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.
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:
Roger Steinberg, Product Manager Low Vision Products
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
“So many products, so little time!”
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.
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.
Register for Hands On With Braille
To join by phone, please use these details:
Phone number: 0131 460 1196
Meeting ID: 812 7592 9751
Passcode: 123456
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:
Meeting ID: 880 5353 3826 Passcode: 849106
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.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. eastern time and will last for one hour. The meeting will be recorded. To access the meeting, go to https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1603971745?pwd=AAyByFXmbZ94WHMCroPt1Iw28Se5mU.1
Meeting ID: 160 397 1745
Passcode: 471174
If you choose to dial in to the call, use the telephone numbers provided below. The Zoom.gov ID will not work with standard Zoom.us.
+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)
+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)
+1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)
+1 551 285 1373 US (New Jersey)
Remember that the meeting is recorded. Do not speak if you do not wish to be on the recording.
You can find recordings and transcripts of previous That All May eRead programs on the NLS website at www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/that-all-may-eread.
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:
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.
Hello!
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.
If interested, please email: [email protected]