We hear this a lot when it comes to blindness exhibitions and, with the summer shows just around the corner, we thought we’d take some time to discuss what you can do to make the most of having such a vast selection of braille products on display in one place.
Which braille products should I prioritise?
How can I find them?
What questions should I ask?
How can I decide which one will best meet my needs?
Our panel of experts will consider all of these questions and offer their strategies for making sense of the exhibition hall. Along the way, we’ll also talk about tips for navigating in noisy and crowded spaces, travel, accommodation, budget and much more.
Hosted by assistive technology expert David Goldfield, this webinar is designed to help BT Speak and BT Braille users become more familiar with Desktop Mode, a powerful environment that provides access to a wide range of applications and productivity tools. Participants will receive a guided introduction to key Desktop Mode features and learn practical skills for navigating and utilizing the desktop experience.
During the webinar, attendees will learn about the differences between Blazie Mode and Desktop Mode, how to switch between the two operating environments, adjusting the speech settings of Orca, the screen reader used within Desktop Mode, navigating the Applications menu, and using LibreOffice Writer, the word processor available in Desktop Mode. The session will conclude with a live question-and-answer period, allowing participants to receive guidance directly from the presenter.
“Training and education are an important part of helping users get the most from their technology,” said Bryan Blazie, Chief Executive Officer of Blazie Technologies. “We’re excited to have David Goldfield share his expertise and help participants gain confidence using Desktop Mode and exploring the many tools available within it.”
The webinar will be presented live and is intended for both new and experienced users interested in expanding their understanding of the desktop environment available on BT Speak and BT Braille devices. Whether participants are taking their first steps into Desktop Mode or looking to become more proficient, the session will provide practical information and valuable insights for getting started. Individuals interested in attending are encouraged to join through this link:
The topic for the Tuesday, June 30, 2026, That All May eRead online program will be Typing Special Characters Using Your NLS eReader. In the remaining time after the presentation, we will answer any questions you have about the NLS Braille eReader.
Hosted by the Braillists Foundation and Bristol Braille Technology
Location: The Sacks of Potatoes, 10 Gosta Green, Birmingham B4 7ER (a short walk from the Sight Village venue at the Eastside Rooms)
This informal gathering is the perfect opportunity to unwind after the first day of Sight Village Central, meet fellow Braille users and enthusiasts, and talk all things Braille over your favourite drink.
We are especially pleased to have Holly Baker joining us – a university lecturer who will be giving an informal demonstration of how she uses new applications on the Canute Scientific in her academic work. Other suppliers and manufacturers are also welcome, so there should be plenty to talk about.
Sight Village closes at 3:30pm. You are welcome to gather at the Bristol Braille Technology stand at that time and walk over to the pub together as a group, or to make your own way there and join us at any point during the event. Food is available at the pub throughout the evening. The event runs until 7pm, and you are very welcome to stay on afterwards if you would like to continue the conversation.
To help with arrangements, please email [email protected] if you plan to attend. Walk-ins are warmly welcomed, and knowing numbers in advance is simply helpful for planning. If you have any questions on the day, or would like any assistance getting to the venue, please call Laurent on 07894 292647.
We look forward to seeing you at Braille and Beer!
Laurent Cadet de Fontenay and Stephanie Sergeant Braillists Foundation and Bristol Braille Technology
We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of George Bell on Wednesday 24 June 2026, aged 79.
Originally from Edinburgh, George spent a lot of his working life in Northampton where he was known to many as the Managing Director of Techno-Vision Systems. He distributed many braille products including the Eureka; Cosmo; braille embossers from Index Braille, Enabling Technologies and Thiel; Canute; music products from Dancing Dots; and perhaps most significantly of all, the Duxbury Braille Translator, for which he also wrote most of the documentation.
George was made an honorary member of the British Computer Association of the Blind (BCAB), now the Technology Association of Visually Impaired People (TAVIP), in the early 2000s and was a regular supporter of the Braillists Foundation since its establishment in 2014. He also served for a time on the Braille Production and Technology Group of the UK Association for Accessible Formats (UKAAF), contributed to many discussions through the International Council on English Braille (ICEB), and facilitated access to braille in many developing countries.
Aside from braille, he was instrumental in establishing the Sight Village exhibition in Birmingham, which is now organised by Queen Alexandra College.
Jackie Brown is collecting tributes to George to be shared with his family and the blind community. If you would like to send a tribute, please email [email protected]
In June 2026, SK Rungta and Susan LaVenture, Presidents of the World Blind Union (WBU) and the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI), jointly launched the Global Declaration on Braille Literacy in Education during the 19th Session of the United Nations Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CoSP19).
We warmly invite governments, UN agencies, organisations, institutions, professional bodies, educational providers, and individuals to endorse the Declaration and add their voices to this important global call for action. The Declaration may be downloaded from the ICEVI website in English, French and Spanish. Go to: https://icevi.org/global-declaration-add-your-voice/.
Endorsements may be submitted through any of the following options:
Please include the following information in your email:
Name
Title or position
Organisation affiliation
Country
Email address
Type of endorsement (UN agency, government ministry, organisation, institution, individual, etc.)
Consent to include your name and/or organisation in the public list of endorsers
The Declaration affirms that braille literacy is a fundamental human right and an essential component of inclusive education. It calls upon Governments, Ministries of Education, legislative bodies, educational institutions, organisations of persons with disabilities, families, professionals, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that learners who are blind or have low vision have equitable access to braille instruction, materials, technologies, and qualified teachers.
The Declaration further recognises the vital role of braille literacy in advancing implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Together, we can help ensure that every child, young person, and adult who relies on braille has the opportunity to become literate, participate fully in society, and realise their potential. Thank you for your support of this important global initiative.
I am an MA student in Linguistics at Queen Mary University of London and am writing my dissertation on the topic of braille signage on the Queen Mary campuses. I do know (UEB) braille, but am a sighted reader; I do not rely on braille.
For my dissertation project, I would like to speak to some regular braille users to understand their thoughts on the signage I’ve found on my university campus.
If anybody would be willing to be interviewed by me for my project, I would be very grateful. My only criteria for the person to be interviewed are that they are an adult and that they use (English) braille regularly.
The interview would take up to an hour and I will anonymise any data I get from the interview. I will happily provide more information or details to anyone who is interested.
We are pleased to announce the release of firmware version vB0.00.00.01r12 for the Orbit Writer.
Following are the new features and improvements.
“Quick Navigation, which allows VoiceOver users to quickly navigate between items such as headings, links, and form controls, can now be toggled by pressing the Left and Right Arrow keys simultaneously while connected to VoiceOver.”
The firmware package can be downloaded from our website’s Support menu.
Whether you are a developer building the future of tactile technology, an educator creating inclusive lessons, or a user exploring your new device, having the right tools makes all the difference.
We have compiled a master list of official platforms, community driven apps, and essential resources to help you get the most out of your Dot Pad.
Official Resource and Developer Hubs
Developer SDK Portal gives access to the Dot Pad Software Developer Kits (SDKs) to start building custom multiline braille and tactile graphic applications.
AT Guys Distributor Site is the official US distributor hub for purchasing, hardware information, and device updates.
Apps and Web Tools to Explore
Dot Canvas available via Dot Apps is a creative tool for uploading, editing, and rendering SVG files or digital documents directly on the display.
AT Guys Dot Pad Apps offers web based apps including Calendar, Connect Four, and Tetris designed for the device.
Dot Experiments UI is a web based proof of concept for testing automated grid layouts, mazes, and turtle graphics.
AccessTrader provides accessible live financial trading and stock market charts with ongoing development for tactile integration.
Third Party Integration and Software Tools
Bluefy Web Browser can be used on iOS for running web apps via Bluetooth when paired with Dot Pad outside of VoiceOver.
Liblouis is an open source braille translation framework used to format and render text for braille displays.
Fritz Chess is an accessible gaming project where screen reader scripts are being developed to render braille chess codes on the display.
Listen to the Raising the Dots podcast for updates on features, ecosystem developments, and community stories.
General sales and inquiries can be directed to [email protected] for distributor connections and organisational support US orders can be made through Anat Nulman at [email protected].
Developer support is available from Technical Support Manager Gary Readfern Gray at [email protected] for SDK guidance.
I wanted to make you aware of a tool I wrote for myself, as I am SSI, that I have now made available via the Microsoft Store for Windows PCs, that turns an ordinary keyboard into a Braille keyboard using UEB.
The Braille input works across the OS, rather than just in one app, and removes any need for specialised hardware. Full documentation is linked on the Store website.
It is called BrailleKeyboard and can be found on the Microsoft Store
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.
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.
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.
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.