Thanks to inspiration from @cachondo , I have produced my first braille word search.

A great way for me to engage the kids in braille too. #Braille

One downside to Braille is that you have to use your brain. And if you're like me, you get words confused because your brain doesn't always register every dot your fingers feel. So, Lyft becomes Loft. Just, uncontracted if you're reading this in Braille.

One good thing about Braille, though, is you get to use your brain. So, if your TTS or narrator doesn't pronounce a name correctly, you can read it in Braille any way you want. And if you're like me, you really notice the things.

#Braille #Blind

As it has been a while and I could have done this better last time here’s my #introduction. I’m a #blind #parent, #braille user, and #musician. I have been blind for coming up on 5 years, learned braille over the last not quite 3 years, and spend most of my time juggling being a stay at home dad, and staff for #OurBlind, mainly on our Discord and the r/blind subreddit. I also read a lot, mainly fantasy, mostly on my #kindle with the #voiceview #screenreader, though also read on a #Brailledisplay.

ourblind.com/

OurBlind

Welcome to OurBlind Join Us Reddit Discord Lemmy Who We Are OurBlind is a community of blind and visually impaired people, their family and friends, and allies, from around the world.

^OurBlind

It was my great honour to have been asked to speak earlier today at the launch of “Braille On Display Third Edition”.
#Braille is the most priceless, life-changing gift blind people have ever been given. It was invented by one of us, for all of us. Despite some predictions when talking computers came on the scene that Braille would be rendered obsolete, technology has made Braille more relevant and abundant than ever.
There’s no getting away from it, hardcopy Braille books are bulky. But with a Braille display that connects to a smartphone or contains its own storage, we can have hundreds of volumes of Braille at our fingertips.
The cost of manufacture of Braille displays must be spread across a small number of units, so they are expensive, even though their price in real terms has declined significantly. During my time in the Braille product management field, the thing I am proudest of is delivering on two separate 40% reductions in the cost of refreshable Braille display technology.
If you’re going to buy a Braille display, or you have been allocated funding for one, naturally you want to make sure you’re getting the one that will best meet your needs. Finding objective information about all the choices out there is very difficult. Some agencies recommend what they know, and, understandably, distributors recommend what they distribute.
When I ran Mosen Consulting, I was proud and honoured to publish two editions of Jackie Brown’s book, “Braille On Display”. Now, it’s back for a third edition, and it is available free from the Braillists Foundation.
This book begins with the basic concepts and not only covers Braille displays, but Braille-only input devices as well. The Braille display market is vibrant, with plenty of competition and innovation occurring. The line between Braille displays that only function in terminal mode and the more fully-fledged notetaker is blurring, and that means there is more functionality available to the user at a lower price. Then there is the new category of multiline devices that can display tactile graphics.
With Jackie around to cover it all, we are in good hands to ensure that our hands are on the display that suits us best.
So, pick up your free copy of “Braille On Display” today, and read objective evaluations of a wide range of Braille devices.
braillists.org/brailleondispla…

Sincere thanks and appreciation to Jackie for the huge effort she has put into this, and to the Braillists Foundation for being such epic Braille champions.

Reading WITHOUT Sight: Challenging the Ableist Assumptions of Non-Visual Literacy

In today’s world, where accessibility is supposedly ever-expanding, comments on how blind people read – or rather, whether we “really” read – reveal a significant amount of latent ableism. When someone remarks, “You’re not really reading because you have to listen to it,” they are unwittingly touching on deep-seated biases that marginalize blind people and our experience. For me, as a blind person, these comments feel aggressive, like a slur that undermines not only my intellect but my very existence within a literate society. The underlying suggestion that my method of consuming literature is somehow less legitimate than traditional reading reflects a lack of understanding and a failure to appreciate the richness of alternative literacy.

At its core, this statement implies that visual reading is the only valid form of reading – an attitude deeply rooted in ableist assumptions. Just as the sighted world learns and adapts to new ways of accessing information, blind people, too, use technology to bridge gaps that were once insurmountable. By suggesting that listening to an audiobook or using a screen reader is inferior to reading with one’s eyes, the speaker perpetuates a narrow view of literacy that excludes anyone who does not fit their narrow definition of a reader.

The Emotional Impact of Dismissive Comments

Hearing such remarks can be hurtful. When someone tells me I’m not “really reading,” they trivialize the effort, love, and passion I pour into every book. Reading, in any form, is more than just a mechanical process; it’s an engagement with ideas, narratives, and emotions. Denying my capacity to “really” read is akin to erasing my agency in choosing to explore literature. It dismisses my experience and can feel like a personal attack, minimizing my intelligence and curiosity.

Moreover, these comments strip away the nuances of my identity and life experience as a blind person. They ignore the reality that many of us navigate systems not designed with us in mind, yet we adapt with resilience and creativity. Listening to a book, for me, is as much an engagement with its content as sighted reading is for others. This medium allows me to dive into narratives, to imagine worlds, and to connect with characters just as vividly as if I were reading visually. Such a remark does not just invalidate my experience, but it also points to a societal failure to recognize and celebrate the diverse ways people interact with literature.

Understanding the Roots of Ableism

Ableism, at its core, stems from a belief that certain abilities, like sight, are inherently superior. This mindset manifests in the way sighted people sometimes view adaptations like screen readers or braille as substitutes, rather than as equally valid methods of accessing information. This thought pattern diminishes the lived experiences of blind individuals and subtly implies that we’re only half-participating in the world of literature. The comment reflects an ideology that upholds one mode of experiencing the world as ideal, while relegating others to second-class status.

Furthermore, literacy is a concept that should not be defined by sensory modality. Whether through braille, audio, or screen readers, blind readers engage in the same cognitive processes of understanding and analying text. These methods are not merely compensatory but rather alternate pathways that lead to the same destination.

Responding Constructively

Addressing this kind of ableism requires a blend of assertiveness and education. In responding to these comments, I could say something like, “When you suggest that I’m not really reading, it feels as if you’re diminishing my engagement with the text. For me, listening to a book offers the same intellectual and emotional journey as sighted reading does for you. It’s not about the method; it’s about the experience of connecting with the material. I’d appreciate it if we could acknowledge that there are many valid ways to be a reader.”

By framing the response in this way, I affirm my own experience while gently inviting the person to reconsider their assumptions. Another approach could be to highlight the diversity of literacy methods available today: “There’s a wide range of ways people can read now, whether through audio, braille, or text-to-speech technology. These methods open up the world of literature to more people and should be celebrated rather than diminished.”

My hope is that, in responding to these comments, I can foster a moment of reflection for others. Reading is about engaging with ideas and stories, not about the medium through which we access them. Ableist remarks about non-visual reading, though sometimes spoken thoughtlessly, present an opportunity to open minds and broaden perspectives. By sharing my experience, I contribute to a more inclusive understanding of literacy and help to dismantle the harmful stereotypes that still persist.

Conclusion

Reading is not an act confined to the eyes; it is an intellectual and emotional endeavour that transcends sensory modality. For many blind people, it is the ultimate expression of our love for stories, our curiosity, and our intellect. When someone diminishes my experience as “not really reading,” they underscore a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to be a reader. As we continue to expand our understanding of accessibility, it is crucial to challenge and reframe such biases. Only by doing so can we begin to recognize and respect the many ways in which people interact with the written word, enriching our collective experience of literature in all its forms.

#Ableism #Accessibility #Audible #Blind #Braille #Disability #Equality #Inclusion #Kindle

Sensitive content Click to open/close

Huge props to the #NVDAsr team for recognizing this and taking the steps to make #Braille a priority. Will be filling out their survey and hope other #Windows #ScreenReader users will do the same.

#Blind #LowVision #BlindMasto #BlindMastodon #BlindFedi @mastoblind

One of the themes which came through from the NVDA Satisfaction Survey earlier this year, was to improve Braille support. To help us target the most needed improvements, we have created a short survey. If you use NVDA with braille at least some of the time, please consider completing this survey.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

Please also share with anyone else who may be interested.
#NVDA #NVDAsr #ScreenReader #Braille #Accessibility #A11y #Survey #CommunityInput

Habe gerade eine Vorstellung des Projekts "MetaBraille" gesehen. Das ist ja saustark! Open Source Tools haben die verwendet und sich eine eigene Braille Tastatur gebaut, die im Prinzip von jedem blinden Menschen nachgebaut werden kann.
Sogar die Steuerung vom 3D Drucker.
Die 3D gedruckte Tastatur kann man dann an das Handy koppeln. Klasse!!

kom-in.de/179/braille-aber-dig…

#Inklusion #Braille #tastatur #opensource #blind

To my last boost. Please boost this for wide spread. This is an opportunity for #braille dice sets to enter the realm of #mainstream and mass manufacturing. I haven't been able to read of full set of #dice as a #TTRPG player in 20 years since I went #blind. It would be beautiful for something like this to be added to life and make me feel like I'm right up there with everyone else. Thank you!

Just going to add the link directly here as well.

itch.io/b/2623/ttrpgs-for-acce…

The release of #GNOME47 is imminent and our #translators have done their usual amazing work! There was a lot of #Accessibility work this cycle and #translations are a big part of that.

With a few days left, this is a great cycle to improve the user experience for non-English #ScreenReader and #Braille users.

l10n.gnome.org/

#a11y #i18n #GNOME #Orca

Okay just, like right off the cuff here. But why does Vispero, a company making blindness software/hardware want videos for there Big Thing thing? Why not just text? Emails? Like, what? Why? Meh, whatever. I'll submit mine I guess. I'm sure some of you know what I'm gonna suggest. Feel free to submit your own ideas, goodness knows we need more grand ideas for screen readers.

#accessibility #blind #Braille #JAWS #FreedomScientific #ScreenReader

freedomscientific.com/nextbigt…

So, I'm genuinely curious. NVDA now has the ability to show text formatting in Braille. I don't mean through dot 7 and 8, or HTML-looking tags--although it can do those too now--but through the UEB, or whatever table you use, formatting symbols created for that Braille code. It also can now show paragraphs, either using spaces, or a Pilcro sign.

So, can JAWS do either of these? I'm seriously wondering, because people are *always* saying that JAWS' Braille support is the best in the industry. And I just want to make sure I'm using it the best I can. I also have Leasey, so if Leasey has features to help with that, @hartgenconsult I know there's the BrailleEase thing that I've not taken a look at yet. There's a ton of things I need to learn about Leasey.

For now, I know that iOS can show Braille formatting in the Books and Notes app, and the Mac can show it... in Safari as well I think. Linux... Well, Linux can't, besides the dot 7 and 8 stuff.

Braille formatting has really come far from the post I did like years ago, and I'm super happy about that. Hopefully it keeps going, especially in the age of multi-line displays.

#accessibility #JAWS #NVDA #blind #Braille #screenReader

Great Braille Game! I learned about this game from Holly Anderson of the Maccessibility Podcast.
Brailliance is a Braille version of the popular Wordle game with a little twist.
You are given the total number of dots in the word, and you have to guess what the word is by figuring out the letters in the word with each of your guesses.
For example. The word has a total of 10 dots.
So your first guess is tale, t, a, l, e.
It tells you that 3 of those letters are in the word, and one is not.
t, a, and l, are in the word, and the letter e is not.
Please note: those letters are part of the final word, but they do not have to be in that order.
So lets see, the letters t, a, and l, equal a total of 8 dots, so you only have 2 dots left to make the final word.
And you only have 4 letters left with 2 dots, b, c, i, and k.
So now it is just a process of elimination
For this word, the correct other letter was k. So the final word was talk, t, a, l, k.
The tough part is figuring out words that have a specific number of dots, but this gets easier the more you play.
Plus, to help you out, the total number of dots for each letter can be found on the letters of the on-screen keyboard.
So how good do you know your Braille? Ready to take the challenge?
Just like Wordle, there is a new puzzle every day, as well as some other puzzle packs that you can play on the side if you like.
The game is totally free, and does have a cost to get rid of ads if you want.
I actually find this game more fun and challenging as Wordle! So I highly recommend giving it a try.
Here is the app store link.
apps.apple.com/us/app/braillia…

#Game #Accessible #Wordle #Braille #Maccessibility #Blind
@dhsholly

‎Brailliance - Learn Braille

‎Brailliance is a puzzle game where you guess the word by adding up braille dots. This game has been carefully crafted to be playable by everyone, and it includes multiple accessibility features for people with blindness and other disabilities.

^{App Store}

The first public working draft of the EBraille spec is available! It is primarily meant for organizations that develop software that will read or write eBraille files. eBraille uses an EPUB 3-compatible file set based on the Open Web Platform — using technologies such as XHTML and CSS — to encode braille in semantically enhanced markup and allow it to adapt to the different capabilities of braille reading devices. The file set is designed for both packaged distribution to end users and deployment to the web for online and downloadable reading.

daisy.github.io/ebraille/publi…

#accessibility #Braille #Blind #reading #books #EBraille

C’est la classe, ou bien ? Notre collègue @agon a imprimé des porte-clés Access42 et des planches d’alphabet #braille en 3D à l’aide d’un bioplastique à base d’amidon de maïs.

Très sympa, ces cadeaux de séminaire faits maison ! 🥰

#a11y #3DPrinting #Impression3D #DreamTeam

In-Process is out, with all the details on NVDA 2024.2 Beta 3, Mick and Gerald's interview on Eyes On Success, a big walkthrough of the new "Sound Split" feature (if you've ever wanted to have NVDA in one ear and your apps or VOIP in the other, you won't want to miss this!), and the New braille setting: “Display speech output”.

Check it all out here: nvaccess.org/post/in-process-3…

#NVDA #NVDAsr #Blog #News #Newsletter #Braille #ScreenReader #Accessibility #EyesOnSuccess

Oh, this is really cool. The National Library Service is now making indefinite loans of print-on-demand braille books! Up to 5 per month per person.

wapo.st/41I2uaE #GiftArticle #Blind #Braille

Then, Braille heard about a French army officer who had devised a system of written communication of raised dots and dashes for nighttime battles. He borrowed the idea of the dots, and set about creating an alphabet that could be read by touch. He decided that each letter would be represented by a different arrangement of six dots packed close enough that each letter could be read by a single fingertip. He presented his work to his peers for the first time in 1824.
2/

#braille

The “industry standard” modules used in digital braille displays are custom piezoelectric devices, costing around $100 per “letter,” making such displays impractically expensive for most applications.

I just learned about this hackaday prize winner, who has designed digital, refreshable #braille modules that cost less than $1 each, using teeny-tiny magnets and 3D printed parts.

youtu.be/BXi1tG78AW4
#OpenSource #accessibility technologies FTW!

Electromechanical Refreshable Braille Module : HackadayPrize 2023

The big drawback to refreshable braille devices has always been their cost. The loose rule of estimation applied to these products has translated into someth...

^YouTube

Actors Inside – 2023 Edition – World Blind Herald

worldblindherald.com/2023/01/0… #braille #literacy##

Actors Inside – 2023 Edition

Preface On a Friday in 2006, I lectured at an undergraduate class in Occupational Therapy at University of Florida.  One of the questions I received from a student and, coincidentally later in the …

^{World Blind Herald}