Volume 12, No. 1
The resolution passed at the General Assembly of the International Council of English Braille in April, 2004 says: that the Unified English Braille code (UEB) is sufficiently complete and is recognized as a standard for English Braille and recommended to the braille authorities of the participating countries for adoption after
The resolution passed at the General Assembly of the International Council of English Braille in April, 2004 says: that the Unified English Braille code (UEB) is sufficiently complete and is recognized as a standard for English Braille and recommended to the braille authorities of the participating countries for adoption after consultation with stakeholders including consumers.
The Canadian Braille Authority resolved at its annual meeting in April 2004 to take a leadership role in the implementation of UEB in Canada by establishing an implementation committee and consulting with stakeholders including consumers. The CBA UEB Implementation Planning Committee (IPC) was established and met the fall of 2004 chaired by Ann MacCuspie and Darleen Bogart. Members are: Wendy Edey (consumers), Betty Nobel (adult educators), Anne Wadsworth (educators), and Richard Thompson (producers). Funds are being sought for further research on the technical strengths of UEB, development of training materials and conduction of workshops across the country. The IPC is to report to the CBA Board at its annual meeting in 2006.
This is the progress that has been made in the other participating countries since that date.
The Australian Braille Authority had continued their consultations with stakeholders and at their annual meeting May 15, 2005 adopted UEB as the standard for Australia with implementation encouraged within five years. (See Journal of Visual Impairment on Blindness, September, 2005.)
The Braille Authority of New Zealand held workshops across the country including ones for technical material. They adopted UEB in November 29, 2005 with the intention that, by the end of 2006, an implementation plan will be developed including input from all stakeholders.
The Nigerian Council of the Blind (Braille) adopted UEB in February, 2005.
Braille South Africa adopted UEB for South Africa shortly after the General Assembly in April, 2004. Since then they have been revising a teaching manual, publishing magazines in UEB and have completed the updating of all the indigenous official Braille codes so that they are all UEB compatible.
The Braille Authority of the United Kingdom has not considered the adoption of UEB. They have prepared materials in UEB for circulation to stakeholders in the United Kingdom in 2005. They continue to work on the completion of UEB with representatives on all of the working committees.
The Braille Authority of North America has not considered the adoption of UEB. They have decided to wait and watch the progress of UEB in other countries before considering it for the United States. They continue to work on the completion of UEB with representatives on all of the working committees.
By Catherine Dominie
I was 12 years old when I first saw a Braille dot! Now, Braille practically controls my whole life. Although the English Braille system had had very few changes through the years, the methods in which Braille is now produced have greatly changed. I still use my old PERKINS BRAILLER, and I wouldn't part with it for the world. However, I cannot get the same high quantity of Braille from the Perkins brailler as I can from the Braille printer.
If someone had told me five years ago that I would shortly own a computer with all of the adaptions so that I could read everything in Braille, I don't think that I would have believed them! However, I have owned a computer with complete Braille output now for over three years. This equipment has greatly improved my life! Due to the computer and BRAILLE VOYAGER,
I no longer have to rely on other people for information. Also I have my own personal library on this little box!
It is true that I use my computer a lot and yes, I get lots and lots of e-mail! However, a telephone in the home today is very important also. Because I am deaf as well as blind, I cannot use an ordinary phone device for the deaf--TDD. So, I use a TeleBrailler which is a Braille TDD. If a person calling me is using a regular TDD, my TeleBrailler changes the conversation into Braille. There are very few TeleBraillers around.
Since I live alone and do all of my own cooking, I have my stove dials all marked in Braille.
Modern technology has brought about many great changes in our lives and I'm sure that if it hadn't been for the brilliant people who brought about these remarkable changes there would be many more unhappy and lonely people in our society today.
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