Beginning Braille

Dates/Times

Instructor

Shelley Mack, AT&AEM Center Braille Consultant, Certified Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (CTVI) and Certified Braille Transcriber

Audience

Educators and others who work with students who use braille

Learning Objectives

The student will demonstrate:

• Increased braille literacy skills;
• Ability to write braille using 6-key input
• Ability to read, write and proofread the braille alphabet;
• Knowledge of braille numbers, punctuation and braille contractions;
• Awareness of resources and various pieces of technology and software for braille production

Description

The Beginning Braille Course will provide basic, initial instruction in braille for paraprofessionals, parents, and teachers and is not intended to be a refresher for the experienced braille user. The course will introduce/review the braille alphabet, capitalization, punctuation, cardinal numbers, one-cell whole-word contractions, whole-word contractions, part-word contractions, and some short-form words, all according to UEB (Unified English Braille). This course will also introduce simple formatting. The course consists of three online sessions with additional, short reinforcement activities to be completed independently between. Students will participate in independent and group work via group video conferencing and will apply their knowledge as they read and write using 6-key input and proofread literary braille materials.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with the braille alphabet will be helpful before starting this course.

Class materials:

• Instruction Manual for Braille Transcribing - UEB Edition, 2015 (lessons 1-6 and Drills Reproduced in Braille) Will be provided through the AT&AEM Center.
• Additional handouts provided by instructor. Will be provided through the AT&AEM Center.
• Optional: The Rules of Unified Braille Second Edition, 2013.

Participation

• Participants are required to have some method of writing braille. The two most common for these purposes are:
  • A computer with free Perky Duck software available on Duxbury Systems. For assistance please view the Tips and Tricks Perky Duck videos.
  • Perkins Braille and 11' x 11.5' braille paper. Can be provided by the AT&AEM Center with sufficient advanced notice.
• It is recommended that participants consider using two devices - one to watch and participate in the class and another on which to write braille.
• Participants are encourage to keep cameras on during work sessions to better allow the instructor to gauge participant engagement.

Certificate of Attendance

25.5 contact hours will be offered for this 3-day course.

Registration

• This training is limited to the first 25 participants to register. Classes fill-up fast, so don't delay signing up!
• Registration deadline: May 29, 2025

Register online via OCALI Pass

For more information contact augusta_fisher@ocali.org - 614-410-1042