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Braille could be changing - have your say

Summary: About Unified English Braille (UEB) and what it will mean for you.

• UEB explained
• Sample booklet of different types of material

The Braille Authority of the United Kingdom (BAUK) is conducting a nationwide consultation exercise on Unified English Braille (UEB). It is hoped that as many people as possible who have any interest in braille will participate in this consultation so that the responses to a short questionnaire will be of most value to BAUK when deciding whether or not to recommend that UEB should be introduced in the UK.

UEB explained

UEB is an international project designed to update the current braille codes used in English-speaking countries. The main design goal is to bring ordinary literary braille and specialist braille (such as maths) into a single unified code. Adoption across different countries is also seen as a major benefit.

UEB deletes a few contractions and makes some changes to the rules affecting others; a few braille signs used in literary braille are also altered. But for most braille readers the changes would not be great. On the other hand, for technical material such as maths and computing the differences are more wide ranging.

Sample booklet of different types of material

BAUK has produced a small booklet of samples of different types of material transcribed into UEB, so that you can get a realistic feel for how UEB would be, if used as the braille standard in the UK. We would ask you to read the UEB samples and then take a few minutes to answer the questions on the questionnaire and return it to BAUK, so that your views can be fully taken into account in the analysis of responses.

If you haven't yet got a copy of the booklet, which includes the samples and questionnaire then you can download it from BAUK or you can obtain a print/braille/electronic copy from Janine Barker: Telephone: 01733 375100
Email: Janine.barker@rnib.org.uk
Address: RNIB PO box 173, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6WS

You may submit your response to the questionnaire in braille, typescript, clear handwriting, electronic word or text file or read your response over the phone - full details are given in the booklet

The closing date for receipt of completed questionnaires is Tuesday 30 September 2008.

Content author: janine.barker@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 27/06/2008 15:56