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Day 18: 31 Days of Braille

Luis Perez on Braille

January is Braille Awareness Month in honor of Louis Braille’s birthday on January 4, 1809.

On a recent episode of the AT Banter podcast, Luis Perez, universal design advocate spoke about the value of braille. As with all their podcast interviews, this one was informative about the direction universal design was moving in, the impact on employment, ADA and legislation, but the conversation turned to braille at 40:25  into Episode 83. Here there was a great discussion of the value of low tech systems, like braille that work when tech fails, the value of teaching braille in school, and learning braille as an adult, as Luis and at least one of the moderators did.

At one point Perez speaks about looking for a “disruption” in refreshable braille technology–that is, a change in both the way the pins on the existing braille displays work and contribute to the cost, and the need for a dramatic reduction in the cost of braille displays…but I’ve written enough! Listen to AT Banter, Episode 83!

In the six years since that interview, the cost of braille displays has come down significantly, to the point where the National Library Service (NLS) is able to provide a display to patrons requesting one to read books in digital braille.

Be sure to check out the Double Tap podcast, Braille at 200 series for updates on braille in education.

Learn braille yourself: Hadley has several ways to learn braille—the Braille by Touch workshop series, and the Braille by Sight series. Registration is free. Call Hadley Help Desk at 800-323-4238 for more info.

#31DaysofBraille. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions about #31DaysofBraille? Send an email to lowvisiontech at gmail.com, tweet to @lowvisiontech, or leave a comment on the LowVisionTech Facebook Page.

Day 17: 31 Days of Braille

Day 19: 31 Days of Braille

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