Bulletin - March 2021

In This Issue

1. President's Message (Natalie Martiniello, PhD, BLC President)
2. Save the date: June 4, 2021 - Braille Literacy Canada Symposium: From Braille Literacy to Empowerment
3. Save the date: June 5, 2021 - Annual General Meeting
4. Upcoming Workshop on April 17: Let's Talk About it: Braille, Adulthood and Aging
5. A Note From Your ICEB Rep (Jen Goulden, BLC Past President)
6. The Braille Challenge 2021 (Adam Wilton, PhD)
7. Let's do braille remotely (Daphne Hitchcock, BLC Vice-President)
8. Meet the Braillists (Jen Goulden, BLC Past President)
9. Braille Zoomers Celebrate One Year! (Daphne Hitchcock, BLC Vice-President)
10. Press Release from CELA: Minister Qualtrough released a statement restoring $1 million in funding for accessible reading materials for the upcoming 2021-2022 budget year.
11. Not a member of BLC? Here's how to join!
12. Getting to know the BLC board of directors
13. Social Media Updates

President's Message

By Natalie Martiniello, PhD, BLC President

Dear BLC members and friends,

It is hard to believe we are now at the start of spring, with a year of much virtual learning and socializing now behind us. Wherever you are in Canada, we hope you are safe, happy, healthy and looking forward to the warming of the weather, the closing of school for the year, and sitting outside with all your favourite braille books around you!

Now without further ado, we are so pleased to share the following updates with you.

Brailler Bounce Program: We Need More Braillers!

The Brailler Bounce program repairs and rehomes unused braillers to braille users from across Canada. We need more braillers! If you have a brailler lying around that isn't being used, please consider donating it to this program. BLC will coordinate the details at no charge to you. Write to info@blc-lbc.ca

If you are on the wait list to receive a brailler, note that we have a bit of a back-log because of the pandemic but will be in touch with you as soon as possible. As always, we thank our incredible repair personnel, and also welcome the Canadian Helen Keller Centre for partnering with us to assist with repairs. Let's get those braillers bouncing from coast to coast!

Teaching and Learning

On February 24th, the Teaching and Learning committee held a virtual workshop on remote braille instruction during COVID-19, with over 50 participants in attendance. Check out the article by BLC Vice-President Daphne Hitchcock to learn more about this event.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the Teaching and Learning committee and to all the speakers for sharing their perspectives and expertise, and to all those who attended and provided their feedback.

We are thrilled to share that we have seen more than 25 new TVIs join BLC over the past two months. We are excited to continue offering workshops to TVIs (stay tuned for more details!) and thank you for all that you do.

Workshop Recordings and Transcripts

Speaking of our workshops, we have been busily working on updating our website to include past recordings of all workshops. You can see what's already up there by visiting: https://www.brailleliteracycanada.ca/en/programs/workshops

We are also thrilled to announce that we will be providing written transcripts for all our workshops, to increase accessibility and inclusion for our deafblind members (and by extension, everyone!) Transcripts will be posted onto the website along with all recordings.

Funding for Accessible Reading and Vital Library Services

Many of you have no doubt heard the concerning news that the federal government had proposed cuts to the funding provided to CELA (Centre for Equitable Library Access) and NNELS (National Network of Equitable Library Services) that would have had devastating effects on our community.

Unsurprisingly, this was of paramount concern to BLC. It is important to underscore that this is more then just a question of "access to books". The ability to access reading content in braille is fundamental for literacy. Developing and maintaining literacy skills will in turn effect education and employment outcomes, and overall social participation. Access to reading provides vital information to Canadians, most especially during a pandemic when little accessible information and communication options may be available. The centralized services these two organizations offer ensure that all Canadians, regardless of where they live, have equitable access to reading content, whether for information seeking or leisure reading.

CELA and NNELS have been working together tirelessly along with other partners in the community, including BLC. BLC published a press release to underscore the importance of these library services; provided information to our members on how to write to their MPs; and held an information session in partnership with the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) to share updates and answer participant questions. I would like to thank CCB for partnering with us on this session, which was attended by over 90 participants, and both Laurie Davidson and Daniella Levy-Pinto from CELA and NNELS respectively for sharing their expertise as panelists.

A special thank you to our members who participated in media coverage to highlight this issue, including our very own BLC secretary Kim Kilpatrick who shared her perspectives in this CBC article.

We are pleased to share that the federal government has restored this funding for the year ahead, and thank them for this reprieve. However, we also underscore the vital need to continue engaging in this dialogue and to ensure the security of these services beyond the current year. We can advocate for greater mainstream accessibility while also recognizing the need to maintain access to equitable library services, most especially as this pertains to specialized formats such as braille. See later in this issue for the CELA press release on renewed funding.

Edie Mourre Scholarship: Still Time to Apply

The deadline for the Edie Mourre scholarship is coming up in a matter of days - March 31st! If you are pursuing a course to become a certified braille transcriber or proofreader, this scholarship may be for you. The recipients will be announced at our AGM in June. Visit https://www.brailleliteracycanada.ca/en/programs/ediemourre to apply or write to info@blc-lbc.ca to learn more.

Braille Zoomers: Peer Support for Adult and Senior Braille Learners

Braille Zoomers is a peer-support virtual group for adult and senior braille learners. Participants have the opportunity to learn from and network with other adult braille learners, and to share tips, resources and strategies in a fun and informal environment. Check out the great article in this newsletter to learn more about how to join and/or support this program. We are thrilled to announce that BLC has recently been awarded a grant to support this initiative. We extend our gratitude to the Times Colonist whose funding will help offset the costs of planning sessions and preparing braille starter kits for participants.

AGM and Braille Symposium

Enclosed in this issue, you will also find the Save the Date for two separate events. BLC will be holding our first ever virtual braille symposium, with the theme of "From Literacy to Empowerment" on June 4, 2021 (free of charge to all members; $20 for non-members). Second, our Annual General Meeting will be held on June 5th.

If you haven't renewed your membership yet, be sure to do this so that you can vote - Your voice is important!

Increasing Access to French Early Braille Literacy Resources

BLC recognizes that there are few resources to support early French braille literacy and that access to French print-braille books is limited, depending on where students are located. We have started using our French braille funds to launch a French print-braille project.

We have already purchased a series of French print-braille books which we have distributed to both W. Ross Macdonald and the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA).

We are now putting in place a process for individuals (e.g. parents, teachers) to request financial support to purchase French print-braille books with the remaining funds. Stay tuned for more details on how to benefit from this program!

Odds and Ends

On a personal note, I am so pleased to have been asked to serve on the board of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB). Along with our Canadian Representative and Past-President Jen Goulden, who continues to do a stellar job in representing us, I look forward to collaborating with our ICEB member countries and adding to the voice of BLC on the international stage.

Conference season is upon us. If you haven't already, there is still time to submit a call for papers for the Getting in Touch with Literacy Conference. Also, the virtual Tactile Reading Conference, originally scheduled to take place in Norway, will be held on April 29-30, 2021. Among the speakers, you will find several familiar names from ICEB countries and BLC!

Interested in getting involved? We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help on our various committees. We are currently in search of someone to help with posting on our various social media platforms. Contact us if interested! info@blc-lbc.ca

Well friends, we have come to the close of this message, but on behalf of all of us at BLC, I wish you continued creativity, energy, positivity and most of all - a renewed love for literacy in all that you do! We look forward to seeing many of our members at our June AGM.

Warmly,
Natalie Martiniello, Ph.D.
President, Braille Literacy Canada

Save the date: June 4, 2021 - Braille Literacy Canada Symposium: From Braille Literacy to Empowerment

Braille Literacy Canada (BLC) will be holding a virtual braille symposium on Friday, June 4th, 2021 from 1 - 6 PM EDT (10am - 3pm Pacific, 11am - 4pm Mountain/Saskatchewan, 12 noon - 5 pm Central/Manitoba, 2pm - 7pm Atlantic).

This event will be of interest to braille readers, educators, transcribers, parents and anyone else who is passionate about the empowerment that braille literacy brings!

A host of exciting and world-renowned speakers will give half hour presentations (beginning at the start of each hour) followed by time for Q&A and discussion. The day will conclude with a fun round of braille trivia at 5 PM!

The event will be free of charge to members and $20 for non-members.

More details coming soon - Mark the date in your calendars! This will be an event you will not want to miss.

Save the date: June 5, 2021 - Annual General Meeting

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual general meeting of the members of Braille Literacy Canada / Littératie braille Canada (the "Corporation") will take place on June 5, 2021 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time (9:00am Pacific, 10:00am Mountain/Saskatchewan, 11:00am Central, 1:00 p.m. Atlantic) via the Zoom platform.

This meeting will be held for the purposes of:

• Approving the minutes of the 2020 Annual General Meeting of members;
• Receiving the financial statements of the Corporation; and
• Electing the board of directors.

To vote, you must have been a member of Braille Literacy Canada (and paid your annual membership dues) as of May 14, 2021.

Due to the virtual nature of the meeting, it is expected that most voting will be done by electronic ballots submitted by email. The electronic ballots (along with complete AGM materials) will be sent to members on or before May 15, 2021.

If you hold both a personal membership and you are a corporate representative, recall that you may submit two ballots: one for you personally, and one on behalf of your organization.

Please note that members of corporate affiliate organizations cannot vote unless they are one of the appointed representatives to BLC for that corporate organization. All those with a personal membership in BLC are entitled to vote.

Do not hesitate to write to us at info@blc-lbc.ca if you have any questions or concerns.

Kim Kilpatrick
Secretary, Braille Literacy Canada

---

AVIS EST PAR LA PRÉSENTE DONNÉ que l'assemblée générale annuelle (AGA) des membres de Littératie Braille Canada/Braille Literacy Canada (l'« organisme ») aura lieu le 5 juin 2021, de 12 h 00 à 13 h 30, heure de l'Est (9 h 00 à l'heure du Pacifique, 10 h 00 à l'heure des Rocheuses/de la Saskatchewan, 11 h 00 à l'heure du Centre et 13 h 00 à l'heure de l'Atlantique), par le truchement de la plateforme Zoom.

L'objectif de la réunion est triple, soit :

• approuver le procès-verbal de l'AGA des membres de 2020;
• prendre connaissance des états financiers de l'organisme;
• élire les membres du conseil d'administration.

Pour avoir le droit de vote, vous devez être membre de Littératie Braille Canada (et avoir payé votre cotisation annuelle) en date du 14 mai 2021.

En raison de la nature virtuelle de la réunion, il est prévu que la plupart des votes se fassent par bulletins électroniques soumis par courriel. Les bulletins de vote électroniques (ainsi que les documents complets de l'AGA) seront envoyés aux membres au plus tard le 15 mai 2021.

Si vous êtes à la fois membre à titre personnel et représentant d'une société, rappelez-vous que vous pouvez remplir deux bulletins, soit un bulletin personnel et un bulletin pour le compte de votre organisme.

Veuillez noter que les membres des organisations corporatives affiliées ne peuvent pas voter, à moins qu'ils ne soient l'un des représentants désignés de cette organisation corporative auprès du LBC. Toutes les personnes ayant une adhésion personnelle au LBC ont le droit de voter.

N'hésitez pas à communiquer avec nous à info@blc-lbc.ca si vous avez des questions ou des préoccupations.

Le secrétaire de Littératie Braille Canada,
Kim Kilpatrick

Upcoming Workshop on April 17: Let's Talk About it: Braille, Adulthood and Aging

Date: Saturday, April 17th, 2021
Time: 1pm Eastern (10am Pacific, 11am Mountain/Saskatchewan, 12:00 Central/Manitoba, 2pm Atlantic)
Location: Zoom (register to receive the Zoom details)

Betty Nobel, Chair of the BLC Teaching and Learning committee, will sit down with BLC President Dr. Natalie Martiniello for a lively discussion about her research on braille, adulthood and aging and the practical implications that this work carries for the teaching and learning of braille in adulthood.

Participants who attend this workshop will learn:

• How adult braille learners differ from children, and the practical implications of these differences;
• The impact of aging on braille reading ability and how to design training programs that reflect this knowledge;
• What barriers are encountered by adult and senior braille learners and how to address these barriers;
• What factors influence braille reading ability in adulthood, and the unique role of emerging braille technologies within this context

Throughout this conversation, an emphasis will be placed on the major takeaways of findings for practitioners, policymakers, and adult braille users. Regardless of who you are in the braille community, there will be something for you to take from this discussion!

To register, send an email to info@blc-lbc.ca by Thursday, April 15th, 2021.

This workshop is free for BLC members (and members of BLC corporate affiliates), and $20.00 for non-members. A personal membership costs $20.00 per year and provides free access to all of our regular bi-monthly scheduled workshops. See https://www.brailleliteracycanada.ca/en/membership for more information!

A Note From Your ICEB Rep

By Jen Goulden, BLC Past President

As many of you are aware, the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) brings together English-speaking countries from around the world and is the body responsible for Unified English Braille (UEB).

I currently serve as the Treasurer and BLC rep to the ICEB Executive Committee. This means that I represent Canada, because BLC is our ICEB member. All right, no more acronyms ... I promise!

Each member country is entitled to one representative. The President and the UEB Code Maintenance Officer are deterritorialized, meaning that they do not represent their respective countries. This is a word which apparently is not used anywhere other than within ICEB. We are phasing it out, but I wanted to use it just one more time! Aside from these positions, the President can appoint a maximum of two consultants to the Executive. This is done with the approval of the rest of the committee.

Mary Schnackenberg of New Zealand was appointed after the last General Assembly to assist with revisions to the ICEB Constitution and Bylaws. At our January meeting, Judy Dixon proposed adding our very own Natalie Martiniello as the second consultant. One reason for the appointment is Natalie's research involving adult braille learners. I'm happy to say that the vote was unanimous!

If you'd like to learn more about ICEB there are several ways to do so. You can visit http://www.iceb.org for more information. You can also sign up to the ICEB announce list by sending an email to iceb-announce+subscribe@groups.io. Finally, you can follow ICEB on its social media platforms - on Twitter @ICEBbraille and on Facebook.

The Braille Challenge 2021

By Adam Wilton, PhD

The Braille Challenge is a reading and writing competition for students from across Canada and the United States who read and write braille. It is run each year by the Braille Institute. In British Columbia, a regional event has been hosted by the Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI) for the past nine years and is held on the campus of the University of British Columbia.

In this year of remote connections, the ninth annual British Columbia Regional Braille Challenge was held online. Twenty-eight students from across the province completed the Challenge with their teacher of students with visual impairments in their home communities. Of these participants, eight were competing in their first Challenge! Materials were sent to schools and returned to PRCVI for grading. This year, students ages 5 to 14 competed. Categories include: foundational braille skills, proofreading and accuracy, spelling, reading comprehension and understanding tactile graphics.

To close out Braille Challenge season in BC, an outer space-themed virtual closing ceremony was held via Zoom. Participants received prize packages in the mail in advance of the ceremony so that everyone could assemble LEGO robots in a guided construction activity. The fun didn't stop there, as we also played Braille Jeopardy and Guess That Sound!

While our community missed coming together for pizza and visiting with one another, we had lots of fun keeping this important tradition alive in a virtual space! One advantage of this format was that some parents participated in the activities with their children. The students had a good time connecting with one another, demonstrating their braille knowledge, showing off their manual dexterity skills and having some good laughs too. Most importantly, everyone felt they were part of a community learning to read and write in braille!

Let's do braille remotely

By Daphne Hitchcock, BLC Vice-President

Last month our Teaching and Learning committee hosted a panel discussion on virtual teaching with a focus on braille. Here are some strategies on supporting students in remote learning situations.

Planning

1. Key to success is planning and more planning. TVIs need to work with their district IT and families to make sure that the hardware and software is in place to support remote access. This set up might involve loan of school district equipment or working with the family's resources. A reliable internet connection is required and families need to be comfortable with the associated tech and software being used. Some districts might require permission waivers.
2. Prior to starting remote learning lessons, TVIs benefited from putting together 'pack-ups' of resources, including curriculum materials in accessible formats, print copies of curriculum materials and all necessary auxiliary resources, such as raised lined graph paper or tactile rulers. These pack-ups were delivered or mailed to student homes.
3. Another important consideration is establishing a dedicated workspace for the student in their home. The workspace needs a stable surface (correct height of table/chair), ease of reach to tools, materials and resources (such as extra braille paper), and a nearby power outlet. Ideal to have an equipment option, should the internet or the device being used go down.

Lessons

1. Be aware of Zoom fatigue; keep lessons focused and a reasonable length of time, 30-60 minutes. Be flexible and go with the teachable moments.
2. Support the student in becoming more independent with the navigation of the software (Zoom platform). With older students, ask them to set up meeting invitations.
3. Be mindful of 'over-talking' during a lesson, keep instructions short and specific. Remember that the audio 'cut-out' during lessons can be difficult for both TVIs and students to process.
4. Work closely with the families; check-in to make sure that the meeting times, the schedules and duration of the lessons are working within the household routines.
5. Have a back-up plan should the meeting connection go down.
6. Reinforce lessons with direct mail to the students and encourage the student to write back to you.
7. If appropriate invite student's classroom teacher or learning support teacher to join into the virtual meeting.

Resources

TVIs shared resources that supported remote lessons:

• On-going program called APSEA Connect (https://apsea.ca), for families to learn and discuss a variety of topics
• Ashcroft braille reading: http://www.scalarspublishing.com/ordering/
• Celebrating Braille: A Canadian Approach: Volumes 2-5 have the lessons. https://cnibsmartlife.ca/products/celebrating-braille-vol-3-ueb-a-canadian-approach-spnr
• Math Window: http://mathwindow.com
• Pre-braille lesson suggestions: https://outofsightteaching.blogspot.com/2021/01/teaching-pre-braille-remotely.html
• Paths to Literacy: https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/news/suggestions-teaching-braille-reading-and-writing-remotely

Although the panelists' preference would be to work directly with the student in a shared space, they were equally enthused by unexpected successes and benefits of remote teaching. TVIs are finding that the students' families are more engaged in the process of learning to read and write braille as the process unfolds in their homes.

Additionally, families seem more invested in exploring opportunities of expanded core curriculum instruction. Teaching and learning through remote access highlights the importance of braille in an authentic context, direct application can be motivating.

Students too, benefit from virtual learning, through developing a stronger skill set in use of their technology and the related software programs required in the remote meetings. And TVIs noted that there were additional opportunities for students to demonstrate independence in accessing their materials during lessons.

We have so much to learn about best practices with remote teaching and learning, let's continue the dialogue through sharing ideas and strategies.

Meet the Braillists

By Jen Goulden, BLC Past President

When I was growing up the wonderful women who brailled my classroom material were sometimes referred to as braillists. In the UK it is not transcribers but braille users (or touch readers) who are known as braillists.

The mission of the Braillists Foundation is straightforward and to the point: more braille! According to the web site, their primary aims are as follows:

1. Promote the value of Braille as a proven literacy tool that enriches the lives of blind people.
2. Support efforts to make affordable Braille and tactile reading technologies available to all blind people irrespective of education and employment status.
3. Provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas about the development of future Braille technology.

The Braillists offer a number of practical braille-related workshops. While some of these are relevant only to residents of the UK, most of their sessions would be of interest to braille readers everywhere. Members and non-members alike can subscribe to BrailleCast, their podcast on all things braille.

For more information go to https://www.braillists.org/.

Braille Zoomers Celebrate One Year!

By Daphne Hitchcock, BLC Vice-President

How time flies - just one year ago, Braille Literacy Canada launched the Braille Zoomers Program, a virtual peer-support group for adult and older adult braille learners across Canada.

Our monthly meetings have been well attended with participants and co-moderators sharing resources, tips and experiences. This group encourages peer-support and opportunities to learn from and network with other adult braille learners. Whether you are in the process of learning braille, learned it sometime in adulthood, or are thinking about learning braille in the future, you are welcome to join in our informal and fun-filled Braille Zoomer meetings.

A key element in ensuring success of the Braille Zoomers program is making sure that the participants have the necessary tools and materials at home to produce and practice braille. Thanks to the generosity of donors, we have assembled Braille Starter Kits, which include common items to support adult learners throughout their braille learning journey: braille labeler, slate and stylus, playing cards and much, much more. The roll out of the kits to our Braille Zoomers has begun, with more kits being sent out across Canada this month.

Of course, there are costs associated with producing materials for both the Zoomer meetings and the distribution of the Braille Starter Kits. With this in mind, we are asking our Braille Zoomers to become members of Braille Literacy Canada. The annual membership cost is $20. Not only will your membership continue to support the Braille Zoomers Project, but you will also receive the other BLC benefits including the BLC bi-monthly newsletter, free admission to our bi-monthly teleconferences on braille-related topics, and you will be a part of a national network of like-minded braille enthusiasts.

Zoomers, we want you to continue your braille journey with us, and trust that the membership fee will not be a barrier in your continued participation. For more information on becoming a member, see the next article in the newsletter!

Mentorship and support provide big dividends to our Braille Zoomers who are new to braille. We encourage those who are lifelong users of braille to remember to give those with less experience the opportunity to ask their questions. We are dependent and appreciative of the knowledge and experience you bring to the Zoomer meetings, and ask that you come with a resource or tip you can share with the new-to-braille learners. Together we will continue to build the Braille Zoomers Project.

Here's to another year of Braille Zoomers!

Press Release from CELA: Minister Qualtrough released a statement restoring $1 million in funding for accessible reading materials for the upcoming 2021-2022 budget year.

Yesterday (March 16, 2021), Minister Qualtrough released a statement restoring $1 million in funding for accessible reading materials for the upcoming 2021-2022 budget year, meaning there will not be cuts to funding for CELA and NNELS, or their services, for the upcoming year.

We thank Minister Qualtrough for her assistance and are grateful for the one year reprieve this funding offers our users who rely on accessible reading materials. In our conversation with Minister Qualtrough yesterday, we agreed that there needs to be an ongoing discussion with all stakeholders, including the publishing industry, the federal government and others, to develop a longer term strategy and sustainable federal funding solution for accessible book production and distribution. We are also seeking her assurance to address the government's planned funding cuts for future years while we work together to develop a strategy to meet the needs of the 1 in 10 people with print disabilities.

CELA, NNELS and our colleagues in the publishing industry all believe the idea of born accessible publishing is a laudable goal, and we are working together to increase the amount of material that can be produced this way. Kate Edwards, Executive Director of the Association of Canadian Publishers, says "CELA and NNELS are valued partners to the Canadian publishing industry as we implement strategies to ensure that our books are born accessible. We know that continued progress in this area depends on developing sustainable models that include partners in all parts of that ecosystem, and look forward to continuing to work with the government, NNELS and CELA in support of this goal."

We are grateful for the broad support our advocacy campaign received, and for all the efforts made to raise awareness with MPs on this issue. These efforts have assured the government has understood the importance of this issue and, as a result, they have offered this interim solution. We commit to keeping you apprised of the progress of our conversations with the government as we strive for longer term funding.

Laurie Davidson,
Executive Director, Centre for Equitable Library Access

Not a member of BLC? Here's how to join!

Are you not a member of BLC? Have you received a copy of our newsletter from a friend or through one of our corporate members, but would prefer to have it delivered to your own inbox? We'd love to have you join us!

An annual membership is only $20.00 and will be valid until the end of this calendar year. Discounted "family" memberships are available if more than one person in your household wants to join.

Start by completing the online membership form at https://www.brailleliteracycanada.ca/en/membership/join. You will have the option of choosing how you wish to pay your membership fee. You can use any of the following methods after you submit your membership application:

• Paying online with your PayPal account or a credit card
• Sending an Interac e-Transfer to treasurer@blc-lbc.ca
• Paying over the phone using your VISA or MasterCard (we will call you when we are processing your membership)
• Mailing a cheque (which works, but takes the longest)

If you don't wish to become a member but would like to support the work of BLC, you can also donate at the following link: https://www.brailleliteracycanada.ca/en/donate. Your donations will help us to promote literacy and increase access to braille across Canada. You can make either a one time or a monthly donation, and all donations are tax deductible!

Getting to know the BLC board of directors

Braille Literacy Canada is governed and the day-to-day operations overseen by a volunteer board of directors representing consumers and other braille users, transcribers, producers, educators, and our founding organizations (CNIB, CCB, and INLB).

In this edition of the newsletter we are profiling two more of the current board members. Watch this space in future editions to learn more about other members of the board!

Melanie Romer-Noel, CNIB Representative

Who are you?

My name is Melanie Romer Noel, from Toronto, Ontario, and I'm the CNIB Representative to the BLC Board of Directors. I am a braille transcriber working in the Braille Department of CNIB Beyond Print.

When did you start learning braille? Tell us your favourite braille related memory.

I began learning to read braille nearly fifteen years ago when I started working in the Braille Department at CNIB. I would receive braille proof sheets from our staff proofreaders and I had to learn to recognize the patterns of the dots to decipher who the proof sheets were from. I began to read braille by sight and then began taking the Braille Transcriber's course later that year. I have been working as a braille transcriber for about 13 years now. One of my favourite braille related memories would be from my braille transcriber course days where I would mentally transcribe many printed signs encountered in my daily commute to see how many contractions I could remember.

Anything about your braille background you'd like to share?

I have helped with various braille related events at CNIB and some for BLC over the years. I used to be more involved with the Braille Conference behind the scenes; for a few years, I was often the person responsible for making sure the braille and print copies of workshop handouts were available on the day of the conference. More recently, I have been attending the White Cane Week Experience Expo in Toronto as one of the representatives at the BLC exhibitors table.

Tell us a bit about what you do for BLC?

In addition to being the CNIB Representative to BLC, I'm part of the Big Brailler Bounce Initiative which helps to rehome Perkins braillers, and I'm the current chair of BLC's Braille Formats committee. I love the Braille Zoomers group; it is always comforting to know that you're not the only person learning something new.

Tell us about one gem (e.g. a page or resource) on the BLC website you want members to know about.

The Big Brailler Bounce Initiative is one of the programs that started as a simple idea, a passion project by a former board member. I'm glad that we have decided to continue with the program and are actively working to ensure it continues. The Edie Mourre Scholarship is another program that is helpful for students to offset the costs of braille related courses. Through fundraising efforts spearheaded by a few of the current board members, the scholarship will continue for years; an enduring legacy for Edie Mourre. I know I was supposed to list just one and I'm sure I'm not the only board member to highlight these programs!

What do you want parents, classroom teachers or the general public to understand about braille?

To the general public I'd like to say that braille is not that difficult to learn and it should be available in more public places.

What are your thoughts about BLC as you look back on the past 30 years? Any BLC accomplishments or braille advancements you would like to especially highlight?

Thirty years is a nice number to celebrate. I appreciate and acknowledge Canada's contribution to braille at the international level. There have been, and continue to be, a lot of knowledgeable, passionate, creative, and enthusiastic "braillephiles" that have been instrumental in moving the organisation forward.

What are your thoughts on braille and BLC as you look ahead to the next 30 years?

I hope that each new BLC board continues the programs that have already been implemented and add new programs to fulfill a need within the community. It would be nice to see an increased membership and hear from more diverse voices.

Tami Grenon, Director

Who are you?

My name is Tami Grenon and I am a member at large on the BLC board. I moved to the West Coast from Ontario in 2001, and I am currently living in Vancouver , BC.

When did you start learning braille? Tell us your favourite braille related memory.

I started learning braille at age 6 when I was in grade 1 at the W. Ross Macdonald School in Brantford, Ontario. I enjoyed reading all about the adventures of Janet and Mark and their dog Socks, and I loved using the Perkins brailler to compose short stories that I would read to my classmates and teachers. I also really enjoyed my frequent trips to the school library to browse through the catalog for a braille book to read. I loved the smell of the library and the braille books, and I was fascinated with how big braille books were in comparison to print books.

Anything about your braille background you'd like to share?

Several years ago I volunteered as an ambassador with my local CNIB. This role involved meeting with elementary school classes and community groups to talk about blindness and share my personal experience with vision loss. I would always incorporate braille into my presentations, and would invite the children to spell their name for me so that I could braille it for them. I also delivered several presentations on braille to my colleagues at work as part of diversity awareness events, and I wrote an article to commemorate World Braille Day for our regional newsletter.

Tell us a bit about what you do for BLC?

I am the current Chair of the membership Committee. I enjoy working with others to come up with strategies for engaging current BLC members and attracting new ones to join. I am also very excited to assist with the Braille Zoomers and bimonthly workshops, as both initiatives promote the organization and bring people together to learn and share experiences with one another.

Tell us about one gem (e.g. a page or resource) on the BLC website you want members to know about.

The "What is Braille" page on the BLC website is a great place to start for those who want to learn about the braille code. The information is presented clearly, and there are excellent examples to illustrate the descriptions.

What do you want parents, classroom teachers or the general public to understand about braille?

Everyone with vision loss should be given an opportunity to learn braille if they so choose. You don't need to be a master to reap the benefits of knowing braille; even the most basic tasks such as keeping track of phone numbers and labeling items in the home can go a long way to developing confidence and achieving/maintaining independence.

What are your thoughts about BLC as you look back on the past 30 years? Any BLC accomplishments or braille advancements you would like to especially highlight?

BLC has accomplished so much over the past 30 years! In my mind, the organization has been a mover and shaker when it comes to promoting braille and engaging new and experienced braille users alike.

What are your thoughts on braille and BLC as you look ahead to the next 30 years?

BLC will have a crucial role to play as a promoter and advocate for braille, particularly as society as a whole becomes more focused on enhancing computer technology and smart home platforms such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa and the Siri Home Pod.

Social Media Updates

Here are just some of the gems posted on the BLC social media pages since the last issue. To receive these updates instantly, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

• Starbucks to release new large-print and Braille menus this summer amid other accessibility moves: https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-braille-menus-accessibility-retail-coffee-2021-3
• May 31 is the deadline for the CNIB‬ Braille Creative Writing Contest. http://www.cnib.ca/braillecontest
• Unified English Braille (UEB) Practice Sentences: This book is comprehensive, easy-to-use and fun. It's a great tool to assist TVI's with braille instruction. https://www.actualtactuals.com
• The World Blindness Summit will take place from June 28-30, 2021. For more details please visit https://www.worldblindnesssummit.com/en/home
• NNELS has a new item in their distributed and electronic braille collection! Check out The Speed of Mercy by Christy Ann Conlin: https://nnels.ca/items/speed-mercy