from newsletters and memoirs from much further back, and all together it provides a wonderful look back at such a unique place.

Although many things have changed over the years, braille is still a big part of the lives of the young blind students. They are taught to read and write braille as well as how to combine it with technology like braille displays so that they are able to learn in all environments. Recently, the students and staff worked together to produce a video celebrating 200 years of braille, and what it means to them.

One former student you are bound to know is Peter White, BBC journalist and presenter of In Touch. In a wonderful interview conducted by Harriet Smith (another former student) Peter opened up about his career and the role braille has played in it, as well as the most difficult people he has interviewed!

Peter went back to New College for BBC’s the One Show, speaking about his time there, including how he ruffled some feathers with a rather political school magazine.

We are so pleased to be hosting our first ever conference at a place that genuinely values braille. Whether it is making sure that students have the opportunity to learn the code, or by providing eager readers with a seemingly endless supply of library books, New College Worcester shows us that whilst many things may change, a love of braille endures.