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Braille

Everything Braille related

UEB Online: The UEB Online website, administered by the Next Sense Institute (formerly the Renwick Centre, RIDBC, in Sydney, Australia) offers free, online training programs in braille literacy and mathematics using the Unified English Braille (UEB) code. Optional certificates of completion are available from NextSense for a small fee.

Braille (?) Needs Assessment
(d’Apice and Silveira, 2022)
Recommending to families and professionals that a student’s learning access needs would be well met by becoming a braille user can be challenging. The Braille (?) Needs Assessment will help guide you, the student, their family and their supporting professionals when making this decision.
The Braille (?) Needs Assessment summarises information about the student, and the main challenges they face in accessing print for sustained reading. As seen in the figure below, the BNA allows you to consider the student holistically including their diagnosis, their visual functioning, their current skills and also their preferences. Download information document Braille (?) Needs Assessment

  • ABC Braille: Website with free web-based tools to convert an image of paper braille to text, translate Braille to text and Text to Braille, and look up Braille contractions. For use on PC as well as mobile devices. Multiple language versions of Braille available. Developed by parents for parents (and teachers).
  • Braille Book Files:The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired braille book download page offers over 700 books in a variety of file formats. Many books are available in contracted and uncontracted braille.
  • Braille Bricks Generator: Use a 3D printer to create your own Braille LEGO bricks. You can download the files for free. Designed by Singular Device Maker Studio. On Thingiverse you can find many files to 3D print.
  • Braille Letter Songs: The 26 Braille letter songs include the braille dot numbers and alphabetic word sign contractions for each letter of the English alphabet. Dot numbers are linked to consistent musical pitches to ensure that each song has a unique melody and to assist with the memorisation of each letter’s braille formation. Queensland Department of Education’s Statewide Vision Impairment Services.
  • Braille Music Notator: Free online tool to create braille music scores. Usable by musicians with vision impairment (compatible with JAWS and VoiceOver), and also by sighted musicians and music teachers.
  • Braille Music resources: This valuable webpage from the Australian Braille Authority contains a number of braille music teaching resources and publications, as well as information on the National Braille Music Camp.
  • Children Learning Braille:Factsheet about the different types of braille, with information on the courses available for teaching children to read and write braille, and useful products and publications available to purchase from RNIB (UK).
  • Directory of braille services and products in Australia: This Directory gives an overview of braille services provided by organisations in Australia. Published by the Australian Braille Authority
  • DOTS for Braille Literacy :Development of Teacher Support, free newsletter by the American Foundation for the Blind. Published three times a year and available online (download) or in braille, by request.
  • Exploring Braille with Madilyn and RuffiPad app introducing young children with vision impairment to the Braille alphabet through a fun interactive, multi-sensory approach. To be used with refreshable braille display. Without the braille display sighted friends and relatives can also join in.
  • In Australia Braille Literacy Matters:Paper by Dr Gillian Gale, Renwick College, Australia. Presents and discusses several of the most important challenges currently facing the Australian education policy sector in attempting to safeguard braille as a viable medium. Published in Magazine of International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI), called The Educator, Vol. XIII, No. 1 – Autumn 2001.
  • Ozzie DotsA systematic program to assist students, their teachers and aides with learning to read and write the contracted braille code (Unified English Braille). A fun and light-hearted resource to introduce contracted braille and tactual graphicacy to young braille readers. Developed and published by Statewide Vision Resource Centre (Victoria, Australia).
  • Puggles Pieces: Personalised and unique pieces of tactile and braille jewelery and gifts (Australia).
  • Queensland Braille Writing Association:
    QBWA is a voluntary association of people specialising in tactual literacy. QBWA produces books and other resources in braille for children and adults, students of all ages, organisations and government departments. Also a free lending library of braille and moon books, and braille tutoring services.
  • RIDBC Louis Braille Bicentenary An overview of the history of braille and an introduction to the braille code
  • RoboBraille:A free e-mail and web-based service capable of automatically transforming documents into a variety of alternative formats for the visually and reading impaired. Available 24/7 as a self-service, everybody can convert digital text documents into speech (mp3), Braille, or ebooks. Range of different languages available.
  • Tack-Tiles Braille Systems:
    Based on LEGO-type blocks, these Braille blocks are tactile aids that support development of Braille literacy skills in a fun way. They can be used in combination with regular LEGO. Made in the US can be ordered from and sent around the world.
  • Teaching Braille reading fluency.....virtually: American YouTube video to get an idea of how to teach Braille reading virtually and increase your student's skills. By Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D., CEO, TechVision, LLC.