News

Braille Bar on Tuesday

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our Masterclass for this month has been postponed by one week and will take place next Tuesday, 24 February.

This Tuesday, join us for our popular Braille Bar at 7:30 PM. No question is too small, from kit to code – just ask and our experts will assist you!

Register for the Braille Bar here

Or, to join by phone, use these details:

  • Phone number: 0131 460 1196
  • Meeting ID: 880 3508 8878
  • Passcode: 123456

VICTA Braille Writing Competition 2026, Deadline 29 May

  • Opening Date: Monday 2 February
  • Who: 5 to 17 years
  • Closing Date: Friday 29 May

Since 1997, the CNIB has organised a Canada-wide Braille Creative Writing Contest for children and youth. This important competition celebrates braille literacy and encourages young people to flex their creative muscles while practicing their braille skills. Put the power of literacy at your fingertips!

VICTA have encouraged UK participants to get involved with this exciting competition for the past 3 years and we are delighted to share this with you once again.

Write a short story, essay, or poem on any topic or re-purpose something you’ve written for school this year to be in our prize draw for Amazon vouchers, there is a £75 and a £25 voucher up for grabs! Each piece of writing is an entry into the prize draw – the more you write, the more chances you have!

What are you waiting for?

Visit the VICTA website for more information

Introducing the BRF to eBraille Converter!

APH is excited to introduce the BRF to eBraille Converter!

 A new tool that helps bridge familiar braille workflows with the future of digital braille, the converter is one of the first practical ways many people will interact with eBraille. It takes an existing BRF file and converts it into an eBraille file that can be read, reviewed, and tested on eBraille capable devices and software. The converter analyzes spacing, indentation, page structure, and formatting patterns, then applies structure and markup so that the content can behave like a modern digital document while still respecting established braille rules. Read this article to learn more about the BRF to eBraille Converter.

Join Blazie Technologies on Facebook

From Blazie Technologies:

You’re invited to join the Blazie Technologies Facebook page to keep up with news about the BT Speak and BT Braille as well as interacting with us.

We also plan to have some exclusive content on our page, along with some other exciting opportunities. Join our page now to stay in the know.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577793659029

Invitation to a webinar about BrailleBlazer and Unified English Braille (UEB) Practice Sentences, Thursday 12 February at Midnight

From Actual Tactuals:

I thought that you might be interested to know that we are offering an informational webinar on Wednesday, February 11. This presentation will give teachers/parents an opportunity to learn what our books are like. It will allow TVIs to consider how these books can be used to increase braille literacy in their students.

Please join Actual Tactuals Braille for a Zoom Presentation on both:

BrailleBlazer  and

Unified English Braille (UEB) Practice Sentences

Q: What is BrailleBlazer?

Q: How can it help me instill a love for reading in my student? (It will!!)

Q: How can it help me? (All of the work is done for you. You don’t have to do a thing!)

BrailleBlazer has been used successfully with emergent readers, dual media students of various grade levels, and adults.

Q: What is Unified English Braille (UEB) Practice Sentences?

Q: How can it help my students improve in their reading skills and fluency, despite having some difficulty at this point?

Q: How can it help me? (All of the work is done for you. You don’t have to do a thing!)

Unified English Braille Practice Sentences has helped a various ages improve in both their reading and writing skills. It’s emphasis is on the ability to recognize and use braille contractions.

On Wednesday, February 11 the author AND a TVI who has used “BrailleBlazer” and “UEB Practice Sentences” successfully with many new braille readers, will be presenting virtually about how you can use it to teach students to read braille, and love it!

We will present information about how students respond positively to using it, diminishing fear of reading, and improving self-esteem.

Please feel free to let others (TVIs, parents, college students) know about this presentation. You will need to give them the following information:

Please send your name and email address to [email protected] if you are interested in attending this BrailleBlazer presentation. Our presentation will last approximately one hour.

It will be on Wednesday, February 11, at: 7 PM Eastern Time/4 PM Pacific Time

If you would like to get a better idea of what these two books are about, take a look at BrailleBlazer Volume 1 and Unified English Braille (UEB) Practice Sentences at: www.ActualTactuals.com.

I am hoping that you will share information about this webinar with anyone that you feel might benefit from these materials.

Prevail with Braille!

Roberta Becker
Library of Congress Certified Braille Transcriber
Teacher of Children with Visual Impairments
Actual Tactuals Braille
Website: http://www.ActualTactuals.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 516-434-1506

For Beginning Readers:
BrailleBlazer
Beginning Braille Reading
Activity Book

For braille readers having difficulty with contractions:
Unified English Braille (UEB) Practice Sentences