Latest News
- Reminder: NVDA and Braille, Tuesday at 7:30 PM
Recent developments in braille technology have shone a particular spotlight on NVDA, but what is its braille support really like? In this two-part series, we will explore the braille features available to NVDA users and how well they work in the real world.
Last week, in part 1, we introduced NVDA’s braille support, described NVDA’s braille settings, and discussed NVDA’s braille output.
This week, in part 2, we will concentrate on NVDA’s braille input, including:
- Entering text using the braille keyboard
- Correcting mistakes
- Navigating using the braille keyboard
- Strategies for quickly changing braille tables
- Controlling the computer using the braille keyboard
To join by phone, please use these details:
- Phone number: 0131 460 1196
- Meeting ID: 811 6921 7374
- Passcode: 123456
- From Dot Inc & Vispero: JAWS Split Braille with Dot Pad, Monday 28 September at 5:00 PM
Following demand from our August Back to School webinar, we’re taking a closer look at what happens when JAWS Split Braille is combined with a multiline Braille display.
You’ll learn how to:
- Read a Microsoft Word document while accessing comments, annotations and font attributes
- Display contracted and uncontracted Braille simultaneously
- Compare and organise information across multiple lines of Braille.
Whether you’re a Braille user, teacher, student or accessibility professional, join us to explore what JAWS Split Braille can do with room to spread out.
- Orbit Research September Meeting, Tuesday 29 September at 5:00 PM
The next Orbit Research Zoom call is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 29 September at 5:00 PM UK time (11:00 AM CDT).
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86353303519?pwd=cnUneQ7Rr1f8WHPmpo1uE0MtiQdof9.1
Meeting ID: 863 5330 3519
Passcode: 067913
- From Blazie Technologies: Master Thunderbird on Your BT Speak & BT Braille! Wednesday 30 September at Midnight
Our next Blazie Technologies Training Session is coming up!
Join Ben Blatchford for a live, accessible, hands-on training session designed to help you get started with Mozilla Thunderbird and navigate your email with confidence on your BT device.
Whether you’re opening Thunderbird for the first time or want to improve your email skills, Ben will walk you through the essential features and commands you need to know.
During the session, you’ll learn:
- What Thunderbird Is — Get introduced to Thunderbird and the features available for managing your email.
- First-Time Account Setup — Learn how to set up your email account in Thunderbird and get ready to start sending and receiving messages.
- Navigating Your Inbox — Learn how to move through your inbox, locate messages, open and read emails, and navigate your messages efficiently.
- Email Navigation Commands — Discover useful keyboard commands and navigation techniques for working with email on your BT Speak and BT Braille.
- Ask Questions Live — Have questions as you follow along? You’ll have the opportunity to ask Ben during the live session.
This training is designed to provide practical techniques you can start using right away to make managing email on your BT device easier and more efficient.
Join Us Live: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81898316702?pwd=AJGvYEu2YkalB5NVb7CSHH9YF4uPbY.1
Meeting ID: 818 9831 6702
Passcode: 280318
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.
Everyone at the Braillists would sincerely like to thank our sponsors and partners.
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.