Author: Matthew Horspool

A statement from the joint ICEVI/WBU Global Braille Literacy Campaign, 20 April 2026

For blind children, braille builds the same foundation that printed books give sighted kids: spelling, grammar, structure, and the power to write their own story.

And mathematics? You can’t listen your way through an equation. Braille gives children the tactile access they need to understand mathematical notation, work through problems, and truly master numbers — not just hear them.

Audio tools are great — but they can’t replace the independence that comes from reading, writing, as well as doing math in braille.

Braille equals confidence. Braille equals opportunity. Braille equals a future without limits.

More Braille means more empowerment. More Braille means more opportunity.

#MoreBrailleMoreEmpowerment #BrailleBuildsFutures #GlobalBrailleLiteracyCampaign

For information, contact ICEVI and WBU:

Email: [email protected]

Visit websites: https://wbu.ngo/about/global-braille-literacy-campaign; https://icevi.org/icevi-wbu-global-braille-literacy-campaign/

Our popular Braille Bar returns this Tuesday at 7:30 PM. No question is too small, from kit to code – just ask and our experts will assist you!

Register for the Braille Bar here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtdOyopjMiHdyORwRuXacnY9IrA4lVN2Bh

Or, to join by phone, use these details:

• Phone number: 0131 460 1196
• Meeting ID: 880 3508 8878
• Passcode: 123456

Join BITS and presenter Nicki Keck for Braille Across Devices.

When:  Wednesday April 15 at 8:00 PM Eastern (5:00 PM pacific).

Where:  BITS Zoom

Join Blind Information Technology Solutions (BITS), and presenter Nicki Keck, for Braille Across Devices.

This presentation will include an overview, and demonstrations of setting up the Brailliant BI 20X/Chameleon 20, the Mantis Q-40, and the Focus 14 Blue from Freedom Scientific, on Windows, IOS, and Android.

We will also take a look at how to get help navigating each of the devices.

Nicki will switch between each device when demonstrating setup, so there will be a variety of methods demonstrated.

Register on Zoom

If you have a problem registering for this event, please contact:

Brad Snyder

BITS Presentations Chair

[email protected]

The Braille Revival League is a special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind which is interested in doing all that it can to promote the use of braille.

One of its activities is a bimonthly zoom call which happens on the third Wednesday of even-numbered months. Our meeting will happen on April 15 at 8:30 PM Eastern time.

Much of our meeting this time will be devoted to exploring some of the new braille technology products that have been released this year or are soon to arrive on the market. Humanware will release the BrailleNote Evolve. Selvas BLV will be issuing the BrailleSense 7. Orbit Research has two new lines of braille products. Hable is marketing the Hable Easy braille keyboard.

In addition to exploring all of these products we will hear from our President about our convention program that will happen in St. Louis late in July!

Patty Slabby is now President of our organization but has been kind enough to allow Paul Edwards to continue to run this activity!

Patty and Paul and the rest of the Board hope you can join us as we explore braille technology that has been released in 2026!

Want the Zoom link? Email Paul Edwards on [email protected]

Discover how KeySoft and Windows work seamlessly together with the new BrailleNote evolve.

Join Andrew Flatres and Rachel Ramos for a live demonstration of BrailleNote evolve: a full Windows 11 computer in a convenient, travel-sized braille notetaker form factor.

In this session, you will:

• Learn why BrailleNote evolve was designed
• Explore the device through a guided physical overview
• Get a tour of the intuitive Main Menu
• Discover enhancements to the full Microsoft Office suite
• See how JAWS and NVDA integrate seamlessly with Windows, keeping braille at the center of the experience

This will be an information-packed session you won’t want to miss.

Register for the webinar

The Rules of Unified English Braille (RUEB) is the definitive reference book for all things Unified English Braille. It covers all the signs available in UEB and the rules for using them.

The International Council on English Braille (ICEB) published the 3rd edition (2024), superseding the 2nd edition (2013). Highlights in the new edition include:

• a comprehensive index
• more cross references
• inclusion of all the rules and symbols since the 2013 2nd edition

New symbols include the tick (✓) and German sharp S ß; there are clarifications about shortforms including medial capitals, updated rules for quotation marks and more.

You can download print (PDF) or braille (BRF) copies from www.iceb.org and now we are delighted to announce that you can purchase hard copies in print or braille from RNIB.

Go to shop.rnib.org.uk, or call RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

Product references:

• TC21463P – Rules of Unified English Braille 3rd ed (print)
• TC21463B – Rules of Unified English Braille 3rd ed (braille)

Bristol Braille Technology recently launched the Canute Scientific. For a taste of what it can do, they’re now uploading some videos to their Youtube channel.

First, a quick audio described overview of the device: The Canute Scientific Braille display: audio description

In this one Holly and Steph demonstrate the Braille chess game Holly wrote. It’s a great example of how you can create and adapt applications to make the Canute Scientific truly your own: Braille Chess on the Canute Scientific

If you are registered for our Braille for Beginners On Demand course, our next Office Hours session will take place on Tuesday at 7:30 PM. Please look out for a reminder email containing your unique joining link. If you have not received it by Tuesday lunchtime, please write to [email protected] for assistance.

If you are new to braille and not registered for Braille for Beginners, please consider signning up at www.braillists.org/beginners.

For people not following Braille for Beginners, your next session will be next Tuesday. Please see next week’s Newsletter for more information.

You’re invited to join Blazie Technologies for their April webinar.

We’ll be lifting the lid regarding upcoming features in our next update, including some live demos. We’re excited to show you what we’re cooking up in our lab as well as answering your questions.

Tuesday, April 7

Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Time

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89320198762?pwd=cjn48EFF5obAq7qhMWpa7Jlkm9o4Pq.1

Meeting ID: 893 2019 8762
Passcode: 5017304

Join BITS, as we welcome Humanware’s Joel Zimba and Rachel Ramos, as they introduce the exciting BrailleNote Evolve.

When:  Tuesday April 7 at 8:00 PM Eastern (5:00 PM Pacific).

Where:  BITS Zoom

Looking for a full-fledged, portable computing solution? The BrailleNote Evolve delivers.

Join Blind Information Technology Solutions (BITS), as we welcome HumanWare Blindness Product Specialists Joel Zimba and Rachel Ramos, (), where they will walk you through the BrailleNote Evolve’s design, interface, and real-world applications – from note-taking to full Microsoft Office productivity using Windows 11 Pro, JAWS, and NVDA—all with braille at the core.

Bring your questions, and get ready to increase your knowledge about the BrailleNote Evolve!

Register here on Zoom

If you have a problem registering for this event, please contact:

Brad Snyder

BITS Presentations Chair

[email protected]