Section 6: Preparation Resources
Braille (283)

The resources listed below may help you prepare for the TExES Braille exam. These preparation resources have been identified by Braille experts and TVIs to provide up-to-date information that relates to UEB and Nemeth Code. Most of these resources can be found on the Web site of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) at http://www.brailleauthority.org. Except where otherwise noted, the materials can be downloaded at no cost.

Other Resources

  1. UEB Rulebook, Second Edition, 2013

    The Rulebook can be downloaded from the Web site of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB), http://www.iceb.org/ueb.html, or from the BANA Web site previously noted.

    This link will take you to three different versions of the Rulebook. A simple .pdf version is suitable for printing; the “linked pdf” is ideal for downloading to a computer or a tablet, as the live links in the document can help you navigate electronically. There is also a “braille ready” (.brf) version in six volumes.

  2. Printable one-page resource lists

    • Duxbury has a one-page chart that lists the contractions and symbols in alphabetical order; it can be downloaded in .pdf format from https://www.duxburysystems.com/braillechart.asp.

    • Canadian Assistive Technology (formerly Aroga Technologies) presents the UEB contractions and symbols by category; this chart can be downloaded in .pdf format from https://mailchi.mp/canasstech/unified-english-braille-chart.

  3. Burns Braille Guide: A Quick Reference to Unified English Braille, Second Edition

    This reference guide includes common braille-to-print and print-to-braille conversions, as well as punctuation, UEB contractions, and general rules and terminology. It is available for purchase in print or various electronic formats from APH Press: https://www.aph.org/product/burns-braille-guide-a-quick-reference-to-unified-english-braille/.

  4. UEB Online

    This self-paced, free online course teaches Unified English Braille from the very beginning. Starting with the alphabet, its 31 lessons presented in two modules take the learner through the UEB code. The course was developed by the Renwick Centre in New South Wales, Australia, and is available on this Web site: http://uebonline.org.

  5. Guidance for Transcription Using the Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts. (April 2018). Braille Authority of North America (BANA). http://www.brailleauthority.org/ueb/nemeth-guidance/Nemeth%20Guidance% 20 Final.pdf

  6. Cleveland, J. et al. (2017). Nemeth at a glance. Austin, TX: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

The BANA Web site also provides resources specifically aimed at professionals who are making the transition from English Braille American Edition (EBAE) to Unified English Braille. These resources can be found at https://www.brailleauthority.org/ and include:

  1. The ABCs of UEB

    Written by Constance Risjord, this document describes major differences between EBAE and UEB and includes examples and practice exercises. Available in HTML, .pdf, and .brf versions.

  2. Update to UEB

    This manual accompanies the CNIB Transcriber’s UEB Course:
    https://www.inca.ca/sites/default/files/2018-11/Transcriber%20update_0.pdf pdate.pdf

  3. Unified English Braille Australian Training Manual 2016

    This manual is a series of lessons and practice exercises and is available in .pdf and .brf formats at https://printdisability.org/guidelines/unified-english-braille-australian-training-manual-2013/. There is also a New Zealand variation available at http://www.banzat.org.nz/publications/braille-codes-and-formats.

Organization

  1. Lighthouse Guild — http://www.lighthouseguild.org/
  2. Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired — http://www.tsbvi.edu
  3. Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired — https://www.cabvi.org