Newsletter - August '97

Volume 6: NO. 1

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

By Darleen E. Bogart

Each year brings more accomplishments to The Canadian Braille Authority (CBA) and this, our seventh year, was no exception.

Research

Research projects, directed by the English Braille Standards Committee, its Sub-committee on Tactile Graphics, and the Teaching and Learning Committee, have been the prime activities for several years. Reports of the completed research projects have been translated into French and are now available for sale in print and braille in both official languages. We look forward to publication of the findings of the second phase of the tactile graphics study which will deal with the teaching and learning of tactile representations.

As liaison to the International Council on English Braille (ICEB), I was pleased to give workshops in Vancouver, San Diego and Toronto on the Unified Braille Research Project. The evaluation of the first phase of this large code development is imminent. CBA has just received a new grant which will ensure our participation in the completion of this important international project.

Communication and Promotion

Communication and promotion progressed with a greatly improved newsletter thanks entirely to the efforts of CBA good friends Mary Anne Epp and Fred Poon. They also finalized CBA's first pamphlet which is now available for distribution.

A new venture for CBA was a very successful booth at the Parents' Conference in October hosted by W. Ross Macdonald School in Brantford. Plans are underway for another at the Canadian Teachers' Conference in May.

The Technology Committee's pet project is a very informative home page on the World Wide Web.

The Committee on Promotion of and Access to Braille continued to move its agenda forward to the Ministers of Education and in partnership with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and the Canadian Braille Literacy Foundation to the parents of the blind children.

French

CBA was pleased to be able to support a creative French braille writing contest for children in conjunction with the French Forum. This meeting brought together representatives of French- speaking countries who attended the Fourth General Assembly of the World Blind Union in Toronto. CBA continues to give its attention to the development of one standard for French braille and to cooperate with all who share the same goal.

Challenges

Prime among the challenges facing CBA for the immediate future is to broaden our fundraising base so that CBA's mission can be more fully realized and the strategic plan implemented.

Friends

I wish to acknowledge, with great appreciation, the contribution made to support the work of The Canadian Braille Authority by so many friends, particularly those professionals across Canada who provided data for the research projects and the French translations, many of them donating most of their services. In-kind donations were made by agencies of committee and executive members, especially Institut Nazareth et Louis Braille, Manitoba Department of Education and Training and Alberta Education.

CBA is especially grateful to The Canadian National Institute for the Blind and Dr. Euclid Herie, CNIB President and CEO, for their continued considerable support and to Reta Irwin who runs the CBA office located at CNIB Toronto with great efficiency and devotion.

Another friend of CBA deserving special appreciation is the Canadian Braille Literacy Foundation for its generous support which enabled us to pursue our research goals.

This is a watershed year for CBA because the three longest serving charter executive members are leaving the Board after six years. They have shaped and guided this grassroots organization to ensure that it has the mission and plans to face the future. To Geraldine Braak, Arnold Jones and Judy Rannard go our most sincere thanks for your leadership, commitment and hard work on behalf of CBA. We know we can rely on your on-going support as we continue along the path to promote braille literacy across Canada.

And I thank the Board members for their interest and willingness to take on responsibilities, the Executive Members for their support, hard work and perseverance, and all of you for giving me the opportunity to serve as President this past year.

PROMOTION OF AND ACCESS TO BRAILLE COMMITTEE

By Mel Graham

This report covers activities between January 1996 and March 1997.

Interest in every aspect of braille, in North America at least, seems to be gradually picking up. The resurgence was noted at the recent third American Canadian Conference on Technology for the Blind in Baltimore, and we are anxious to see the claim can be substantiated by members of our task force. We note as well the continued growth of the National Federation of the Blind: Advocates for Equality with its strong pro-braille stance and its interest in promoting the NFB- sponsored "Braille
Readers are Leaders" program among Canadian school children. Incidentally, its last edition of The Canadian Monitor
carried an article I wrote called "A Quickie Course in the CBA". CBA some day might want to look at the possibility of
its formal inclusion as a national organization of the blind in a similar way to how it currently recognizes CCB.

On the day following CBA's last annual meeting, our committee met to review its situation and make future plans. The following activities resulted from those discussions.

Letter to the Ministers of Education

We identified the need to raise braille literacy for K to 12 students as an appropriate matter of concern to provincial departments of education. The most direct route seemed to be to present each of the ministers responsible with a letter expressing CBA's concerns that this population might lack the guarantee to basic literacy that is the entitlement of every student who uses regular print. Besides fully detailing the background and arguments to pertaining to our views, this letter would provide a generic model for a potential amendment to education acts, or as a stand-alone legislation, for study and use by departmental officials responsible for the drafting of legislation.

The project of providing parents with a hands-on understanding of braille has been on our agenda for some time. The expectation is that we will be working closely with CNIB's rehabilitation departments in getting these kits into the
hands of the parents who may be unaware of braille or apprehensive about braille use for their children.

Testimonials about Braille

Our third project involves the collection of testimonials on how braille has improved the lives of blind Canadians. This initiative requires further attention.

BRAILLE TEACHING AND LEARNING COMMITTEE

By Jim McClellan

The Standing Committee on Braille Teaching and Learning is composed of the following members:
Jim McClellan (Chair),
Debbie Sitar,
Brian Henschel,
Clair Babineau,
and Neil Graham.

The committee is conducting Phase 2 of the Tactile Braille Project. A draft focusing on the teaching and learning of tactile representations was produced in the Spring.

The survey report, Services to Children and Youth Who Uses Braille, has been published in limited quantities. Copies have been forwarded to the CBA Executive for decision regarding the disposition and action on the recommendations.

The committee has conducted a preliminary study of current Canadian qualifications for rehabilitation teachers. The results of this study will supplement the information contained in the report on services to students who use braille.

The committee anticipates collaborating with the Standing Committee on English Braille Standards on Phase 3 of the Tactile Project during 1997.

ENGLISH BRAILLE STANDARDS COMMITTEE

By Edie Mourre

The committee has completed several important projects.

The listing of Braille Producers in Canada has been completed and has been mailed out to all participants of the survey.

The three-part report on the Tactile Graphics Research Project Phase 1 has been completed and is available in print and in braille. Recommendations of the report include:

• That a multi-level certification process be developed for tactile graphics;

• That research and testing be conducted in order to establish standard design practices;

• That the production of tactile graphics for early learning materials be encouraged;

• That testing be conducted on the suitability of current production methods for various types of graphics;

• That the CBA seek help in designing catalogue procedures for tactile graphics;

• That the Interim Measures be adopted and used as standard guidelines for tactile graphic production;

• That a Tactile Graphics Standing Committee be established.

This committee submitted a proposal to the Canadian Braille Literacy Foundation for the funding of Phase 3 of the Tactile Research Project. Funding was not made available. The committee plans to develop a new proposal for funding the continuation of the project.

Ongoing work is being done on developing CBA braille standards.

FRENCH BRAILLE COMMITTEE

By Jacques Cote

The committee awarded financial support in the amount of $250 to five winners of the French braille
dictation called Le poincon magique.

The organization of the WBU and UMA (Union Mondiale des aveugles) held in Montreal on August 31-September 2 has taken a great deal of energy.

The French braille situation in the Province of Québec is a little bit confused at the present time. L'OPHQ (Office des personnes handicapees du Québec ) is building a committee to study the actual braille situation. At the end of its mandate, we hope that it will be possible to have a new vision.

TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

By Francis Drake

Redevelopment of CBA's Internet Web Site

The Web Site was totally revamped to make it more accessible, by making it more readable and providing all information in an easy textural format for access by individuals using speech and braille. The front page of the site has been changed to automatically switch into text mode, if the graphics option is not selected within the first 30 seconds. Again, this makes it much easier for individuals using adaptive technology.

All the data on the site relating to CBA is now current with full descriptions of all committees. New pages have also been added to the site: committee activities, publications, and events.

Technology Resources

The committee has started compiling a list of technology resources related to braille and technology for the visually impaired. This list will be maintained as part of the Web site and will provide a means for individuals to add new links. This will permit the resource list to be maintained with minimum effort.

Other Projects

The committee has been involved with several other projects, such as the production of braille from electronic format, preparing information on making software more accessible for braille and speech. However, I think that the technology committee has to take a strong look at how it approaches these projects. In other words, should the technology committee be carrying out this type of research, or should it be monitoring and publicizing research done by others, or working through a collaborative model through other organizations, who are more directly involved in the production of braille.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

By Fred Poon, Chairperson

The Publications Committee, comprised of Fred Poon and Mary Anne Epp, was appointed by the CBA Executive Committee in September 1995 to publish two newsletters a year, and to develop CBA Publications Guidelines.

The committee published two issues of the newsletter in 1996. The CBA Newsletter was given a professional look, complete with the CBA logo, masthead, and mission statement in both official languages. A single economical template was created for the newsletter to project one image for the Canadian Braille Authority.

The CBA newsletter was produced in the following formats to meet the needs of the membership: English print, English large print, English braille, French print, French large print, French braille, and an electronic version for the CBA Web site.

Production of all the formats was a collaborative effort involving many players. The English copies were produced in British Columbia and then a copy of the newsletter was sent to CNIB Toronto for French translations of the French print and French braille editions and the translation of the English copy into English braille. Special thanks go to Reta Irwin for coordinating the multiple translations so that they can be distributed simultaneously to all members in whatever format they require. The Chair also acknowledges the generosity of the CNIB National Office for the funding of the translations and the production costs.

The Chair also wishes to acknowledge the work of Langara College's George Kropninski and Elizabeth Chong for their assistance with graphic design, desktop publishing, secretarial help and distribution of the newsletters from the British Columbia front.

Mary Anne and I would like to encourage all CBA members to submit articles to the CBA Newsletter. Remember, it's your newsletter and its success and usefulness will depend on the contributions from the CBA membership!

CBA Brochure

Work on the CBA brochure started in Fall 1996 and printed copies are now available for promotion. The printing of the brochure was made possible by the generosity of Darleen Bogart, who donated her honorarium (from her speaking engagement at the British Columbia Vision Teachers' Conference, October 1996) to pay for the costs. The brochure is designed to assist with increasing the CBA profile and membership and also provide a means for CBA fund development from sponsors.

CBA Publications Guidelines

Significant progress has been made this year on the CBA Publication Guidelines and Visual Identity Program (VIP), which will provide a consistent format for all committees to follow for any new CBA publications and promotional materials.

CBA Pricing Guidelines

Fred Poon was a member of the working group appointed by the Executive Committee at the 1996 AGM to recommend pricing guidelines for CBA publications. The other two members were Arnold Jones (Chair and Past President) and Judy Rannard (Secretary).

Future Plans

The committee plans to work on the draft of the CBA Publications Guidelines and Visual Identify Program.
Two more issues of the CBA Newsletter will be published in 1997.

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTE

By Arnold G. Jones

The committee membership included Judy Rannard and Arnold G. Jones.

Four nominations were received for four vacancies. There being no further nominations from the membership by
February 12, 1997, the following persons began a 2-year term of office following the CBA Annual General Meeting,
March 22, 1997: Francis Drake, Mary Anne Epp, Brian Henschel, and Debbie Sitar. The Committee has been notified by CCB National President John Bullen that CCB's appointee to the Board is Kathy Nessner.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTE

By Judy Rannard

There has been no official membership committee struck for the past two years in anticipation of the implementation of the Strategic Plan.

Membership records have been maintained. Annual renewal notices and numerous reminder notices have been distributed.

The chair has also maintained an annual record of the date and timing of various duties that should be performed by the new Secretary.

The current membership base is a very solid and committed one, but much more recruitment could be accomplished with the implementation of the wonderful Strategic Plan that was ready for action one year ago.

Without a significant rise in the cost of an individual membership, a larger individual membership base would not necessarily translate into more available dollars for financing the CBA. It currently costs very close to the $20 annual fee to provide services to an individual member. However, corporate memberships of $240 should be pursued very actively. A larger membership base would ensure that the CBA is more widely known and recognized throughout all parts of Canada and would provide a larger number of individuals to assume some of the tasks associated with doing the work of our organization.

Here is the profile of members:

• Individual Members (English): 78

• Individual Members (French): 6

• Lifetime Members (English): 12

• Corporate Members: 15

• Family Members: 4

LIAISON TO THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON ENGLISH BRAILLE

By Darleen E. Bogart

The major activity of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) remains the Unified Braille Code Research Project. Research on its first phase, development of the base code, is completed. The evaluation of the first phase will take place in the participating countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, United States of America, and the United Kingdom.

The evaluation instrument has been prepared by Dr. Emerson Foulke of the International Braille Research Centre.
It has been vetted by members of the ICEB for cultural differences and is now in its final stages of preparation for
distribution to those braille consumers, educators and producers who volunteered to participate.

The second phase of the UBC project is underway to imbed the specialty codes (e.g., mathematics, computer notation, and chemistry).

The ICEB Executive will meet the first week in November in Pretoria, South Africa.

PARENTS CONFERENCE

By Susan Graham

I enjoyed representing CBA at the Parents Conference at W. Ross Macdonald School in Brantford, Ontario on Saturday, October 26, 1996.

Approximately fifteen CBA newsletters with accompanying membership forms were handed out. More people asked for newsletters, but I had run out. I gave out an additional eight or ten membership forms. People were asking how they could join CBA!

The participants were made up of slightly more parents than paid professionals. Many people showed an interest in what CBA is about and what we are attempting to do. Needless to say, I was pleased to see this degree of interest.

Much networking was accomplished and I gained first hand knowledge of some braille related issues.

The following anecdotes will give you an idea of my experiences that day.

A parent of a young braille user (age 6) asked if there was a Canadian braille book club from which she could buy books. She thought that the CNIB Library was not accessible to her because she lived in Bracebridge. I introduced her to Rosemary Kavanagh of the CNIB Library.

A middle-aged man who loves and uses the Nemeth braille code in his computer work asked me if the Nemeth code will be "destroyed" with the new braille changes of which he had heard. I told him he might like to read about those proposed changes. When I told him that any changes would not be in effect for many years, he said, "Good!"

A York University student from Orillia wanted to learn grade two braille so that she could write letters to her four year old sister who will be learning braille soon. She also wanted to know what computer programs she could get for her sister because this sister already had a computer and was "so smart".

A retired chemist, who has developed a process to create tactile illustrations, expressed an interest in braille standards and also in our tactile project books.

The RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) Foundation wanted to know if CBA could send a representative on November 2 to "man" a display at the annual conference in Toronto or at least send newsletters for distribution. I told them that this was impossible to do because of the short notice, but we would like to be included in future conferences.

The head of W. Ross MacDonald School's Resource Centre wanted to buy a copy of each of four project books for his department. He also asked for a CBA membership form. He was interested to know about CBA and our views regarding braille.

An administrator from the Low Vision Clinic at the University of Waterloo expressed an interest in CBA. I explained to her that sometimes there are people who need low vision services in conjunction with braille services as their vision fluctuates.

A parent of a six-month old baby who is blind said, "I'm glad that work like this is going on because my child will need
braille in a few years."

Some CNIB staff members from the branch offices were interested in looking at our different projects and asked to buy them when they become available.

A parent of two boys from Ottawa who are visually impaired was concerned that the Special Education staff did not consider the use of braille as a possibility for his sons. He asked where he could get an objective opinion. His sons have degenerative eye conditions and would both lose their residual sight.

One of the administrators from the Orientation and Mobility and the Rehabilitation programs from Mohawk College was impressed with our research project books, especially the tactile ones.

A staff member from the Special Needs Office from University of Guelph asked about CBA. She said that they had students who were blind, but these students were so advanced in their knowledge of technology that they didn't use braille except for the multiple choice parts of tests and some course outlines. When I asked what qualified staff they had doing this small amount of braille, she said she used a student volunteer who was blind and therefore had used braille in the past. She said that no texts were provided in braille to these students. As for technology, the university had a braille printer. Rosemary Kavanagh, who was planning to speak to College and University Special Needs staff on November 8, assured me that she would emphasize the need for and the advantages of braille.

Three to four parents asked me where they could go to learn braille so that they could help their children who use braille. These parents were from Orillia, Sharon, Sudbury and Brampton. The list will be sent to the CNIB braille office and also the Views for the Visually Impaired.

Vision itinerant teachers and orientation and mobility instructors from local school boards asked how they could buy our research project books.

In conclusion, I am convinced that we should seriously plan to become more visible as an organization by attending conferences, exhibits, etc. that are relevant to CBA's mission and goals. Also, I think we need to have our research projects for sale to those who want them.

FORMAN AWARD

By Margaret Andrewes

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind Library is pleased to announce that Darleen Bogart of Toronto, Ontario is the 1997 Dr. Dayton M. Forman Memorial Award. This annual award, introduced in 1996, is offered in memory of Dayton Forman who was an exceptional humanitarian and outstanding CNIB volunteer leader. It recognizes outstanding leadership in the advancement of library and information services for Canadians who are blind and visually impaired.

In announcing the award, Nancy Campbell, Chair of the CNIB Library Board, said, "For over thirty years, Darleen Bogart has demonstrated complete dedication in her volunteer work at the CNIB Library and with other national and international organizations. She has applied vigorous leadership in shaping library services for hundreds of thousands of blind and visually impaired readers in Canada and throughout the world." She highlighted Bogart's dauntless endeavour to promote braille literacy and passionate commitment to the development of standards for braille production through her work with the Canadian Braille Authority, the Braille Authority of North America and the International Council of English Braille.

The 1997 Dr. Dayton M. Forman Memorial Award was presented to Darleen Bogart on June 21 at the Canadian Library Association Conference in Ottawa, Ontario.

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRES (CAER)

By Kathryn Ribeiro

The Canadian Association of Educational Resource Centres for alternate Formats (CAER) is an organization of alternate format (braille, audiotape and large print) resource centres across Canada. The mandate of CAER is to provide educational alternate format materials to students, schools, colleges, and universities under their jurisdiction. These services are provided by circulating materials from their own "on-site" collections or through interlibrary lending (ILL) from other agencies or resource centres. When books are not available either locally or though interlibrary loan, the requested material is considered for production. Materials that already exist in provincial collections as well as those designated for upcoming or new production are immediately reported to the National Library of Canada Database of alternate Format Materials (CANUC:H).

Through this mechanism, all resource centres are able to search one database for both existing titles and any intended productions. This avoids costly production duplication as well as making the search for materials efficient. Students and teachers from out-of-province are usually required to request their materials first from their own provincial resources centres which then negotiate materials not available locally.

The membership of CAER currently consists of eleven resource centre managers from across Canada. They meet once a year are in touch frequently through other communication methods. In 1994, CAER requested that the CBA undertake a study of tactile production standards with the aim of providing Canadian guidelines. As a follow-up to this CAER request, the CBA is currently working on tactile production projects. These reports will be studied carefully and likely, over time, implemented by the resource centres.

One of CAER's terms of reference is to encourage the use of new technology, particularly as it relates to the production of alternate format materials. Our organization is anticipating that future close collaboration with the CBA technology committees would be useful.

Recently, CAER submitted a brief to the federal committees studying the new copyright legislation for Canada.

CAER anticipates ongoing close collaboration with other agencies and organizations who serve the print handicapped both in Canada and internationally.