UEB 101 - the changes and benefits of Unified English Braille

Proposal No: 872

Bios & Handouts

Speaker(s)

• Hazel Shaw, Sales Manager, Dolphin Computer Access

Disability Area: Cognitive|Learning   Mobility   Vision   Deaf|HOH   Other Disability  

Topic Area: Legal   Best Practices   Web|Media Access   Alternate Format   Campus Policy   Curriculum Access   Assistive Technology   Information Resources  

Summary of Session

What are the main differences between EBAE and UEB? What are the benefits of changing from EBAE to UEB? How does it affect me?

Abstract

The session is an introduction to Unified English Braille, adopted by the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) in November 2012. UEB is one unified code embracing all key subject areas, now adopted in all the main English-speaking countries. This session will give a brief history of UEB, then consider the main differences between English Braille American Edition (EBAE) and Unified English Braille (UEB), for literary texts. This includes changes to contractions, changed signs and new signs. The session will also consider the benefits of changing the braille code to UEB, including having one global code for all subjects, greater computability and back translation. The session does not cover technical subjects such as mathematics and science. No prior knowledge of UEB is required, though knowledge of an existing braille code SEB or EBAE would be beneficial. The session is equally for trainers, educators, transcribers and braille users.

Kepoints

1. UEB has several benefits over EBAE
2. UEB is not vastly different from EBAE, at least for literary texts
3. The primary differences between EBAE and UEB.

Speaker Bio(s)

Hazel Shaw

Jeff Bazer is the US Sales Manager for Dolphin Computer Access, but his roots are deep in access technology. Eleven years working in the AT industry, coupled with a personal interest in screen reading as a user himself, ensures Jeff’s expertise and knowledge. Jeff works with colleges across the US sharing his expertise in the creation and delivery of alternative formats. As a Braille reader, Jeff fully empathizes with the essential role accessible information takes. Jeff has recently presented at ATIA, CSUN and can frequently be heard on ACB and TekTalk Radio.

Handout(s)