News

The recording of our June training session is now on our Web site, introducing users of BT Speak and BT Braille to the desktop mode. Here’s a direct download link.

If you missed our latest monthly webinar, it’s now available on our Web site’s Guides and Media page and on YouTube. We demonstrated using contracted Braille in desktop mode, chapter navigation in the Podcasts app and answered questions from participants.

Following the article in our last Newsletter, Jackie Brown has published a series of heartwarming tributes to George Bell on her website. You can Read the tributes here.

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/

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.