This reference publication covers resources for braille transcribers and teachers, covering literary braille, music, foreign language, and scientific notations. Unless otherwise indicated, items listed are not part of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) program and their listing does not imply endorsement.
Resources for Braille Transcribers
2018 Braille Formats Study Guide
National Braille Association
Familiarizes transcribers of books with the proper formatting guidelines to prepare for the formats certification test. May be purchased from https://nationalbraille.z2systems.com/np/clients/nationalbraille/product.jsp?product=21&catalogId=3& External
The ABCs of UEB: A Guide for the Transition from English Braille American Edition (EBAE) to the Rules of Unified English Braille (UEB)
Constance Risjord, Braille Authority of North America (BANA)
www.brailleauthority.org/ueb/abcs/abcs-ueb.pdf External
Outlines the major differences between English and American Braille (EBAE) and Unified English Braille.
Braille Authority of North America
https://brailleauthority.org External
The Braille Authority of North America is the governing body of braille in the United States and Canada. On their website you'll find links to download codebooks, news of changes to codes, and more.
Braille Transcription Resources
National Federation of the Blind
https://nfb.org/resources/braille-resources/braille-transcription-resources External
Names and contact information for the leading braille transcriptionist organizations in the United States.
Burns Braille Guide: A Quick Reference to Unified English Braille 2015, 2nd Edition
Mary F. Burns, American Printing House for the Blind
www.aph.org/product/burns-braille-guide-a-quick-reference-to-unified-english-braille External
Reflects the transition from English Braille American Edition (EBAE) to Unified English Braille (UEB). May be purchased from www.aph.org External.
Dancing Dots
www.dancingdots.com/main/index.htm External
Dancing Dots is a software program that develops and adapts music technology for people who are blind. Their website displays an array of services intended to assist transcribers of music braille.
Diacritics and More, 2015
National Braille Association
https://nationalbraille.z2systems.com/np/clients/nationalbraille/product.jsp?product=22&catalogId=3& External
Examines words divided into syllables, words that have diacritic markings, and other types of grammar. May be purchased from
Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics
Braille Authority of North American (BANA) and the Canadian Braille Authority, 2010
www.brailleauthority.org/tg/ External
Provides guidance on best practices and methods for the production of tactile graphics.
An Introduction to Braille Mathematics: Using UEB and the Nemeth Code
Lindy B. Walton and Barbara Taffet, Library of Congress, April 2017
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/42517frontmatterandstudytips--provisional.pdf External
Revises 1978's Introduction to Braille Mathematics. Includes modifications to the Nemeth Code due to the adoption of Unified English Braille. PDF.
Literary Braille Transcribing Course
National Federation of the Blind External
https://nfb.org/programs-services/braille-certification/literary-braille-transcribing External
Covers the braille alphabet, braille contractions, and rules for writing braille. Completion is signified by a signed certification from the Library of Congress.
Manual for Braille Transcribing "” UEB Edition, 2015
National Federation of the Blind
https://nfb.org/braille-transcribing#7 External
Assists transcribers seeking Library of Congress certification. Available in PDF and BRF.
Music Braille Code, 2015
Braille Authority of North America (BANA)
www.brailleauthority.org/music/music.html External
Explains the most recent edition of the Music Braille Code, with rules and procedures adjusted to comply with the adoption of UEB. Available in PDF and BRF.
Music Braille Transcribing Course
National Federation of the Blind
https://nfb.org/programs-services/braille-certification/music-braille-transcribing External
Teaches students to transcribe print music materials into braille. Upon completion, a student receives a Library of Congress certificate in music braille transcribing.
National Prison Braille Network
https://npbn.org/ External
A collaboration between the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and prison officials, the program trains prisoners to be braille transcribers. Prison transcribers work on text books and other educational materials for children K-12. They then leave prison able to find skilled work as a transcriber of braille.
Overview of Changes from Current Literary Braille to UEB
Braille Authority of North America, March 2013
www.brailleauthority.org/ueb/overview_changes_ebae_ueb.html External
Lists the differences between UEB and English Braille American Edition.
The Rules of Unified English Braille, 2nd Edition
International Council on English Braille, 2013
https://iceb.org/ueb.html External
Provides comprehensive rules for transcribing UEB code.
Specialist Braille Codes Explained
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/education-and-learning/braille-tactile-codes/braille-codes/specialist-braille-codes-explained/ External
Provides glossary of specialist braille codes, including chess, music, mathematics, computer, and Welsh.
Tips and Resources for Learning More about Unified English Braille
Braille Authority of North America, September 2013
www.brailleauthority.org/ueb/tips-resources.html External
Suggests ways braille readers and transcribers may begin the transition to UEB. Offers tips on how to set braille reading and writing devices to UEB.
World Braille Usage, 3rd Edition
International Council on English Braille, Perkins School for the Blind, National Library Service for the
Blind and Print Disabled, United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2013
https://www.perkins.org/resource/world-braille-usage External
Compiles braille codes for foreign languages. Available in PDF and BRF.
Resources for Teachers of Braille
Accessible Tests Services
American Printing House for the Blind
https://sites.aph.org/tests-services/ External
Works with customers on a contract basis and receives federal funds to identify and address high-priority needs of legally blind students of less than college level and their direct service providers.
Accessible Textbooks Services
American Printing House for the Blind
https://sites.aph.org/accessible-textbooks-services/ External
Produces braille, large print, and digital text books for K-12 students with visual impairment.
APH Downloadable Product Manuals
American Printing House for the Blind External
https://sites.aph.org/manuals/ External
Provides free-of-charge TXT, HTML, and BRF files of manuals for APH learning products.
Assessment of Braille Literacy Skills (ABLS): UEB and EBAE
Carol Farrenkopf, Region 4 Online Store
www.region4store.com/Catalog.aspx?catid=347927&itmid=1196188 External
Allows assessment of student progress in braille literacy. ISBN 9781937403744. May be purchased from www.region4store.com External.
Beginning with Braille: First Hand Experiences with a Balanced Approach to Literacy, 2nd Edition
Anna M. Swenson, American Printing House for the Blind
www.aph.org/product/beginning-with-braille-firsthand-experiences-with-a-balanced-approach-to-literacy External
Assists educators teaching early braille literacy to students. Updated using Unified English Braille (UEB). May be purchased from www.aph.org External.
Braille Guidelines for the Classroom Practitioner
Gwyn McCormack, Paths to Literacy, 2014
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/resource/braille-guidelines-classroom-practitioner/ External
Suggests best practices for teaching braille to children.
Braille Literacy: A Functional Approach
Diane P. Wormsley
American Printing House for the Blind
www.aph.org/product/braille-literacy-a-functional-approach External
Provides a meaning-centered approach to teaching the reading and writing of braille. May be purchased from www.aph.org. External
Braille Music Resources Updated to UEB
International Council on English Braille (ICEB)
https://iceb.org/music.html External
Lists resources for students and teachers of braille music, updated for UEB.
Braille Requisite Skills Inventory: Assessment and Planning Tool
Region 4 Online Store
https://www.region4store.com/Catalog.aspx?catid=347927 External
Provides a tool to determine if braille is an appropriate literacy medium for students with visual impairments. Includes teacher's manual and student workbook. Available in print.
Foundations of Education, Third Edition: History and Theory of Teaching Children and Youths with Visual Impairments
Editors M. Cay Halbrook, Tessa S. McCarthy, and Cheryl Kamei-Hannan, American Printing House for the Blind
www.aph.org/product/foundations-of-education-volume-i-history-and-theory-of-teaching-children-and-youths-with-visual-impairments External
www.aph.org/product/foundations-of-education-volume-ii-instructional-strategies-for-teaching-children-and-youths-with-visual-impairments External
Includes new chapters that contextualize the education of students with visual impairment to the broader context of educational theory in volume 1 and best practices and new chapters on the core curriculum in volume 2. May be purchased from
Guidelines and Games for Teaching Efficient Braille Reading
By Myrna R. Olson and Sally S. Mangold, American Printing House for the Blind
Adapts a general reading program to the needs of braille readers. Available as print. May be purchased from www.aph.org/product/guidelines-and-games-for-teaching-efficient-braille-reading External.
I-M-ABLE: Individualized Meaning-Centered Approach to Braille Literacy Education
Diane P. Wormsley, American Printing House for the Blind
Introduces instruction approach to teaching braille to children emphasizing key vocabulary words and phrases based on the child's experiences and interests. Available as paperback print, e-book (ePub and Kindle), and HTML. May be purchased through www.aph.org. External
Integrating Print and Braille: A Recipe for Literacy
Editor Sharon Maneki, National Federation of the Blind
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/books/integrating-print-braille/integratingprintandbrailletoc.html External
Assesses a student's ability to learn print, braille, or both. Includes teaching methods and case studies.
Pre-Braille Assessment
Paths to Literacy
www.pathstoliteracy.org/resource/pre-braille-assessment/ External
Helps educators evaluate the braille skills of their students.
Resources for Teachers of Braille
American Foundation for the Blind
www.afb.org/blindness-and-low-vision/braille/resources-teachers-braille External
Shares tips for promoting braille in the classroom and in the community; resources for teaching braille, learning braille, and refreshing braille skills; and links to braille vendor pages.
Sustaining Braille Proficiency
Northeast Resource Center for Vision Education (NERCVE)
https://www.nercve.org/sbp/?page=SBPonNercve External
Provides self-paced study opportunity for vision professionals to maintain literary and Nemeth braille code skills.
Teaching Braille Reading and Writing
Lucia Hasty, Perkins School for the Blind
www.perkins.org/resource/teaching-braille-reading-writing/ External
Discusses the importance of early literacy, language and concept development for children who are blind, and specific skills needed for braille literacy. Video with HTML transcript.
Teaching Tactile Graphics
Lucia Hasty, Perkins School for the Blind
www.perkins.org/resource/teaching-tactile-graphics/ External
Offers advice on teaching spatial relationships and graphic literacy to children with visual impairments. Video with HTML transcript.
When You Have a Visually Impaired Student in Your Classroom: A Guide for Teachers
Susan J. Spungin, American Printing House for the Blind
www.aph.org/product/when-you-have-a-visually-impaired-student-in-your-classroom-a-guide-for-teachers/ External
Offers advice for regular classroom teachers working with students with visual impairment. Available in print packet, HTML, PDF, ASCII, and e-book (ePub and Kindle). May be purchased through www.aph.org External.
Updated November 2023
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