News

Hi Braillists Team,

I hope you’re well.

I’m Shahzeb, a parent of a blind child, and I wanted to share something I created after beginning my own journey of learning Braille alongside my son.

When we started, I found it difficult to find a simple and engaging online platform that we could use together. That experience inspired me to create Braille Learn UK, an online resource with interactive lessons, games and activities to make getting started with Braille a little easier.

https://braillelearn.co.uk

I really admire the work the Braillists Foundation does to promote Braille literacy, so I wondered if you would be willing to have a look at the platform.

If you feel it could be useful to your community, I would be incredibly grateful if you might consider sharing it, mentioning it in your newsletter, or including it among your Braille learning resources.

This is a personal project built from my experience as a dad, and ultimately I just want it to reach families and learners who might benefit from it.

Thank you for your time and for everything you do to promote Braille.

Best wishes,
Shahzeb
Braille Learn UK
https://braillelearn.co.uk

Posted on behalf of Adam Wilton, Saturday 22 August 2026

Dear colleagues and friends from across Canada and around the world,

Our colleague and friend, Dr. Cay Holbrook, reached the end of her journey this morning. Cay passed away peacefully with her family by her side. When Cay entered palliative care a month ago, we were not sure how much time we had. This past month has been such a gift, with Cay exuding her characteristic warmth, thoughtfulness, and courage every step of the way.

Over this time, Kim Zebehazy and I have had the great privilege of sharing countless messages of love and support from all over the world. If you sent a message, photo, or a hug along to Cay, please know that she loved and appreciated every single one. We had what we called “dispatches time” at every visit – something we all looked forward to – Cay especially.

A “Celebration of Gratitude” is planned for Tuesday, August 25, 2026 starting at 11:00 AM Pacific time (PDT) at St. David’s United Church in West Vancouver, British Columbia. There is a plan to live stream the celebration via YouTube. The link is posted below:

Dr. Cay Holbrook – Celebration of Gratitude Live Stream, August 25 at 11:00 AM Pacific

There will also be a virtual book of remembrances available via McKenzie Funeral Services. It is not yet up online, but please check back in the days ahead.

Please keep Cay and her family in your thoughts today.

We’ll miss you dearly, Cay, but are renewed in our commitment to everything you stood for, and to carrying forward your legacy in words and deeds. Always in our hearts.

On July 3, 2026, Brother Jacob Rumph, a member of the Governing Body, released the complete New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in Polish braille. The release was announced on the first day of the 2026 “Eternal Happiness” International Convention in Warsaw, Poland.

Read the full article

A recording of the launch webinar for the Global Braille survey is now available. Watch on YouTube

The Global Braille Survey recently got a mention on the Double Tap podcast. Listen to the episode

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!

Register for the Braille Bar here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtdOyopjMiHdyORwRuXacnY9IrA4lVN2Bh

Or, to join by phone, use these details:

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

Introducing

The Eye.t Braille Transcriber

Turn any inaccessible worksheet into formatted braille before your student’s next class

Hi there,

A teacher catches you in the hallway and hands you a worksheet. She needs it in braille for her student, and she needs it by tomorrow. If you have been a TVI for any length of time, you know what that costs you. Transcribing by hand takes hours, and if the page has math or tables on it, longer.

We built the Eye.t Braille Transcriber so you can say yes.

How Does It Work?

A first draft in 60 seconds. Start with a Word document, a PDF, or a photo of a printed page.

Formatting is handled. Headings, lists, and yes, even tables, all formatted to the BANA manual.

Math is recognized automatically. Nemeth or UEB Technical, one click. Spatial math too.

Edit the text or edit the braille. Your choice. Fix the text and the braille updates as you type. Or export to the Braille Editor and enter corrections with six-key entry or a braille display.

The braille matches your student. Build a Student Profile with only the contractions they have learned, and the document comes back partially contracted. Teach a new one, add it, regenerate.

Get a Trial Plus Training!

Reading about it only gets you so far. Meet the Braille Transcriber is two one-hour sessions where you’ll transcribe documents you actually need, alongside us. Bring a worksheet that has been sitting on your desk and leave with it finished.

Both sessions are recorded in case you can’t attend live, and the program carries 2 hours of ACVREP credit. The whole thing is $19. Tuition is free; the $19 covers your 30 day Eye.t Learning Portal license.

Section 1

Wednesday, September 9  ·  3:00 PM ET
Wednesday, September 16  ·  3:00 PM ET

Register for Section 1 →

Section 2

Thursday, September 10  ·  5:30 PM ET
Thursday, September 17  ·  5:30 PM ET

Register for Section 2 →

View Upcoming Cohorts

The Braille Transcriber is included with an Eye.t Instructor license, alongside the rest of the Eye.t Learning Portal. If you’d like to see the whole thing rather than just the braille tool, book a walkthrough and we’ll show you around.

Questions about any of this? Just email [email protected] and we should get back to you within 24 hours.

Happy teaching!

Cody Laplante

CEO, Eye.t Vision

Imagine entering a ZIP code or postcode and instantly generating a simple, clearly formatted tactile street map that you can explore with your fingers. Pan across the map. Zoom in and out. Find surrounding streets and intersections, and build a mental picture of your neighbourhood, your workplace, your school, or anywhere you’re planning to visit.

That experience is coming to Dot Pad.

Created by accessibility pioneer Dr. Josh Miele, Tactile Map Automated Production (TMAP) has transformed how tactile street maps can be created.

Now, through a collaboration between Josh and Dot Inc., TMAP is coming to Dot Pad — and this webinar is your first opportunity to experience it live!

Register for Navigating the World with TMAP

Join us for a webinar exploring BrailleNote evolve, the next generation Braille computer, and discover what’s new in the latest KeySoft update.

New to BrailleNote evolve? This webinar is for you too. We’ll introduce you to the evolve experience and give you the opportunity to see what makes it different and ask your questions.

Designed to support users from beginner to professional, BrailleNote evolve combines the familiar, accessible experience of KeySoft with the power of a Windows environment and NVDA. It provides a pathway to build confidence and computer literacy while giving experienced users access to the tools they need for education, work and everyday life.

Whether you already own an evolve, are considering one, or simply want to discover what the next generation of Braille computing can offer, we’d love you to join us.

Discover what’s new. Ask questions. Build your skills.

Evolve with us.

Register for Evolve With Us: Discover BrailleNote evolve

The sixth generation of the Focus Braille Display is the most powerful and reliable yet, and the new Focus 640 raises the bar for professionals, students, and power users who depend on braille access every day.

In this session, Marisa and Ian are joined by special guest Joe McDaniel from Vispero to walk through everything the Focus 640 brings to the table, from its patented seamless cell cap and redesigned braille pin assembly to its intuitive four-way D-Pad controls and expanded Scratchpad with contracted braille support. Attendees will learn how the Focus 640 connects to multiple Bluetooth devices plus USB-C, delivers extended battery runtime, and works with JAWS for combined speech and braille access including BrailleIn and Braille Study Mode.

The session will also demonstrate something braille users already know and content creators often miss: because a display renders element roles and states directly in the cells, an unlabelled button or a missing form label is immediately visible in braille even when speech output still sounds acceptable. Marisa and Ian will show what well-structured and poorly-structured content each look like on the display, giving attendees a new lens on the documents and websites their organizations produce.

Join Marisa Church and Ian Ramos from Access Ingenuity and Joe McDaniel from Vispero to learn how the Focus 640 delivers exceptional braille performance wherever you need it.

Note that everybody is welcome and can benefit from this presentation. If you are a teacher of the visually impaired (TVI), ACVREP continuing education credit is approved for this presentation.

Join Webinar

Dial By Your Location, Learning Outcomes & Full Webinar Information