Author: Matthew Horspool

Thank you to everyone who took advantage of our offer of free braille equipment. We unfortunately no longer have stock of any items, but if you would be interested in us acquiring more, please write to [email protected].

Last week, RNIB launched a new piece of work on Accessible Gaming. As the first step, they are conducting an online survey to gather some headline data on people’s experiences of playing screen based games. In addition to those which are traditionally perceived as high action video games, their research includes word and number games, puzzles, crosswords, strategy games and any other game which could feasibly be played on a computer or smartphone, and at least some of these are likely to be playable using a braille display.

The outcomes from this survey will define RNIB’s work on accessible gaming and they would really like to hear from people across different age groups, interests and with different sight conditions on how they feel about playing screen-based games with vision impairment.

In their initial focus scoping groups, they had some interesting discussions with Braille display users and then again during the pilot study. They sensed a strong interest in gaming and, following that, they agreed that the study should explore the requirements for all modalities including audio, haptics and Braille.

For more information or to take the survey, please see the article on the RNIB website.

The Braillists Foundation is thrilled to announce that it is now accepting registrations for its third “Braille for Beginners” course, which will take place over eight Tuesdays at 6:00 PM starting on 11 January 2022. This innovative and accessible programme will equip blind and partially sighted adults with the skills to read and write braille letters, numbers and punctuation, promoting unparalleled levels of independence and raising their confidence and self-esteem.

Dave Williams, Chairman of the Braillists and himself blind since birth, said: “For me, there is no greater privilege than being able to read bedtime stories to my son. Without braille, I’m certain I would not be able to do this. I’m therefore delighted that we are able to mark National Braille Week at the Braillists by unlocking the world of reading by touch for so many people who have never had the opportunity before.”

The course, which will take place on Zoom with a telephone dial-in option for those with limited or no access to the internet, will be delivered by a highly qualified tutor with extensive experience of teaching braille to adults who are losing their sight, and is offered at no charge. Required resources will be provided by post or download, and peer support and 1:1 assistance from the tutor will be available by email between sessions.

Further details and the registration form can be found at www.braillists.org/beginners

The lunchtime discussion with Sight and Sound technology held last Tuesday is now available for on-demand listening. Find it on Youtube here.

In this special episode of the Blind Spot podcast for National Braille Week, Thomas Pocklington Trusts Technology Manager Darren Paskell speaks to braille teacher Norma Williams about learning braille in later life. Listen to the podcast here.

This article was written for last yhear’s National Braille Week, but it was so good that we thought we’d share it again. Read it on the Look UK website.

We were touch to have been featured in an article on Build Back Ever Better, written by Tim Dixon, a previous Braille for Beginners participant. Read Tim’s article here.

We are “the go to braille people” and “the UK’s biggest braille cheerleaders”, according to a new article from London Vision. Read it here.

Are you thinking about learning braille, but dont’ know whether it’s worth it? Did you learn braille as a child, but haven’t used it since? Do you know braille and want to use it in your daily life, but can’t work out where it will fit? Are you bamboozled by braille technology, gadgets and gizmos?

Join our panel of passionate Braillists to explore how to overcome common obstacles faced by people who could benefit from reading by touch. You will hear a diverse range of perspectives from braille learners to braille experts, technology enthusiasts to people who just need to get on at home or in the workplace. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and contribute your own tips and suggestions.

We’ll be starting at 7:30 PM on Tuesday 12 October. The link for this event is different to usual, so you will need to re-register. This is a quick and easy process, but if you get stuck, please email us at [email protected] and we will process the registration for you.

Register for Connecting the Dots in 2021 here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkcuCppj0vHNY35tbIeyesSozi8V43DFcT

We hope you will join us as we celebrate national Braille week.

What are you doing to promote braille? Or, more importantly, what could you do to promote braille that you’re not doing already?

We’ve had landmark successes over the years, such as making it a legal requirement to include braille on bleach and pharmaceutical products.

We’ve also seen successes which feel smaller in isolation, but which nonetheless have a big impact. Many more restaurants have braille menus now compared with 20 years ago. Braille signage in public places is more commonplace, even if sometimes it’s attached upside down!

There are undoubtedly personal successes too. Maybe you’ve built braille labelling into your routines, or someone’s sent you a braille birthday card for the first time.

Wherever you are on your braille journey, we’re inviting you to do something you wouldn’t usually do to promote braille this National Braille Week. The more creative, the better!

And if you can think of something by Tuesday evening, be sure to come to our Connecting the Dots event and share it with us!