Latest News
- Hable One® Reader on VLANJ Tech Talks, Thursday 23 April at Midnight
Braille, Simplified – Accessible Reading & Navigation Made Easy
Featuring Guest Speaker: Alyssa Shock, Psy.D: Doctor of Counseling Psychology & Accessibility Advocate
Discover the Hable One® Reader, an innovative braille-first device designed to make reading and smartphone navigation more accessible, intuitive, and comfortable, especially for beginners and seniors.
Why Attend?
- Meet the Hable Reader: Learn how this compact device transforms braille reading and interaction with smartphones and tablets.
- Braille Functions Explained: Alyssa will demonstrate core braille features, including reading, input, and navigation shortcuts.
- Phone Navigation Made Simple: See how the Hable Reader connects to iOS and Android to make texting, reading, and app navigation easier and more efficient.
- Easy Mode for Seniors: Explore Easy Mode, a simplified interface specifically designed for older adults and users new to assistive technology.
- Confidence Through Access: Discover how intuitive tactile tools can promote independence, reduce frustration, and support lifelong learning.
About VLANJ Tech Talks
A free monthly online series featuring guest speakers and instructors sharing accessible technologies, helpful apps, and smart home innovations for blind and low vision individuals.
- Dot Pad X with BrailleSense, Monday 27 April at 5:00 PM
What happens when you combine the power of the BrailleSense with the revolutionary tactile graphics of Dot Pad X?
Join Dave Williams and Timothy Hornik from Dot Inc. with Jenny Axler from Selvas BLV for a special webinar to find out!
This session will share:
The work Selvas BLV has been doing to make the BrailleSense connect seamlessly with Dot Pad.
A live demonstration of Dot Pad X with BrailleSense.
Q&A with our expert panel.
- Braille Space at Bath Spa University, Wednesday 29 April, 4:00 PM-6:00 PM
BSU are hosting one of Bristol Braille Technology’s Braille Space events. These are a series of events, usually hosted at their workshop in Bristol, where people can get their hands on equipment, try things out, bounce some ideas round with like minded folk. This one is a bit special as they’ve been working with a group of students at BSU engaged in their Creative Industries Challenge. They’ve been set the task of developing a fun application for the Canute Scientific which introduces new users to the machine. BBT are hoping the guys will be able to show their progress so far.
To confirm attendance at Braille Space, please email: [email protected]
- 2026 Braille Literacy Canada Symposium – Six Dots, No Limits – Six Points sans Limites, Friday 22 May at 6:00 PM
Braille Literacy Canada / Littératie braille Canada is delighted to invite you to our 6th Braille Symposium, Six Dots, No Limits – Six Points sans Limites, taking place on the afternoon of Friday, May 22, 2026.
Join us from 1:00–5:00 PM EDT (10:00 AM Pacific, 11:00 AM Mountain, 11:00 AM Saskatchewan/Central, 2:00 PM Atlantic, 2:30 PM Newfoundland) for a fun and informative event. Whether you’re a braille reader, educator, transcriber, parent, producer, or passionate about braille literacy, this symposium offers something for you.
This year’s program features engaging presentations from international speakers, exploring topics such as:
- Expanding library accessibility for braille readers
- Emerging innovations in braille technology
- Adult braille learning journeys
- Integrating 3D models with braille and tactile graphics
Following last year’s success, with over 100 participants from across Canada and around the world, we’re excited to bring together vibrant and diverse speakers and topics. All presentations will be recorded.
The event is free for BLC members (including members of corporate member organizations) and $20 for non-members. Not yet a member? Annual membership is just $20 and open to Canadians. Visit our membership section to learn more.
Please note:
- Registration closes on Thursday, May 21, 2026
- Live automatic captioning will be provided (for the English presentations)
- Written transcripts will be available after the event
- Once you register, your request will be reviewed and a Zoom link will be sent to you within a few days.
If you have any questions, we’d love to hear from you at [email protected].
We look forward to welcoming you to an afternoon of learning, connection, and inspiration!
Agenda
- 1:00 PM (French) – Intégrer le braille dans les programmes des bibliothèques et partout
- 1:00 PM (English) – Unlocking lifelong literacy: What adult braille learners teach us about braille instruction, access and opportunity
- 2:00 PM – Crossing the Lines, Innovations in Digital Braille Technology
- 3:00 PM – Infusing braille into library programming and beyond
- 4:00 PM – 3D Printing for Tactile Mapping and Icons
Registration
Please note if you are attending the French presentation at 1:00pm and wish to continue attending the remaining English presentations from 2:00 – 5:00pm, you will need to register for both events. There are separate registration links for the English and French presentations.
Veuillez noter que si vous assistez à la présentation en français à 13h00 (qui est gratuite) et que vous souhaitez continuer à assister aux autres présentations en anglais de 14h00 à 17h00, vous devrez vous inscrire à la fois aux événements en français et en anglais. Il existe des pages d’inscription et des liens Zoom distincts pour les présentations en anglais et en français.
Register for the French presentation
Presentation Information and Speaker Bios
1:00pm (French): Intégrer le braille dans les programmes des bibliothèques et partout
Note: This presentation will take place in French.
Presentateurs: Ioana Gandrabur, Laetitia Mfamobani, avec Peter Field
Dans cette présentation, nous mettrons en lumière des ressources pour les bibliothèques mises en place par le comité de planification des Journées mondiales du braille 2026. Bien qu’initialement conçues pour marquer la Journée mondiale du braille dans les bibliothèques, plusieurs de ces idées peuvent être utilisées toute l’année par quiconque souhaite créer des programmes accessibles et inclusifs. Découvrez comment ces outils puissants peuvent promouvoir la littératie braille et sensibiliser à son importance.
Le Centre d’accès équitable aux bibliothèques, CAÉB, est une organisation nationale sans but lucratif qui offre des services de lecture accessible aux quelque cinq millions de personnes au Canada qui sont incapables de lire les imprimés. Le CAÉB donne accès à une collection de plus d’un million et demi de titres dans toute une variété de formats accessibles, notamment audio, braille, braille imprimé et texte. Les services de CAÉB permettent aux personnes incapables de lire les imprimés de partout au Canada de mieux participer aux activités d’apprentissage et à la vie professionnelle et communautaire. Ces services les aident à contribuer au développement social, culturel et économique de leur communauté et de la collectivité en général.
Le Réseau national pour l’accès équitable aux services de bibliothèque, également connu sous le nom de RNSEB, offre des services de lecture accessibles aux lecteurs ayant une déficience perceptuelle partout au Canada par l’intermédiaire des bibliothèques publiques. Sa collection d’ouvrages en formats alternatifs est détenue et gérée par les bibliothèques publiques canadiennes. Le RNSEB collabore également avec des partenaires internationaux, des bibliothèques, des lecteurs et des éditeurs, notamment au Canada, afin de rendre les livres disponibles dans des formats accessibles.
1:00pm (English): Unlocking lifelong literacy: What adult braille learners teach us about braille instruction, access and opportunity
Presenter: Natalie Martiniello, Ph.D.
What is it like to learn braille as an adult, and what can we learn from those who do? In this fire-side style conversation, we will highlight key take aways from research and practice on adult braille learning and literacy. We will explore the characteristics and experiences of adult braille learners today, the barriers and facilitators that shape their journeys, and the evolving role of technology in supporting braille access and learning in adulthood. Participants will leave with practical insights to strengthen adult braille instruction, policy, and access. This presentation will be of interest to adult braille learners, rehabilitation professionals who teach braille to adults, and anyone from the braille community who is passionate about supporting adult braille literacy. Join us as we take a brief dive into the world of adult braille learning research and celebrate the joy of lifelong braille literacy!
Natalie Martiniello is an Assistant Professor in the blindness and low vision rehabilitation program at the Université de Montreal, a lifelong braille reader, and a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist who has taught braille and access technologies to adults of all ages. She leads a research program that enhances adult braille learning and literacy, non-visual accessibility and participation for people who are blind or who have low vision. She is the Past-President of Braille Literacy Canada, the Chair of Research for the International Council on English Braille, and a Subject Matter Expert for the Academy for the Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Educational Professionals.
2:00pm: Crossing the Lines, Innovations in Digital Braille Technology
Presenter: Dave Williams
How do recent developments in multiline tactile displays, generative AI tools, and gamification of learning, support braille literacy, fluency and independence for blind readers around the world? In this presentation Dave Williams will connect you with the people, ideas and technology reshaping the future of braille and tactile literacy. We will explore how we can harness this progress to make braille more useful, more available, and more normal in everyday life.
Dave Williams (Chair, Braillists foundation, Customer Experience Manager, Dot Inc) is an experienced specialist in accessible technology, media relations, and inclusive design. His professional background spans audio production, community media and digital product testing, informed by his lived experience as a blind parent, international marathon runner, and award-winning volunteer. During his tenure as RNIB’s Inclusive Design Ambassador, Dave championed braille and tactile literacy, independence, and inclusion. Highlights included leading the Braille 200 celebrations across the UK, collaborating with Canon on the World Unseen tactile photography exhibition and with Sony Europe to spread accessibility initiatives such as tactile cues on product packaging. Dave has represented the UK on the Board of the DAISY Consortium and has been an active member of the European Blind Union Braille Working Group. In 2023 Dave received a Point of Light award from the UK Prime Minister for spreading braille and tactile literacy via the Braillists Foundation, a UK non-profit organisation he helped to establish and chair.
3:00pm: Infusing braille into library programming and beyond
Presenters: Ioana Gandrabur, Laetitia Mfamobani, with Peter Field (Centre for Equitable Library Access and National Network of Equitable Library Service)
In this presentation we will highlight resources for libraries put together by the World Braille Days 2026 planning committee. While initially conceived to mark World Braille Day in libraries, many of these ideas can be used all year long by anyone interested in creating accessible, inclusive programming. Find out how these powerful tools can promote braille literacy and raise awareness about the importance of braille.
The Centre for Equitable Library Access, CELA, is a national not-for-profit organization that provides accessible reading services to the approximately 5 million people across Canada with print disabilities. CELA provides access to a collection of over 1.5 million titles in multiple accessible formats, including audio, braille, printbraille and text. CELA’s services ensure that people with print disabilities across Canada are more able to fully participate in learning, work and community life and contribute to the social, cultural, and economic development and success of their local and broader communities.
The National Network for Equitable Library Service, also known as NNELS, provides accessible reading services to people with print disabilities across Canada through public libraries. Its collection of titles in alternate formats is owned and sustained by Canadian public libraries. NNELS also collaborates with international partners, libraries, readers, and publishers, particularly in Canada, to make books available in accessible formats.
4:00pm: 3D Printing for Tactile Mapping and Icons
Presenter: Leona Holloway
This presentation will look at the advantages of 3D printing over 2.5D tactile graphics for tactile mapping and explore some best practice examples, based on research using controlled comparative experiments, co-design and real-world usage. We will then focus on Tactions (small 3D icons for use on maps): how they were developed, guidelines and processes for designing your own, and their potential uses from professional public maps to marking landmarks on your own self-constructed maps.
Leona Holloway is a Research Fellow with the Monash Assistive Technology & Society (MATS) Centre in Melbourne, Australia. As an early adopter of 3D printing, she worked with the blindness community to explore the potential uses of 3D printing, provide evidence for its advantages, develop guidelines for its design and production, and support its adoption by education departments and blindness agencies across Australia. She is a recipient of the 2025 ACM SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award for her work on 3D printing for accessibility. Leona is the Chair of the Australia and New Zealand Accessible Graphics Group (ANZAGG) and its international 3D printing group, and author of the Round Table Guidelines on Producing Accessible 3D Prints.
- Job Vacancy: Access Specialists, Hertfordshire County Council
- Job Title: Access Specialists
- Starting Salary: £25,583 progressing to £28,142 pa pro rata (Actual approx. £21,882 progressing to £24,071 pa – pro rata for part time)
- Hours: 30 or 37 hours, Term Time Only (39 weeks)
- Location: Apsley – with travel countywide
- Contract Type: Permanent
- Directorate: Childrens Services
- Deadline: Monday 27 April 2026
- Interview date: Wednesday 29 April 2026 and Wednesday 6 May 2026
About the team
We are recruiting for 3 Access Specialists within the Vision Impairment Team. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Vision Impairment Team to support schools with modification of curriculum resources and activities for children and young people who will access their literacy through Braille/tactile diagrams alongside specialist technology plus supporting in the classroom.
About the role
You will work across Hertfordshire under the guidance of the Lead Access Specialists Qualified Teachers of Vision Impairment (QTVI). You will work with children and young people with vision impairment within schools or early years settings, providing direct classroom support, preparing teaching and learning materials and modelling best practice. You will help Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CYPVI) develop their Braille and specialist ICT skills.
Key responsibilities:
- Produce resources in line with the National Curriculum in an accessible format for individual children and young people with vision impairment, Braille, audio, concrete materials and 3D models.
- Mentor and train school-based staff responsible for meeting the needs of the CYPVI in modification of learning materials/experiences and the production of specialist resources.
- Support the training of staff and pupils in the use of specialist equipment.
- Work directly with CYPV Ito support the development of their Braille skills and deliver specialist programmes devised by QTVI.
- Contribute to the planning, monitoring, and recording of pupil progress.
- Liaise with school staff and other professionals within educational settings regarding learning materials for the child or young person with vision impairment.
- Undertake mandatory HCC and relevant specialist in-service training.
- Maintain awareness of current thinking and relevant developments, in order to improve and further develop service delivery.
About you
Essential requirements for this role:
- Experience of successfully supporting children or young people in a learning situation.
- A willingness to undertake further training to learn Braille, and to pass the RNIB Certificate in Contracted Braille (UEB) course and exam. In addition to this, you will be required to undertake the VIEW Partners in Learning – Advanced Certificate required for education support staff working with Vision Impaired students. You will have two years to successfully complete both courses.
- GCSE or Vocational equivalent – strong numeracy and literacy.
- Good ICT skills.
- Well-organised and able to meet deadlines.
- Ability to work independently and contribute as part of the wider team within the service.
- Committed to safeguarding, inclusion and continued professional development.
- Full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Desirable:
- A working knowledge of Braille.
- Experience of working with a child or young person with a vision impairment.
- Elizabeth Eagle-Bott Memorial Fund 25th Anniversary Concert: Call out for musicians
Deadline for expressions of interest: Wednesday 6 May 2026
Concert: Friday 3 July 2026
We are pleased to share this announcement which, though not directly related to braille, may be of interest to our community as braille music users are highly likely to have benefitted from this fund.
This summer, RNIB and Sound Without Sight are organising a concert on the 3rd July to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Elizabeth Eagle-Bott Memorial Fund, which provides one-off grants for blind and partially sighted musicians based in the UK.
We are currently trying to reach blind and partially sighted musicians who have previously received funding from the award and who may be interested in performing at the celebration, to help us raise awareness about the impact of this important fund. The call-out can be found here: Call-out for musicians: Celebrating 25 Years of the Elizabeth Eagle‑Bott Memorial Fund – Sound Without Sight
This is a voluntary opportunity but in recognition of each musician’s contribution to the event, they will receive:
- A high‑quality video recording of their performance
- A professionally mixed audio recording
- Professional performance photography
- The opportunity to showcase their work at a prestigious London venue to an invited audience.
- A contribution towards travel expenses
The deadline for submitting an application is the 6th May 2026. More details are provided in the call-out linked above. For more information, please contact [email protected]
- ICEB announces this year’s Mid-Term Executive Committee meeting is moving online
The Executive committee of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) has voted to move its mid-term executive meeting, scheduled to take place in August 2026, to be a fully online event.
Member countries and interested observers will be able to join via Zoom and input into the various discussions. More details on the online event will be posted in due course.
- Perkins Announces Braille Bloom: The Future of Braille is Here
This is the future of the Perkins Brailler. This is the future of braille.
Meet the Perkins Braille Bloom™ – a new device that gives you the power to bring braille to life on any screen.
With the Bloom, any Perkins Classic Brailler connects to the internet, becoming a modern, plug-and-play braille keyboard for computers, tablets, and mobile devices.
It’s real-time communication without barriers – instant and seamless braille-to-text translation for teachers conducting virtual lessons. For families staying close to their child’s learning. For kids who want to easily text with friends. And so much more.
How does it work? It’s easy! As the only official companion to the Perkins Brailler, designed with love by the experts at Perkins, the Bloom simply clicks into your Brailler and quickly connects via Bluetooth or USB.
It’s affordable. It’s innovative. It’s empowering. And it’s the next big leap for braille literacy. Are you ready to bloom?
- BrailleNote evolve is here: A new era begins
HumanWare is proud to officially launch BrailleNote evolve—a breakthrough in accessible technology and a new era of braille computing.
More than a notetaker
BrailleNote evolve is a braille-first, all-in-one companion computer, designed to grow with you. Built on Windows 11 Pro and powered by the trusted KeySoft experience, it brings together the simplicity of braille with the power and flexibility of a full computer.
Built for today. Ready for what’s next
For over 35 years, HumanWare has led innovation in braille technology. With BrailleNote evolve, we are redefining what a braille device can be—removing barriers to digital access and enabling users to do more, at every stage of their journey.
A powerful partnership that expands possibilities
Through our collaboration with Vispero, BrailleNote evolve can now be used with JAWS, offering users the option of a powerful, widely trusted screen reader for even greater flexibility and opportunity.
Users can build essential screen reader skills directly on the device, starting in a familiar KeySoft environment and transitioning seamlessly to JAWS when ready—creating a strong bridge toward independence, confidence, and professional success.
With six months of JAWS available, users can begin developing these critical skills immediately. Activation is simple—users just need to contact their local distributor to obtain their license, with the option to continue at a preferential rate.
Learn, transition, and succeed
BrailleNote evolve supports a seamless progression:
- Start with a structured, braille-first experience
- Build confidence with integrated digital tools
- Transition naturally to Windows and screen readers
With access to mainstream tools like Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, users can learn, create, and work in the same environments used in education and the workplace. From writing documents to working with math and graphing in Excel, BrailleNote evolve supports advanced tasks with ease. The KeySoft add-on seamlessly enhances these applications, bringing a familiar, braille-first experience that makes every interaction more productive and efficient.
Bridging the gap to the real world
BrailleNote evolve bridges the gap between braille learning and real-world digital skills—helping users develop confidence and access greater opportunities in education, rehabilitation, and employment.
Designed to evolve with you
From early learning to professional use, BrailleNote evolve adapts to each user:
- Simple, braille-first navigation for beginners
- Advanced workflows and productivity tools for experienced users
- Full access to Windows environments when needed
It’s a device that evolves alongside you—supporting independence, productivity, and long-term success.
Don’t wait—be among the first to get your hands on BrailleNote evolve. Orders are first come, first served.
BrailleNote evolve isn’t just a new product—it’s a new approach to braille computing.
Together, we are not just evolving a product—we are expanding possibilities.
- Read up to 10 lines of braille with Dot Book on iOS
Dot is pleased to introduce an important update to Dot Book, their free reading app designed for use with the Dot Pad X. Now available on iPhone and iPad, the latest version brings a more immersive and efficient braille reading experience.
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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.