Current Newsletter - March '99

Volume 8: NO. 1

Standardization of Abbreviated French Braille

In 1996, the Quebec Minister of Education worked with a committee of experts to revise the extensive abbreviated format of written French braille.  Groups that had not initially been consulted have now also contributed to the project.  The Ministry of Education has begun to implement the abbreviated format within the Quebec schools.

Following several meetings between groups and organizations related to visual impairment issues, the Minister of Education assigned the mandate to the Office des personnes handicap'es du Qu'bec to see that a Quebec committee dealing with the standardization of French braille is established. This newly established Quebec Consultation Committee includes representatives from various ministries, the education field, related groups, and braille production centres.

The committee raised two significant issues. First, committee members hoped that this new outreach project on the abbreviated format would be tested with braille users who have completed their studies. To achieve this goal, sixty-nine people, including seven francophones from outside Quebec participated. Results will be presented in November 1999, during a special assembly organized by the Regroupement des aveugles et amblyopes du Qu'bec (RAAQ), an organization designated to oversee this project.

The second issue related to the implementation of the project on an international basis for all French- speaking countries.  In March 1997, a Quebec delegation to Paris developed guidelines for the international implementation of the standards.  The delegation consisted of representatives from the Government of Quebec, related groups and Mr. Jean M'd'ric Paul Losier from the Canadian Braille Literacy Foundation.  The delegation's main goal was to explore the establishment of an international commission for French Braille.

Representatives from the two national commissions on braille in France were involved in the discussion: the Standing Committee on French Braille from the Departments of Labour and Social Affairs chaired by Jean-Marie Cierco and the Braille Commission from the National Committee for the Social Promotion of Blind Persons (CNPSA) chaired by Louis Ciccone.  Representatives from Belgium and
Switzerland were also present at the meeting with Mr. Cierco.

The Quebec Consultation Committee on Abbreviated Braille presented a proposal on the potential role, mandate, and composition of this international commission on braille.  This proposal is currently being studied by all countries concerned and an agreement in principle is expected soon.  If the commission is approved, it will be directed by the Forum for French-Speaking Countries from the World Blind Union (soon to be called the Francophone Blind Union) which is currently in the process of integrating this project internationally.

On behalf of the Quebec Consultation Committee on Abbreviated French Braille, I wish to thank the Canadian Braille Literacy Foundation and the Canadian Braille Authority, which supported the dialogue to standardize French braille
President, Dolores Ferrara Godzieba, Associated Services for the Blind was confirmed for a third and final term. The Vice-President is Betty Niceley, National Federation of the Blind. The Secretary is Phyllis Campana, American Printing House for the Blind. And the Treasurer is Charlotte Begley, Clovernook Center Opportunities for the Blind.

Unified Braille Code (UBC) Evaluation Report

By Darleen Bogart

The evaluation results have been received for North America, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria and South Africa. The results from the United Kingdom are in the process of being analyzed. The results presented in this report are for North America.

The UBC Research Project Committee received two hundred and twelve responses, approximately one- third of those who received the evaluation package. They were made up of: braille readers (36%); transcribers (28%); teachers (21%); and proofreaders (14%). Two-thirds of the respondents read braille by touch. The mean for years of experience reading braille was 34 years. While the mean for material read in braille was 64%, 32% of the respondents preferred all their reading material in braille.

All evaluators were asked to give their opinion on eighteen new symbols, seventeen changed symbols, five contractions proposed for elimination and twenty concept questions. Those evaluators who indicated they currently read technical materials in braille were asked to respond to an additional concept question, and their opinion about thirty-seven new and four changed technical symbols.

There was overwhelming support for:
* the readability of the code over accuracy of computer translations; the concept of unambiguous symbols;
* a definite beginning and ending for a multi-cell symbol;
* no major changes to grade 2 contractions;
* UBC should have a base code and method for creating technical extensions;
* all braille readers should learn basic technical symbols;
* 6-dot cell for the code;
* UBC should encompass grade 1 and 2 braille; and
* that it should serve both beginning and advanced readers.
When the specific aspects of the proposed UBC code were identified, there was moderate support (60- 65%) for:
* UBC can more accurately represent print; and
* the use of the grade 1 indicators clearly show the extent of a grade 1 section within a grade 2 passage.

Only lukewarm support was received for the concept of dropping a few contractions for rule violation or ambiguity.

There were differences between the non-technical and technical readers. Ten percent more technical readers favoured the UBC code for all reading matter (except music).  The technical readers also supported the concept that braille should accurately reflect print even if it is necessary to change some symbols, and the retention of series (e.g. and, for, of, the, with, to, into and by).

Respondents with technical knowledge were also asked how they would receive the whole word contraction "to" spaced from the word following. Fifty-nine percent of the technical readers were in favour compared to only 46% of the non-technical readers. Regarding the question of whether "by" should be written out and spaced from the following word, 64% of technical readers and 54% of the
non-technical readers were in favour.

Significant difference was recorded for the capital passage indicator. While 81% of the technical readers were in favour, only 52% of the non-technical readers were in approval. There was over a 25% difference between the two groups for more typefaces with only 29% of the non-technical readers approving. Only 36% of technical readers approved of provision for 6 separate quotation marks.

In the section dealing with the thirty-five specific new and changed symbols there was good support among technical readers for these symbols, with the following exceptions: non-directional double quotes, right directional double quotes, times (when an x), plus, equals, decimal, ellipsis and the italicized word indicator.  Among the non-technical readers there was good support for these 35 symbols with the following exceptions: non-directional double quotes, left directional double quote, times, plus, right parenthesis, right bracket, all begin typeface indicators, inch, %, dash and asterisk.

The evaluators were asked if they would favour keeping five contractions even though there would be ambiguity (ble, into, by, com and dd). The non-technical readers favoured the retention of all by votes of 44-58%. The technical favoured dropping "ble" and 57-63% favoured keeping the other four contractions.  For the forty-one technical signs there was overwhelming support from the technical readers for the proposed signs except for two: begin and end sans serif passage indicators, which only got two thirds support.

In comparison, most of the countries outside North American gave overwhelming support, although Nigeria wanted fewer changes than the rest.  A common concern internationally related to: quotes, typeface and contractions (no change wanted).

Many of the evaluators took the time to write comments and many of them did so in the UBC code. The comments have been sent to all the working committee chairs.  Reports of the working committees will be the main agenda item at the General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB), to be held the beginning of November, 1999 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Canadian Braille Literacy Foundation
Summary of Funds Allocated, 1992-1998
 

Refreshable Braille Camp

By Mike Bartlett, Provincial Coordinator, SET-BC

In August of 1998, the Special Education Technology British Columbia program (SET-BC) and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, B.C. - Yukon Division (CNIB) held Virtual Camp 98 at the CNIB's Bowen Island Lodge. The week long camp involved sixteen secondary students who use braille in school and have significant academic requirements that can be met through advanced technologies, such as refreshable braille displays and screen reading software.

A typical day at Virtual Camp 98 began with student and staff small group activities that took advantage of the camp's spectacular outdoor setting.  Each morning the students received two hours of instruction, during which time various software packages, word processing, and the Internet were explored.  Using assistive technologies, students were able to investigate the features of many challenging computer programs.

In the true spirit of the summer camp, afternoons were devoted to a range of recreational activities, including hiking, swimming, tandem bicycle riding and boating in the coastal waters.  Before dinner, the students were back in the computer lab for more instruction.

One of the more popular activities at the camp was computer chat.  With some help from Internet gurus, the SET-BC technical staff took a standard chat program and customized it, so that people who are blind could enter virtual chat channels and receive auditory feedback.  This program is available through the SET-BC Web site: (http://www.setbc.org)

Students had the use of technology on most evenings, as well as free time to socialize.  On Talent Night, the students demonstrated their aptitude for both music and comedy.

A program to train B.C. vision teachers was an important component of the camp.  Nine vision teachers took part in activities and had their own computer lab time to help them keep up with their students.  The teachers who participated were able to interact with students in an informal environment, learning from each other as they progressed.

Virtual Camp 98 was made possible as a result of a unique partnership forged between SET-BC and the CNIB.  In this instance, the CNIB provided the facility, the camp staff, and all the requisites to produce a splendid event.  SET-BC provided the training, curriculum and technology that will further the needs of the participating students.  Other community agencies, school boards, parents and volunteers combined their efforts to make this event truly successful.

What did the students think of the camp? On the final evening, each student was presented with a certificate of participation, and many took the opportunity to express their thanks for the "awesome experience".  Here are a few of their responses:

"The Internet chat was the best time I ever had on a computer.  The only thing I would like is if this Camp were longer."

"I enjoyed refreshable braille.  The technology will help me in my classes next year by letting me look up things on the Internet faster, and working in two documents at the same time."

"With your support you allowed kids to come to Camp, to feel safe, have fun, and learn useful and interesting things."

French Braille Committee

By Pierre-Paul Belanger

The French Braille Committee of the Canadian Braille Authority has been established to provide information on the developments of French braille and to keep members up to date on the work of the Quebec Consultation Committee on Abbreviated Braille.  The committee will also promote the teaching of braille to all Canadians who speak French.

I wish to express my thanks to the Canadian Braille Literacy Foundation and the Canadian Braille Authority which enabled us to carry out the projects and improve the discussions relating to the standardization of French braille.

Braille Teaching and Learning Committee

By Debbie Sitar

The main agenda for the committee is to review Cay Holbrook's draft of the report on Braille Standards in Canada and other jurisdictions.

Promotion of and Access to Braille Committee

The parent's kit on braille was launched in October 1998.  The committee is also working on the plans for the International Braille Day.

New Grants from Canadian Braille Literacy Foundation

The Canadian Braille Authority is pleased to announce that it has received two new grants from the Canadian Braille Literacy Foundation. The first is for a plan and standards for cataloguing tactile graphics ($30,000). The second is for the coordination of an International Braille Day ($25,000).

Tactile Graphics Research Sub-Committee Report

By Constance Craig and Pierre Ferland

In November 1998, the members reviewed the outstanding issues of the original grant proposal on the Tactile Graphics Research project funded by the Canadian Braille Literacy Foundation.

The committee concluded that the second objective of the original proposal on the central catalogue of tactile graphics would not be possible until there was standardization amongst the production houses. There was agreement that cataloguing would require the advice of professional cataloguers, requiring different expertise than was available on the committee and should therefore be tackled as a separate project.

The major objective of the project was to test the use of tactile graphics by students. After a careful review of the potential test groups, the majority concluded that this project would have to severely limit the range of potential candidates and that the test kits should be designed and tested by students between grades 7 and 12 (13 in Ontario).

On Saturday, the group worked on determining the production methods and objects/subjects that should be included in the test kit.  At the May Meeting, four methods of production were suggested: spur- wheel-on-paper, collage (cut-and-paste)masters, Thermoform product (copy) and stereocopy.  The current committee suggested a slightly different approach. The committee agreed that the methods tested should be those used by major production houses which fall into two categories: computer- designed and hand-designed.  For computer-designed graphics, the group wished to test three products - computer-embossed, stereocopy, and ink-jet (Graphtak) products.

The group concluded that only thermoform copies of collage masters should be provided because of the prohibitive cost of distributing the original. Since the main objective of this project is to test the
Interim Measures, the group thought that thermoform masters would be a valid substitute for the original. The four hand-designed techniques to be tested through the thermoform masters were: raised line/spur wheel, collage, foil and sculpture.

The original five subject areas were expanded to seven.  In order, they are:

1.   Simple shapes, to test angles and solid versus outline objects. Sculpture technique would not be tested;

2.   External biology (various cats), to test pattern effect on real objects, four versus two legs, outline, flat and "3D" effectiveness;

3.   Graphs (includes pie, bar and line graphs), to test number keys versus letter keys and textures, accuracy of interpretation, grid lines.  Sculpture and foil methods would not be tested;

4. Structures
    a.   Systems (includes atoms, solar systems, life cycles), to test keys, effectiveness, overlapping material,
          dealing with small objects in a large system;
    b.   Objects (buildings, vehicles), to test perspective, top versus plan views, and keys/legends;

5.   Maps (Canada), to test lines, points and area textures, land over water, water texture, letter/number keys, legends. Sculpture method would not be tested;

6.   Internal biology, to test similar problems to Maps, but would also include the problem of incomplete objects;

7.   3-D, to test whether any of the three methods currently used are effective, need for transcriber's notes or legends.

Co-chairs:
Constance Craig - Producer, CNIB Library for the Blind, Toronto
Pierre Ferland - Tactile Proofreader/user, INLB, Longueuil

Members:
Diana Bissett - Tactile Proofreader/User, Toronto
Dr. John McConnell - Vision Consultant, APSEA, Fredericton
Irene Miller - Producer, MRC, Edmonton
Freya Martinot - Vision Consultant, Manitoba Board of Education, Winnipeg
Researcher: Yet to be identified.

Consultants:
Edie Mourre - Chairperson, English Braille Standards Committee, Winnipeg
Debbie Sitar - Chairperson, Teaching and Learning Committee, Winnipeg

CBA Listserve

CBA now has an unmonitored open listserve to provide a forum for members to discuss issues on braille.