Latest News
- Rare Braille Book in Oxford: Read it for Yourself!
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 set up a workshop to enable blind people to handle and explore the book for themselves.
If you would be interested in taking part, please email Nathan Tree, Community Engagement Lead for MyVision Oxfordshire, on [email protected] by Friday 29 November. Lunch will be provided.
- Introducing BUOC: Braille, User-Oriented Code, Tuesday 19 November at 7:30 PM
The latest in our occasional series showcasing historical braille shorthand codes which you might still find useful today:
Braille, User-Oriented Code (BUOC) was a code written by the late Australian, Rebecca Maxwell, with the support of Australian Braille Literacy Action (ABLA), formerly the Australian Guild of Business and Professional Blind. It was last revised in 1998 and includes a number of useful devices for making braille shorter.
In this session, we are delighted to be joined by Jordie Howell, a great proponent of BUOC and a contemporary of its author. Jordie will introduce us to the principals of BUOC, describe how some common words and phrases can be shortened and explain how we can find out more about this grass roots code.
Register for Introducing BUOC here.
To join by phone, please use these details:
- Phone number: 0131 460 1196
- Meeting ID: 857 0013 1529
- Passcode: 123456
- Braille And Beyond at The Hive, Worcester, Wednesday 20 November
The next Braille And Beyond event from RNIB will be taking place on Wednesday 20 November, 10am-3pm at The Hive, Sawmill Walk, The Butts, Worcester, WR1 3PD.
You do not need to register in advance. The event is taking place on floor 0.
- Live Demo of Braille Music Translation Using Sao Mai Braille (SMB), Thursday 21 November at 7:00 PM
As a follow-up to their MuseScore Studio demo last month, Sound Without Sight is excited to announce their next Monthly Meet-up, which will feature a live demo of Sao Mai Braille (SMB) and its ability to translate MusicXML files to braille! They will again welcome James Bowden, Braille Technical Officer at RNIB, whose feedback has been influential throughout the development of SMB so far.
The demo will cover a range of topics, including:
- Overview of the SMB app.
- Download and installation.
- The transcription process, beginning with a MusicXML file and converting to a BRF file, ready for embossing to hardcopy braille or reading on a braille display.
- Important options and settings to be aware of, including music profiles.
- Considerations for common types of score (single line, keyboard, vocal, orchestral).
- Selecting an individual part from an ensemble score.
- Music navigation mode.
The demonstration will last around 60 minutes, with a further 30 minutes for questions. This will be a relaxed, informal discussion and audience participation is encouraged. They will be prioritising questions submitted in advance of the event, so please use the field on the registration page or contact Sound Without Sight in advance with any questions you may have so that they can ensure that they are included in the discussion.
Please note that this session will be recorded and published on podcasting platforms, so if you contribute during the session, you are consenting to appearing in the recording. This session is open to all ages, but they advise that children or young people wishing to attend the session should be accompanied by an adult.
We hope to see you there!
- Nominate the Braillists for £1000: 12 Days of Giving from the Benefact Group
Every year, the Benefact Group awards donations to UK-based charities through their Movement for Good initiative. During December, they will award £120,000 to 120 nominated charities during their 12 Days of Giving celebrations.
If you like what we do and want to support us, please nominate the Braillists Foundation before 19 December. The more nominations we get, the greater the chances of receiving an award. There is only one nomination per charity per person, so please share far and wide!
Thank you for your support.
- Braille 200: Championing Tactile Literacy, Tuesday 26 November at 7:30 PM
A live stream from the British Library.
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and partners celebrate the bicentenary of the invention of braille and explore its future.
With Lord David Blunkett, Betsy Griffin and Dave Williams.
More panellists to be announced.
Online viewers will be able to submit questions to the panel towards the end of the event.Leading sight loss charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the British Library invite you to celebrate the bicentenary of the invention of braille, the system of raised dots that allows blind and partially sighted people to read with their fingers.
Our distinguished panel will delve into the rich history of braille and debate its promising future. Panellists include Lord David Blunkett and Betsy Griffin. The conversation will be hosted by Dave Williams, RNIB Inclusive Design Ambassador and chair of the Braillists Foundation.
Louis Braille was in his teens in the mid-1820s when he began developing the six-dot tactile reading system that enables millions of blind and partially sighted people around the world to access the power of literacy. From September 2024, RNIB is leading a year of celebrations across the UK to recognise the bicentenary of the braille code; braille continues to unlock access to countless opportunities in education, employment and independent living.
We are honoured to host a distinguished panel of special guests, who will celebrate the past, present and future of braille.
Panellist Biographies:
Lord David Blunkett needs little introduction. Blind since birth, the Labour Party politician served as the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough from 1987 to 2015 and is now a member of the House of Lords. He served as Education and Employment Secretary, Home Secretary and Work and Pensions Secretary in Tony Blair’s Cabinet following Labour’s victory in the 1997 general election. In 2001 he was promoted to Home Secretary, a position he held until 2004. He is Vice President of RNIB. Lord Blunkett will speak about the huge influence braille has had on his political and personal life and work.
Eleven-year-old Betsy Griffin lost her eyesight after being treated for a brain tumour. As she recovered from surgery, she began to discover braille was one of the tools she could use to continue her huge love of reading and writing. Her first book, Out of The Woods, was published in 2022 and in it, Betsy created a cast of friendly animal characters who explain how to live positively in the face of adversity. It was partly based on her popular YouTube videos which explore Betsy’s unique tips for living well.
For 25 years, Dave Williams has been championing inclusive design principles to ensure equal access and opportunities for blind and partially sighted people. His work has driven change, enhancing accessibility across a wide range of industries, including technology, product design, the built environment and public services. Blind since birth, Dave is a huge advocate for the use of braille to enable blind and partially sighted people to gain access to literacy, education and employment. He also uses it extensively in everyday life having proposed to his wife on a braille scrabble board. Dave hosts RNIB Tech Talk, the UK’s leading radio show and podcast for blind and partially sighted technology users, which airs on RNIB’s Connect Radio. He is Chair of the Braillists Foundation, a community passionate about promoting independence and opportunity through braille literacy and sits on the European Blind Union Braille Working Group. He is a UK delegate to the International Council on English Braille and has recently joined the board of the DAISY Consortium.
The RNIB would like to thank event sponsors Dot, Humanware and People’s Postcode Lottery, which support RNIB through funds awarded by Postcode Care Trust.
This is an online event streamed on the British Library platform. Bookers will be sent a viewing link shortly before the event and will be able to watch at any time for 48 hours after the start time.
- Final Copies of Brilliant Bombus Bumblebee Available
We have been asked to share the following message from Nan Eshelby. Please contact her on [email protected], [email protected] or visit bombusthebee.com for further information:
I contacted you at the start of this year because I had done a print run of braille companion books to pair with my book, Brilliant Bombus Bumblebee.
I wondered if you might be willing to let the forum or anyone you think might be interested that I only have a few sets left and I am willing to to sell the pair of books at £5 and thought it might be nice for Xmas. The non braille version is suitable for age 3-
They just need to go my site and choose the product listed as ‘2 book bundle braille 1 companion book and Brilliant Bombus Bumblebee’ and use the following code when checking out –
XmasBraille
I only have 9 copies left so the discount has a restriction of 9 uses and one per customer however if someone wants more then one and I have them left then they just need to email me.
- Invitation to Participate in the 200th Anniversary initiative “Braille 200”
From: European Blind Union – Working Group on Braille.
To: blind and sighted braille users all over Europe
Dear Friends,
In 1825, a 16-year-old blind boy named Louis Braille, at his school in Paris, invented the braille code for tactile reading. This invention has since spread enhancing literacy, education and employment of millions of blind people around the world. In 2025, we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of our beloved braille code.
The European Blind Union, through its Braille working group, is launching a project to involve Braille users by sharing creative experiences. We are delighted to invite you to join our celebration. Our goal is to collect contributions inspired by braille from both blind and sighted users all over Europe.
We encourage individuals, groups, or organizations to create artistic or personal pieces, such as videos, podcasts about braille, texts, photos, graphics, or drawings in braille, based on braille signs or shapes. You might also come up with other creative ideas. Here are some ideas:
- Reading braille texts as audio or video.
- Original texts with testimonials, fictional stories, or poems related to braille code, submitted as text or recorded readings.
- Art projects involving braille, such as people standing with umbrellas to form braille characters, filmed or photographed from above.
- Reports from beginner braille courses.
- Works of art, such as graphics or pictures made of braille characters, which are visually interesting. A monthly calendar for 2026 will feature 12 outstanding graphics, for which a separate invitation will be sent.
- Songs, sketches, radio plays, etc. related to braille.
- Games, learning methods, software and materials on braille.
- Advice for other braille users.
- And any other creative ideas you come up with.
We hope to receive 365 contributions, one for each day of 2025. Every month, the EBU will award a prize of €100 to the best contribution of the month. All pieces will be published on our European Braille forum: https://www.livingbraille.eu/topic/braille200/, and will be shared through various channels such as email newsletters and social media.
We are eagerly looking forward to receiving your fantastic and original pieces. Please send your contributions, questions, or remarks via email to: [email protected].
Requirements for your contributions:
- Send us one or more files of your contribution. Or if you have already published it yourself, send a link to the public resource.
- If you know a good sample created by someone else, please advise us and send a link to this and contact details for the person.
- Include your full name, country, age, and whether you are blind or sighted.
- Young persons under 18 should include a declaration from their parents agreeing to the publication.
- Provide a text of up to 1,000 characters in English, explaining the content of your sample.
- If submitting text only, please include a full translation in English if possible.
- Photos and videos should be in landscape format.
- Include a short description of what can be seen in any photos or videos.
- Along with this text send us also your agreement as follows: By sending this contribution to European Blind Union Braille 200 initiative, I hereby agree on granting full copyright ownership to EBU.
By submitting your original work to this EBU initiative:
- Authors shall assign automatically to EBU worldwide all rights including copyright, and EBU may assign or license these rights.
- Authors shall allow EBU to use their name and their works in publicity and for information purposes as EBU may require.
- As copyright holder, EBU may give permission to the authors and to their national members to make use of the works as they deem fit.
- Authors shall provide EBU with their photographs and shall entitle EBU to reproduce, adapt, edit and publish their photographs on any media, including web and print.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation, involvement, and commitment.
Best regards,
Braille Working Group of European Blind Union
The Braillists is a grass-roots community group offering high quality training and support to emerging and established braille users. We also work with family members, friends, colleagues and teachers of braille users, and connect braille users with braille technology developers and funders.
What Is Braille?
Braille is a simple code for representing written language. We believe braille has the potential to transform the life of any blind person who has the opportunity to learn it.
Discover more about braille on this page.
Learn Braille
We support hundreds of adults to read braille by touch in a few short weeks through our innovative and approachable Braille for Beginners course. Free of charge, it comprises hard copy resources through the post and a series of short pre-recorded lessons, supplemented by email and Zoom support from highly qualified and experienced tutors.
Find out more about Braille for Beginners and register here.
There are plenty of other courses available too, for both children and adults, reading by touch or by sight. We have made a list of these on our Learn Braille page.
Perkins Repairs and Other Braille Equipment
The Perkins Brailler is the most established braille writer in use today, and even machines from the 1950s can still be serviced and repaired. We have compiled information about Perkins repairs, places to purchase Perkins Braillers, and other types of braille equipment on our Braille Equipment page.
If you are looking for braille paper, you can find it on our Braille Consumables page.
Our Aims
- Promote the value of braille as a proven literacy tool that enriches the lives of blind people.
- Support efforts to make affordable braille and tactile reading technologies available to all blind people irrespective of education and employment status.
- Provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas about the development of future braille technology.
Find Out More
Join our announcements only mailing list to receive our weekly newsletter.
Join the conversation and meet other Braillists on our discussion forum.
Connect with us on Twitter (@Braillists) or like us on Facebook for up to the minute Braillists news.
Listen to some braille-related audio on Soundcloud (braillists).
Please see our Sponsors and Partners for information on organisations who are supporting us.
Get In Touch
Email [email protected] or call 020 3893 3392. Further details on our Contact Us page.