Latest News
- Register for the ACB National Convention: Deadline 6 July
Registration for the 2026 American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention is open until Monday, July 6th, at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
There are a number of braille-related presentations as part of the program.
The discounted registration fee for ACB members is $55, and $70 for non-members. If you are not a member, you can join ACB as a member-at-large for $10, enabling you to save $5.
There are two ways to register: online at https://members.acb.org/, or via telephone:
Please call Janet Dickelman at 651-428-5059 and leave a message with your name, phone number, time zone, and whether you plan to attend the convention in-person or virtually.
Further information can be found at: https://acbconvention.org/
- Seeing Braille; Wait I Thought I Had to Feel Braille, Friday 17 July, 4:00 PM-5:15 PM
From the Braille Revival League at the ACB National Convention
Seeing Braille, a program for the PC, lets blind or sighted presenters demonstrate braille to sighted audiences, in person or online. By exploring dot positions, letter patterns, numbers, punctuation, and uncontracted or contracted words or phrases, users can learn braille by sight and take the mystery out of braille for audiences such as parents, classmates of blind children, and the public in general.
Presenter: Neva Fairchild, American Foundation for the Blind, retired aging and vision loss specialist, Dallas, TX Co-sponsored by BRL and AABT
- Patty Goes To Peru, Friday 17 July, 5:30 PM-6:45 PM
From the Braille Revival League at the ACB National Convention
Patty Slaby will tell us about her inspiring Mission Trip to Lima Peru. She will share about her experiences at an orphanage where she presented and demonstrated how it is to live as a blind individual. She will summarize some of her adventures and describe the time she spent with the children being immersed in Spanish. Sponsored by AABT and BRL.
Presenter: Patty Slaby itinerant teacher of blind and low vision, Arcadia, Wisconsin.
- Braille Games, Friday 17 July, 8:30 PM-9:45 PM
From the Braille Revival League at the ACB National Convention
Come join BRL to play games based on the use of braille. BRL members will lead you in playing a few games using your knowledge about braille.
- Enhance your use of braille with four low-cost braille devices, Saturday 18 July, 5:30 PM-6:45 PM
From the Braille Revival League at the ACB National Convention
The Braille Doodle is a device with raised braille letters and a method of drawing. The VersaSlate is a paperless slate and stylus. The Hable is a device with braille input that can connect to other devices. Braille legos are a fun way to learn more about braille.
Presenters: Lucy Edmonds, retired, Michigan. Braille and Talking Book Library, Lansing MI. Audrey Schading, Braille Instructor, Lighthouse Guild of New York. Shanell Matos, assistive technology program leadership, Lighthouse Guild, New York.
- BRL AABT breakfast, Saturday 25 July
From the Braille Revival League at the ACB National Convention
Rejuvenate your knowledge of the history of Braille.
Presenters: Carlie Lee, community relations facilitator and Jane Herdth, director of outreach, Missouri School for the Blind, saint Louis, MO.
Carlie will cover the history of braille at the school and Jane will discuss about the use of braille in today’s world including technology and a program for deaf-blind persons. Hands on items will be available.
Co-sponsored by BRL and AABT.
- Selvas BLV Presentation, Sunday 26 July, 6:00 PM-7:15 PM
From the ACB National Convention:
Please Join Selvas BLV for a demonstration on the new BrailleSense 7 tablet and its new features including: Better organized user interface and menus, The Excel editor, touch Braille display, NVDA remote and more.
- APH Innovations: New Braille Products and Teaching Tools for 2026, Sunday 26 July, 9:00 PM-10:15 PM
From the ACB National Convention:
APH is excited to share new products and updates to our portfolio of braille and communication tools. Join Jim Sullivan and Katie Frederick for a fast‑paced look at innovations that put braille and instruction front and center.
- What’s New with HumanWare Technology, Monday 27 July at 11:00 PM-Tuesday 28 July 12:15 AM
From the ACB National Convention:
HumanWare welcomes you to join Joel, Roger and Kevin as they present on “What’s New with HumanWare”. More specifically, how HumanWare “redefines” what a BrailleNote is with the new BrailleNote Evolve. The exciting Evolve is a full Windows 11 PC coming to you in a compact form factor with 32 cells of Braille. The Evolve delivers a seamless braille first experience powered by NVDA and Keysoft. The HumanWare team will also discuss the current state of Victor Stream, Ray Ban Meta glasses and some of our popular low vision tools.
Presenters:
- Joel Zimba, Blindness Products Specialist
- Kevin Hughes, Regional Sales Manager
Roger Steinberg, Product Manager Low Vision Products
- LUA Presents News and Updates at NLS, Tuesday 28 July at 11:00 PM-Wednesday 29 July at 12:15 AM
From Library Users of America at the ACB National Convention
This is your opportunity to learn about what is happening at NLS. Hear about the future of NLS and ask questions about programs and services. Both Jason Broughton, NLS director, and Jason Yasner, NLS deputy director, will be on hand to engage in the conversation. Co-sponsored by BRL and AABT
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.