Braille offers another accessibility option for readers, but what are the latest news and innovations for the system?
6 Oct 2023
Thuy On
WRITING AND PUBLISHING
‘As well as books, you can have various other materials produced in Braille, such as business cards, menus, newsletters, brochures and certificates.’ Photo: Shutterstock.
How is Braille produced and how are these tiny dots distributed throughout the community? There seems to be renewed interest in this form of communication.
There will be a new series of children’s books, funded by Vision Australia, which will be the first children’s Braille books to be sold in Australian mainstream bookstores and taught in primary schools. The books will feature both Braille and text, and tell the stories of Australians who have low vision or blindness. There have been three published so far – Surfing in the Dark, about record-holding cycling Paralympian and world champion surfer, Matt Formston, Cooking up a Storm, which focuses on Craig Shanahan, who owns and operates a café, and Dressed for Success, which tells the tale of designer Nikki Hind, who has her own fashion label, Blind Grit.
As Vision Australia says, ‘Each book in the series features an Australian role model who champions resilience and encourages inclusion to inspire all children to live the life they choose.’
A little-known service that Vision Australia also provides is its work in the Feelix Library for preschoolers. ‘Braille is stuck over the pages of actual picture books, with a clear vinyl sticker. There’s a tactile version of the story, which is hand crafted and an audio version of the story, which has been recorded in our studios and placed onto a portable audio player that the children can use independently,’ says Victoria Rogers, the coordinator of Feelix, Children and Young Adults Library Services.
Workshop events at the State Library of Victoria: (In)visible Libraries are also scheduled for later this year, seeking to illuminate how language is created for those who are blind or visually impaired. Poetry books in print and Braille will be available and visitors will be able to hear from (In)visible Libraries poets in residence for a daily poetry reading
ArtsHub asks the 125-year-old, Brisbane-based organisation, Braille House, to take us through the process of providing this particular literacy option. It offers transcription services, a library and lessons in touch reading.
What exactly is Braille?
Braille is a tactile mode of communication, a system of raised dots named after Frenchman Louis Braille (4 January 1809 – 6 January 1852). It is not considered a language so much as a code. Though the system remains largely unchanged, Braille House notes that almost two centuries after its invention, there have been innovations including ‘refreshable Braille devices, Braille computer terminals, a RoboBraille email delivery service and Nemeth Braille, a comprehensive system for mathematical and scientific notation’.
As well as books, it’s possible to have various other materials produced in Braille, such as business cards, menus, newsletters, brochures and certificates.
How are books chosen to be transformed into Braille?
Management Coordinator Renee Cohen tells ArtsHub it’s a curated system; not all books suggested are transcribed. ‘We have a book panel that chooses the books. They go through a process and meet monthly to choose books that are of literary merit or have been put to the panel from staff, authors or anybody that would like to have a particular book transcribed. The book panel then discuss and decide.’
‘Generally, publishers or authors do not come to us. The odd self-published author does and they would need to provide the book and the above process would apply. Hopefully, they would also supply a file for transcription if their book is chosen to be transcribed. We sometimes also get grants to produce books that will be transcribed for our library. We have also had people donate books and then pay to have the books transcribed and the books then are gifted to the Braille House library.’
It’s the only Braille library in Queensland that mails books out to the public and the only one in the country that provides monthly Braille editions of magazines like The Australian Women’s Weekly, Australian Reader’s Digest and Australian Geographic.
According to its website, Braille House currently has over 730,000 titles in 80 languages in a range of accessible formats, plus over 8000 music scores in Braille. There are picture books, junior, young adult and adult Braille books, as well as eBraille.
What’s the process for book transcription?
‘The transcription process is lengthy,’ says Cohen. ‘We either need to have the entire book typed or get a file from a publisher. If the entire book needs to be typed, the transcription process could be up to a year. Typed, formatted, SimBraille printed (SimBraille is Braille printed, not embossed, so a sighted person can see it) proofread, corrections completed, embossed, bound and then catalogued. If a file is provided, then the typed step would be removed. However, some files when converting from a PDF don’t come across altogether correctly and need more time to proofread back to the printed book.
‘Children’s twin-vision books are typed, and Braille label embossed,’ adds Cohen. ‘The Braille label is cut, then is adhered into the book. The costs for an average twin-vision book can be up to $350 to complete. A Braille novel could run into the thousands of dollars. One of the Harry Potter titles is 12 volumes long.’
Advances in technology have also enabled the ability to emboss Braille onto both sides of a page.
Cohen explains that unless they are specifically created for someone else for a fee, all books that are transcribed at the organisation are kept in the Braille House library for borrowing by members. Library membership is free.
Desley has been a borrower at Braille House’s library for 13 years, even before they had a computer system. An avid reader who enjoys all different genres, from a murder mystery to a family drama to a biography, she tells ArtsHub how she loves that Australian writers are represented in her reading. Although she says it would be great if the library mailed out books more than once a week, Desley believes the system works very well.
Can print users learn to read braille?
Courses are offered at Braille House or via correspondence for those who want to learn Braille for themselves or to help those who are vision impaired. This is a particular good service for carers, education aides, and family and friends.
It should be noted, however, that not everyone can learn Braille. As the organisation points out, because it is read with fingers, ‘It requires a level of sensitivity … to distinguish the raised dots. Some illnesses (such as diabetes) or harsh use of hands/fingers in work or leisure pursuits (such as farming or rock climbing) can diminish sensitivity.’
Thuy On
Thuy On is Reviews Editor of ArtsHub and an arts journalist, critic and poet who’s written for a range of publications including The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Sydney Review of Books, The Australian, The Age/SMH and Australian Book Review. She was the books editor of The Big issue for 8 years. Her first book, a collection of poetry called Turbulence, came out in 2020 and was published by University of Western Australia Press (UWAP). Her next collection, Decadence, was published in July 2022, also by UWAP. Twitter: @thuy_on
Braille is a tactile mode of communication, a system of raised dots named after Frenchman Louis Braille (4 January 1809 – 6 January 1852). It is not considered a language so much as a code. Though the system remains largely unchanged, Braille House notes that almost two centuries after its invention, there have been innovations including ‘refreshable Braille devices, Braille computer terminals, a RoboBraille email delivery service and Nemeth Braille, a comprehensive system for mathematical and scientific notation’.
As well as books, it’s possible to have various other materials produced in Braille, such as business cards, menus, newsletters, brochures and certificates.
How are books chosen to be transformed into Braille?
Management Coordinator Renee Cohen tells ArtsHub it’s a curated system; not all books suggested are transcribed. ‘We have a book panel that chooses the books. They go through a process and meet monthly to choose books that are of literary merit or have been put to the panel from staff, authors or anybody that would like to have a particular book transcribed. The book panel then discuss and decide.’
‘Generally, publishers or authors do not come to us. The odd self-published author does and they would need to provide the book and the above process would apply. Hopefully, they would also supply a file for transcription if their book is chosen to be transcribed. We sometimes also get grants to produce books that will be transcribed for our library. We have also had people donate books and then pay to have the books transcribed and the books then are gifted to the Braille House library.’
It’s the only Braille library in Queensland that mails books out to the public and the only one in the country that provides monthly Braille editions of magazines like TheAustralian Women’s Weekly, Australian Reader’s Digest and Australian Geographic.
According to its website, Braille House currently has over 730,000 titles in 80 languages in a range of accessible formats, plus over 8000 music scores in Braille. There are picture books, junior, young adult and adult Braille books, as well as eBraille.
What’s the process for book transcription?
‘The transcription process is lengthy,’ says Cohen. ‘We either need to have the entire book typed or get a file from a publisher. If the entire book needs to be typed, the transcription process could be up to a year. Typed, formatted, SimBraille printed (SimBraille is Braille printed, not embossed, so a sighted person can see it) proofread, corrections completed, embossed, bound and then catalogued. If a file is provided, then the typed step would be removed. However, some files when converting from a PDF don’t come across altogether correctly and need more time to proofread back to the printed book.
‘Children’s twin-vision books are typed, and Braille label embossed,’ adds Cohen. ‘The Braille label is cut, then is adhered into the book. The costs for an average twin-vision book can be up to $350 to complete. A Braille novel could run into the thousands of dollars. One of the Harry Potter titles is 12 volumes long.’
Advances in technology have also enabled the ability to emboss Braille onto both sides of a page.
Cohen explains that unless they are specifically created for someone else for a fee, all books that are transcribed at the organisation are kept in the Braille House library for borrowing by members. Library membership is free.
Desley has been a borrower at Braille House’s library for 13 years, even before they had a computer system. An avid reader who enjoys all different genres, from a murder mystery to a family drama to a biography, she tells ArtsHub how she loves that Australian writers are represented in her reading. Although she says it would be great if the library mailed out books more than once a week, Desley believes the system works very well.
Can print users learn to read braille?
Courses are offered at Braille House or via correspondence for those who want to learn Braille for themselves or to help those who are vision impaired. This is a particular good service for carers, education aides, and family and friends.
It should be noted, however, that not everyone can learn Braille. As the organisation points out, because it is read with fingers, ‘It requires a level of sensitivity … to distinguish the raised dots. Some illnesses (such as diabetes) or harsh use of hands/fingers in work or leisure pursuits (such as farming or rock climbing) can diminish sensitivity.’..."
Math Tutoring Orton Gillingham is a website that offers online math tutoring for students who struggle with math due to dyslexia, dyscalculia, or other learning difficulties. The website uses the Orton Gillingham approach, which is a multisensory, structured, and sequential method of teaching math concepts and skills. The website claims that this approach can help students improve their math fluency, accuracy, and confidence. The website also provides free assessments, testimonials, and a blog with useful tips and resources for parents and teachers. Math Tutoring Orton Gillingham is a service that aims to make math fun and accessible for all learners.
SPEAKER: Dana Gullo, York College of Pennsylvania DESCRIPTION: This presentation will discuss the factors contributing to students with disabilities' positive and challenging experiences transitioning to remote learning in the spring 2020 semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic at a community college located in the midwestern United States.
In the face of rising usage of digital learning tools as a permanent fixture in instruction and growing pressure for schools to make diversity, equity, and inclusion a higher priority, many institutions are failing the most basic requirements for digital accessibility.
Baidu AI Cloud, a leading AI cloud provider, launched an AI sign language platform able to generate digital avatars for sign language translation and live interpretation within minutes. Released as a new offering of Baidu AI Cloud’s digital avatar platform XiLing, this platform aims to help break down communication barriers for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) community by boosting the accessibility of automated sign language translation. An AI sign language interpreter developed using the platform will perform its duties during the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics Games.
Also released along with the platform are two all-in-one AI sign language translators, providing one-stop solutions with a streamlined set-up process and plug-and-use features. By enabling public service deployment in scale, the translators have been designed for a wide range of use scenarios such as hospitals, banks, airports, bus stations and other public areas.
With the technology enablement brought by AI, the production and operational costs of digital avatars have been reduced to a significant degree, making it possible for AI sign language to go scale and serve more deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, said Tian Wu, Baidu Corporate Vice President.
Today, China is home to 27.8 million deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) individuals but is faced with a massive shortage of qualified professionals to serve their needs, with no more than 10,000 sign language translators, a gap especially felt in medical and legal settings.
The XiLing AI sign language platform and the all-in-one sign language translators are designed to fill this significant gap and address the communication difficulties facing the DHH community in both online and offline settings. For DHH individuals who want to study or socialize online without barriers, the platform can be quickly integrated into commonly used mobile applications, websites, and mini programs within a few hours, performing functions like sign language video synthesis and livestream synthesis, text-to-sign language translation, and audio-to-sign language translations.
The all-in-one translators are tailored for offline scenarios to improve the accessibility of public services. Baidu’s translators come with two models, a full offline version V3, and a cloud-connected version P3. Both are embedded with core functions of the AI sign-language platform, able to realize ASR speech recognition, speech translation, and portrait rendering. This full range of functions offers incredible potential for empowering the DHH. For instance, DHH individuals will be able to visit the hospital and manage the complicated process of registration, consultation, payment, and medicine collection without further assistance. Additional applications hold the potential to allow the DHH community to travel, dine, and even work independently.
Technical Deep Dive
Compared to translations between spoken languages, the sign language translation is more complicated mainly because it is not translated word by word from verbal speech. Instead, the language refinement and word order must be adjusted in order to show the actual meaning of the sentence. As a relatively rarely-used language, a very limited amount of data on sign language is available for machine learning. It also requires lip language and facial expressions to assist understanding. In real-world settings, solutions are often faced with complex environmental factors making them difficult to deploy. All these practical barriers have posed numerous challenges to the development of AI sign language.
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To make AI sign language comprehendible, Baidu scientists had to resolve three key challenges: the clarity of speech recognition, the accuracy of sign language translation, and the fluency of sign language movements.
To address speech recognition clarity, the XiLing AI sign language platform uses Baidu’s home-grown SMLTA speech recognition model to achieve end-to-end modeling speech recognition through integrating acoustics and language. Based on Baidu’s self-developed deep learning algorithm, targeted training can enable word accuracy in a wide range of fields such as tourism, medical care, and legal proceedings.
In terms of the accuracy and refinement of sign language translation, Baidu has built the first neural network-based sign language translation model with a controllable degree of refinement, which can automatically learn sign language translation knowledge from real data such as word order adjustment, word mapping and length control to generate natural sign language that conforms to the habits of hard-of-hearing people.
To ensure the accuracy of the sign language translation, Baidu has invited over 500 scholars and students with hearing loss in China to help enlarge and vet the sign language corpus, with many joining the project as volunteers. Tiantian Yuan, associate dean of Technical College for the Deaf, Tianjin University of Technology, said she and her students feel incredibly honored to have contributed their parts in collaborating with Baidu to fill in this gap for the community.
To ensure the fluency of sign language actions, the AI sign language platform has sorted nearly 11,000 actions based on the National Universal Sign Language Dictionary with its “action fusion algorithm”, so that all digital sign language gestures have the degree of coherency and expression as human sign language. In addition, with the help of 4D scanning technology, the accuracy of mouth shape generation has been optimized up to 98.5%.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “disability”? In the context of product design, we might first think of vision loss, hearing loss, web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG), screen readers, and/or wheelchairs. These are all, of course, extremely important to consider in design, but to be truly inclusive, we must also design for users with barriers that may not be immediately obvious. Invisible disabilities are those that might not be immediately apparent; in some cases, they may not even be medically diagnosed. (Half of people with disabilities cannot afford healthcare.)
Those who identify as having an invisible disability face social stigma and therefore do not always disclose their disability to those around them.
"In the UK, seven million people of working age have a disability, this adds up a lot of spending power, known as the “purple pound” which is thought to be worth around £249bn to the economy. But…"
By Lydia X. Z. Brown, Ridhi Shetty, Matt Scherer, and Andrew Crawford
"Algorithmic technologies are everywhere. At this very moment, you can be sure students around the world are complaining about homework, sharing gossip, and talking about politics — all while computer programs observe every web search they make and every social media post they create, sending information about their activities to school officials who might punish them for what they look at. Other things happening right now likely include:
Delivery workers are trawling up and down streets near you while computer programs monitor their location and speed to optimize schedules, routes, and evaluate their performance; People working from home are looking at their computers while their computers are staring back at them, timing their bathroom breaks, recording their computer screens, and potentially listening to them through their microphones; Your neighbors – in your community or the next one over – are being tracked and designated by algorithms targeting police attention and resources to some neighborhoods but not others; Your own phone may be tracking data about your heart rate, blood oxygen level, steps walked, menstrual cycle, and diet, and that information might be going to for-profit companies or your employer. Your social media content might even be mined and used to diagnose a mental health disability.
This ubiquity of algorithmic technologies has pervaded every aspect of modern life, and the algorithms are improving. But while algorithmic technologies may become better at predicting which restaurants someone might like or which music a person might enjoy listening to, not all of their possible applications are benign, helpful, or just.
Scholars and advocates have demonstrated myriad harms that can arise from the types of encoded prejudices and self-perpetuating cycles of discrimination, bias, and oppression that may result from automated decision-makers. These potentially harmful technologies are routinely deployed by government entities, private enterprises, and individuals to make assessments and recommendations about everything from rental applications to hiring, allocation of medical resources, and whom to target with specific ads. They have been deployed in a variety of settings including education and the workplace, often with the goal of surveilling activities, habits, and efficiency.
Disabled people comprise one such community that experiences discrimination, bias, and oppression resulting from automated decision-making technology. Disabled people continually experience marginalization in society, especially those who belong to other marginalized communities such as disabled women of color. Yet, not enough scholars or researchers have addressed the specific harms and disproportionate negative impacts that surveillance and algorithmic tools can have on disabled people. This is in part because algorithmic technologies that are trained on data that already embeds ableist (or relatedly racist or sexist) outcomes will entrench and replicate the same ableist (and racial or gendered) bias in the computer system. For example, a tenant screening tool that considers rental applicants’ credit scores, past evictions, and criminal history may prevent poor people, survivors of domestic violence, and people of color from getting an apartment because they are disproportionately likely to have lower credit scores, past evictions, and criminal records due to biases in the credit and housing systems and in policing disparities.
This report examines four areas where algorithmic and/or surveillance technologies are used to surveil, control, discipline, and punish people, with particularly harmful impacts on disabled people. They include: (1) education; (2) the criminal legal system; (3) health care; and (4) the workplace. In each section, we describe several examples of technologies that can violate people’s privacy, contribute to or accelerate existing harm and discrimination, and undermine broader public policy objectives (such as public safety or academic integrity).
Distance learning is difficult, unpopular, and returning for many students with ADHD this Fall. Here, caregivers and educators share their most effective strategies for teaching and keeping students organized and focused while learning remotely. Download this guide to lay the groundwork for a successful school year.
Distance Learning Strategies for Parents and Teachers of ADHD Children
With distance learning, parents face a difficult issue making sure their kids perform their school tasks during Covid. This article looks at some strategies
Distance learning can be challenging for anyone including children with ADHD. This fall we might see more distance learning as we have seen the COVID numbers rise again. We need to take into consideration how the child’s energy is for the day. So that the learner can adapt we need to create special work spaces at home. I have seen that children with ADHD like to have visual schedules to follow along with. Consider giving these learners hands on projects so that they can feel involved and busy.
I grew up in small-town southern Ontario. I hated it—I wanted to experience something bigger, but I didn’t know what or how. My life was slightly different from others. I was a deaf kid living in a hearing world.
Growing up as a deaf kid was really challenging. There were limited options, especially in a tiny community. Unlike hearing kids who went to their local schools, I had to get up earlier than other kids so I wouldn’t miss the short school bus.
Our deaf and hard-of-hearing program was at a mainstream school with other hearing kids. The deaf kids would have their own homeroom, taught by a “teacher of the deaf.”
Students in our program would occasionally be placed in “normal” classrooms with other hearing students, communicating through the use of an interpreter. Unfortunately, none of the teachers in the program were actually deaf, so no examples of healthy deaf adult role models were present in my childhood.
The only other option was to attend a provincial school for the Deaf. The problem? I couldn’t stand being away from my mother, and attending the school meant that I’d have to live in residence. So I didn’t have much exposure to the Deaf community growing up, except for a few events here and there.
I remember attending Mayfest, an annual Deaf expo hosted by the Ontario Association of the Deaf (OAD) at St. Lawrence Market in Toronto. The number of deaf and signing participants often overwhelmed me—they signed so differently, not like the way I did.
There were literally hundreds of them from various backgrounds, of different races, and of all types of disabilities. This event was something that I looked forward to every year—a favourite part of my childhood, being in a space where we could celebrate being ourselves.
It was not until I became a teenager that I understood that my school taught us Signed Exact English (SEE) and not American Sign Language (ASL). So that was why others signed differently.
The signing system I had learned was intended to accommodate hearing people and “improve” our English literacy skills. This, I felt, had taken away my Deaf community and Deaf culture. I was being assimilated, and, due to that, I had no sense of identity.
Even though I knew that I was deaf and used sign language, parts of my identity were still fragmented. Nearly everyone around me was straight and I didn’t fit the mold. I knew that, despite being deaf, I was further marginalized by my own Deaf community. What did you expect? Growing up in a small community meant limited options, limited resources, limited identities, and limited access.
This meant that the Deaf community that I grew up in was not accessible for me as a deaf person with emerging identities yet to be discovered.
In Grade 12, something happened that paved the way to my discovery as a culturally deaf person. There was an interpreter shortage, and I couldn’t attend all of the classes that I registered for. I remember showing up for a class and the interpreter was not in her typical assigned seat, and the teacher continued to speak while I looked around, feeling lost, like a fool.
That was it. The lack of accessibility led to my ultimate decision to transfer to a school for the deaf.
Through socializing with Deaf peers, fragmented parts of my identity and soul were finally put back together and began to feel whole. This journey helped me unpack internalized audism, and change the “d” in deaf to a “D,” to represent my transition to a culturally Deaf person.
Approaching the end of high school, I thought, “What am I going to do?” I thought I’d attend a local post-secondary institution, become a teacher, and lead a very boring life, only because that’s what my family wanted for me. But what did I want? To be accepted, to be in a place where I could be myself.
That space was discovered at Gallaudet University, where I met more members of the queer and trans community. That led to me coming out, embracing different parts of my identity.
Every summer on break from university, I attended the Pride festivities in Toronto and discovered the Ontario Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, where I met more folks like me.
But what was in my future after graduation? I wasn’t so sure yet.
Toronto was this place that I’d always dreamed of living in. This city was the place that I was going to move to after I graduated from Gallaudet University.
Being the capital city of Ontario, you’d think this city would be accessible for a person like me.
Toronto, you are exceptionally large, with a population of more than six million people in the city and its surrounding areas. Here, you can expect to find a few communities that you belong with. You’d expect more options, more resources, more identities, more accessibility, right?
The next article in this series will detail what accessibility in Toronto looks like.
A new glossary of British Sign Language (BSL) signs specifically for skills and jobs in digital technology has been created.
Michael Behr
29 March 2022, 11.02am
Instead of having to spell out terms letter by letter, the new signs will make it faster and easier to communicate about tech-related subjects.
A new glossary of British Sign Language (BSL) signs specifically for skills and jobs in digital technology has been created.
Over 500 words and terms have been invented covering computer science, cybersecurity, data science and software development to help the deaf community access qualifications and careers in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country.
The programme was created as part of a partnership between Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Data Education in Schools, the DDI Skills Gateway and the Scottish Sensory Centre (SSC).
A team of eight deaf people from across the UK, who are also tech experts, spent eight months with sign linguists developing and testing the new signs.
Ben Fletcher, Principal Engineer with the Financial Times, was one of the team member’s that was keen to create a common language for deaf people in tech.
He said: “Throughout my whole life, I have studied and worked in computing, but tech and BSL have often been a difficult combination. There’s a huge list of computing terms, very few of which have dedicated and widely recognised signs, and others I just had to make up. It was very frustrating.
“We now have a standard glossary that will really help deaf people in schools, colleges, universities and workplaces across the UK.”
Before this glossary was launched, deaf people often had to spell out each individual letter of the specialised terms used in the digital space. These new signs make it easier and more efficient to communicate about digital skills and jobs.
Popular tech words and phrases now covered include artificial intelligence, computer science, cybersecurity, ethical hacking, firewall, data breach, data science, machine learning and phishing.
Edinburgh school pupil Billy-Jack Gerrard is deaf and is wanting to pursue AI and computer science at university. He claims the new BSL signs will be life-changing for people like him.
“These signs will make a huge difference in terms of both studying for the right skills for a job in tech, and then also for actually working in the sector itself.
“Once embedded into the fabric of BSL, the consistent use of the terms will make life so much easier, and in turn far more inclusive, for deaf people like me wanting to pursue a digital career.”
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Head of Digital Technologies and Financial Service at SDS Phil Ford added: “This is a brilliant project that we supported without hesitation.
“It will help deaf people get jobs in tech while also enhancing diversity and inclusivity in the sector, all with the ultimate aim of plugging the skills gap of an industry which is vital for Scotland’s economy.”
The full list of signs can be found on the SSC website, but Kate Farrell of Data Education in Schools says she is keen to keep adding to the list.
She commented: “Like the technology itself, which is constantly changing, the accompanying language also has to be updated. So by its very nature, this BSL glossary will have to do the same.
“We therefore welcome the continued input from technologists, deaf or otherwise, to ensure that we stay up to date with the terminology around skills and jobs in tech.”
We talk a lot about personalized learning and how it can benefit learners by providing them with more detailed instruction catered to their needs. It helps them overcome learning challenges and achieve their educational goals.
We’ve also discussed assistive technologies – technologies designed to aid students with learning difficulties and other disabilities, understand and retain knowledge to improve their learning outcomes. The two can go hand-in-hand, as assistive technology can help all students receive a more personalized learning experience.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways that AT is used in the classroom and its personalized learning.
Many businesses today are focused on inclusion. But what are the challenges of VILT and how can you make everyone feel like they're part of the online community?
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What exactly is Braille?
Braille is a tactile mode of communication, a system of raised dots named after Frenchman Louis Braille (4 January 1809 – 6 January 1852). It is not considered a language so much as a code. Though the system remains largely unchanged, Braille House notes that almost two centuries after its invention, there have been innovations including ‘refreshable Braille devices, Braille computer terminals, a RoboBraille email delivery service and Nemeth Braille, a comprehensive system for mathematical and scientific notation’.
As well as books, it’s possible to have various other materials produced in Braille, such as business cards, menus, newsletters, brochures and certificates.
How are books chosen to be transformed into Braille?
Management Coordinator Renee Cohen tells ArtsHub it’s a curated system; not all books suggested are transcribed. ‘We have a book panel that chooses the books. They go through a process and meet monthly to choose books that are of literary merit or have been put to the panel from staff, authors or anybody that would like to have a particular book transcribed. The book panel then discuss and decide.’
‘Generally, publishers or authors do not come to us. The odd self-published author does and they would need to provide the book and the above process would apply. Hopefully, they would also supply a file for transcription if their book is chosen to be transcribed. We sometimes also get grants to produce books that will be transcribed for our library. We have also had people donate books and then pay to have the books transcribed and the books then are gifted to the Braille House library.’
It’s the only Braille library in Queensland that mails books out to the public and the only one in the country that provides monthly Braille editions of magazines like The Australian Women’s Weekly, Australian Reader’s Digest and Australian Geographic.
According to its website, Braille House currently has over 730,000 titles in 80 languages in a range of accessible formats, plus over 8000 music scores in Braille. There are picture books, junior, young adult and adult Braille books, as well as eBraille.
What’s the process for book transcription?
‘The transcription process is lengthy,’ says Cohen. ‘We either need to have the entire book typed or get a file from a publisher. If the entire book needs to be typed, the transcription process could be up to a year. Typed, formatted, SimBraille printed (SimBraille is Braille printed, not embossed, so a sighted person can see it) proofread, corrections completed, embossed, bound and then catalogued. If a file is provided, then the typed step would be removed. However, some files when converting from a PDF don’t come across altogether correctly and need more time to proofread back to the printed book.
‘Children’s twin-vision books are typed, and Braille label embossed,’ adds Cohen. ‘The Braille label is cut, then is adhered into the book. The costs for an average twin-vision book can be up to $350 to complete. A Braille novel could run into the thousands of dollars. One of the Harry Potter titles is 12 volumes long.’
Advances in technology have also enabled the ability to emboss Braille onto both sides of a page.
Cohen explains that unless they are specifically created for someone else for a fee, all books that are transcribed at the organisation are kept in the Braille House library for borrowing by members. Library membership is free.
Desley has been a borrower at Braille House’s library for 13 years, even before they had a computer system. An avid reader who enjoys all different genres, from a murder mystery to a family drama to a biography, she tells ArtsHub how she loves that Australian writers are represented in her reading. Although she says it would be great if the library mailed out books more than once a week, Desley believes the system works very well.
Can print users learn to read braille?
Courses are offered at Braille House or via correspondence for those who want to learn Braille for themselves or to help those who are vision impaired. This is a particular good service for carers, education aides, and family and friends.
It should be noted, however, that not everyone can learn Braille. As the organisation points out, because it is read with fingers, ‘It requires a level of sensitivity … to distinguish the raised dots. Some illnesses (such as diabetes) or harsh use of hands/fingers in work or leisure pursuits (such as farming or rock climbing) can diminish sensitivity.’..."
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