Newsletter - April 2026

In This Issue

1. President's Message (Daphne Hitchcock, BLC President)
2. 2026 Braille Literacy Canada Symposium: Six Dots, No Limits - Six Points sans Limites
3. Plan to attend the Braille Literacy Canada AGM on June 6, 2026
4. Braille isn't just reading - it's freedom / Le braille, ce n'est pas seulement lire - c'est la liberté (ICEVI and the World Blind Union)
5. Braille Access Workshops (Kim Kilpatrick, BLC Vice President)
6. Upcoming Workshop on June 13: Braille Access: Working with BRF
7. ICEB Midterm Executive Meeting - August 2026 (Jen Goulden, ICEB Rep)
8. Introducing the Advocacy and Awareness Committee (Marilyn Rushton, Committee Chair)
9. ICEB Town Hall: Updates to Choice and Placement of Grade 1 Indicators - June 4, 2026
10. Expert Table Talk Series on Braille Displays: the first C, connecting - livingbraille.eu
11. Braille Art: How we love our dogs!
12. Social Media Links

President's Message

By Daphne Hitchcock, BLC President

Spring has sprung! It's hard to believe that winter is finally over and summer is almost here! It's been a busy time for BLC, as I sit back to reflect on the past months and prepare for our AGM, I realize just how many points of contact our organization makes throughout the year. We truly appreciate the feedback and involvement of our members - thank you your continued support. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to send them to info@blc-lbc.ca.

Are you interested in receiving a BRF or hard copy braille version of our newsletter? It is available on request from CELA. Many thanks to Jen Goulden, who transcribes the newsletter for us.

2026 Braille Literacy Canada Symposium: Six Dots, No Limits - Six Points sans Limites

Braille Literacy Canada / Littératie braille Canada is delighted to invite you to our 6th Braille Symposium, Six Dots, No Limits - Six Points sans Limites, taking place on the afternoon of Friday, May 22, 2026.

Join us from 1:00-5:00 PM EDT (10:00 AM Pacific, 11:00 AM Mountain, 11:00 AM Saskatchewan/Central, 2:00 PM Atlantic, 2:30 PM Newfoundland) for a fun and informative event. Whether you're a braille reader, educator, transcriber, parent, producer, or passionate about braille literacy, this symposium offers something for you.

This year's program features engaging presentations from international speakers, exploring topics such as:

• Expanding library accessibility for braille readers
• Emerging innovations in braille technology
• Adult braille learning journeys
• Integrating 3D models with braille and tactile graphics

Following last year's success, with over 100 participants from across Canada and around the world, we're excited to bring together vibrant and diverse speakers and topics.

The event is free for BLC members (including members of corporate member organizations) and $20 for non-members. Not yet a member? Annual membership is just $20 and open to Canadians. Visit our membership section to learn more.

For full details: https://www.brailleliteracycanada.ca/en/programs/workshops/symposium-2026.

To register: https://www.brailleliteracycanada.ca/en/programs/workshops/register/48

If you have any questions, we'd love to hear from you at info@blc-lbc.ca.

We look forward to welcoming you to an afternoon of learning, connection, and inspiration!

Plan to attend the Braille Literacy Canada AGM on June 6, 2026

Calling all BLC members! On Saturday, June 6, 2026, 1:00 pm eastern, you are invited to attend the BLC Annual General Meeting. This is your opportunity to hear about the accomplishments and plans of your organization. Save the date! The AGM package of information will be sent out to BLC members in early May.

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Avis à tous les membres de LBC! Le Samedi 6 juin 2026, à 13 h heure de l'Est, vous êtes conviés à l'assemblée générale annuelle de LBC. Ce sera l'occasion pour vous d'en apprendre plus sur nos réalisations et nos plans. À vos agendas! La trousse d'information de l'AGA sera envoyée aux membres au début mai.

Braille isn't just reading - it's freedom / Le braille, ce n'est pas seulement lire - c'est la liberté

By ICEVI and the World Blind Union

For blind children, braille builds the same foundation that printed books give sighted kids: spelling, grammar, structure, and the power to write their own story.

And mathematics? You can't listen your way through an equation. Braille gives children the tactile access they need to understand mathematical notation, work through problems, and truly master numbers - not just hear them.

Audio tools are great - but they can't replace the independence that comes from reading, writing, as well as doing math in braille.

Braille equals confidence. Braille equals opportunity. Braille equals a future without limits.

More Braille means more empowerment. More Braille means more opportunity.

#MoreBrailleMoreEmpowerment #BrailleBuildsFutures #GlobalBrailleLiteracyCampaign

For information, contact ICEVI and WBU:
Email: braillecampaign@icevi.org
Visit websites: https://wbu.ngo/about/global-braille-literacy-campaign and https://icevi.org/icevi-wbu-global-braille-literacy-campaign/

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Pour les enfants aveugles, le braille repose sur la même base que les livres imprimés offrent aux enfants voyants : l'orthographe, la grammaire, la structure et le pouvoir d'écrire leur propre histoire.

Et les mathématiques ? On ne peut pas écouter une équation. Le braille donne aux enfants l'accès tactile dont ils ont besoin pour comprendre la notation mathématique, résoudre des problèmes et vraiment maîtriser les nombres - pas seulement les entendre.

Les outils audio sont excellents - mais ils ne peuvent pas remplacer l'indépendance que procure la lecture, l'écriture ainsi que les mathématiques en braille.

Braille égale confiance. Braille, c'est une opportunité. Le braille équivaut à un avenir sans limites.

Plus de braille signifie plus d'autonomisation. Plus de braille signifie plus d'opportunités.

#MoreBrailleMoreEmpowerment #BrailleBuildsFutures #GlobalBrailleLiteracyCampaign

Pour plus d'informations, contactez ICEVI et WBU :
Email : braillecampaign@icevi.org
Visitez les sites web : https://wbu.ngo/about/global-braille-literacy-campaign, https://icevi.org/icevi-wbu-global-braille-literacy-campaign/

Braille Access Workshops

By Kim Kilpatrick, BLC Vice President

On March 28, 2026, the Advocacy and Awareness committee of BLC hosted the first of two workshops on Braille Access. Braille Access is a new set of features exclusively for those using braille displays. It was introduced by Apple for iOS, iPAD OS and Mac OS 26 in the fall of 2025. This set of features is only available when using a refreshable braille display.

When I first started using Araille Access, I was so impressed with its design and features. Being able to launch apps without swiping through screens and to take notes in braille without the focus jumping around are invaluable features which make me far more productive. To be able to paste those notes effortlessly into other apps - such as mail, messages, etc. - is a game-changer when VoiceOver focus gets in the way. I am amazed at the BRF app, which allows me to read any BRF and to take notes inside that file. Having a calculator and a clock available within Braille Access is wonderful too! For those who are Deafblind especially, having live captions shown in braille must be a game-changer as well.

Some organizations, such as the Braillists Foundation in the UK and Jonathan Mosen with the National Federation of the Blind in the US, have also done presentations outlining the features in Braille Access. That said, we were asked by several BLC members if we could lead a presentation involving a very slow, step-by-step walk through the key features of Braille Access. This meant that we walked through features slowly as everyone followed along, using their braille displays and Apple devices.

On March 28, Diana Brent and I led the first workshop, discussing the Braille Access settings, launching apps, and using the braille notes features. On Saturday, June 13, we will continue with Part 2 of the workshop, which will walk participants through the process of loading and reading BRF documents. To register for this second workshop, and to receive the notes from the first one, please email info@blc-lbc.ca. I really encourage everyone to use Braille Access. I use it all of the time to take notes, keep track of time with the built-in clock, launch apps, and read BRF files.

Upcoming Workshop on June 13: Braille Access: Working with BRF

Join us on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 1pm - 2:30pm Eastern time (10am Pacific, 11am Mountain, 11am Saskatchewan/Central, 2pm Atlantic, 2:30pm Newfoundland/Labrador)

In iOS, iPad OS and Mac OS 26, Apple presented us with many new braille features in a package called Braille Access. During this workshop we will be focusing on the use of BRF files, including loading and reading these files. We will also demonstrate how to paste notes into a BRF file.

We will give participants a chance to follow along with us through the features, and to adjust their own settings as they wish. We will not be covering basic Braille Access commands, as these were discussed in a previous workshop. We will discuss using BRF files within Braille Access on the iPhone, iPAD or Mac. If you would like the notes from the first Braille Access workshop, please email us at info@blc-lbc.ca.

This workshop is open to all BLC members and those who are part of BLC corporate member organizations. To register, please email info@blc-lbc.ca with the subject line Braille Access.

ICEB Midterm Executive Meeting - August 2026

By Jen Goulden, ICEB Rep

Save the Date: The Executive committee of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) has made the difficult decision to move its mid-term executive meeting, scheduled to take place in August 2026 to be a fully online event. Member countries and interested observers will be able to join via Zoom and input into the various discussions. More details on the online event will be posted in the coming weeks. Observers are welcome.

ICEB brings together English-speaking countries from around the world and is the body responsible for Unified English Braille (UEB). The General Assembly is held once every four years, with a midterm face-to-face meeting of the ICEB Executive Committee taking place two years into each term.

If you'd like to learn more about braille on the international stage, visit https://www.iceb.org or write to info@blc-lbc.ca.

ICEB produces a newsletter under the direction of its Public Relations Committee, which is chaired by Stuart Lawler of Ireland. The newsletter is jam-packed with all sorts of braille-related events and information from around the world. We welcome suggestions, so if you would like to contribute to the newsletter or if you have ideas for items that could be included in future issues, please write to info@iceb.org.

If you'd like to receive the newsletter, UEB updates and other announcements directly into your inbox, we invite you to subscribe to our one-way announce list by writing to iceb-announce+subscribe@groups.io.

You can also follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter and Mastodon at @ICEBbraille.

Introducing the Advocacy and Awareness Committee

By Marilyn Rushton, Committee Chair

Hello, everyone,

This is a quick note to introduce myself:

My name is Marilyn Rushton, and I have just assumed the position of Chair of the Braille Literacy Canada Advocacy and Awareness Committee. I have been on the Board of Braille Literacy Canada since June of 2023. I am a retired Vision Teacher and a lifelong braille user.

The Advocacy and Awareness Committee's efforts will be focused primarily on braille and related topics, with updates and initiatives posted in the Blc Newsletters. We will be meeting a few times per year, so please feel free to send your Braille-related Advocacy and Awareness ideas along to us at: info@blc-lbc.ca.

Until next time,
Marilyn Rushton

ICEB Town Hall: Updates to Choice and Placement of Grade 1 Indicators - June 4, 2026

The ICEB Executive Committee has recently approved a significant update to the choice and placement of grade 1 indicators, section 1.7 of the Guidelines for Technical Material (GTM). The new guidance clarifies when it is appropriate to use a grade 1 symbol, word or passage indicator and will be of particular interest to those working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

The updated guidance gives a consistent approach to selecting which kind of grade 1 indicator to use, removing confusion where the same mathematical expression could be written in multiple ways.

ICEB is delighted to invite you to a special town hall event, taking place at 20:00 UTC, on Thursday June 4th, where we will explain these changes in detail, provide examples and most importantly, answer your questions.

If you are a transcriber, a teacher, or a braille reader (especially working with Mathematics or scientific notation), this session will most certainly be of interest.

Please register here to attend: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Q_gmuFyVS_GpYhsra5SK7A#/registration

We look forward to your company!

Regards,
Stuart Lawler
Public Relations Officer International Council on English Braille (ICEB)

Expert Table Talk Series on Braille Displays: the first C, connecting - livingbraille.eu

Editor's Note: The following is taken from a post on the https://www.livingbraille.eu/ site, written by Michal Tkacik.

This table talk was the first session of a series on braille display usage being hosted by the Braille Working Group of the European Blind Union (EBU). Four Table Talks will cover four main topics: Connecting, Consuming, Controlling, and Creating with braille displays.

The initial meeting aimed to provide an international perspective on braille technology and address common challenges faced by users. The meeting focused on explaining the differences between HID Braille and legacy drivers for connecting Braille displays to computers.

To read more, go to https://www.livingbraille.eu/expert-table-talk-series-on-braille-displays-the-first-c-connecting/

Part 2 of this series is available at: https://www.livingbraille.eu/expert-table-talk-series-on-braille-displays-the-second-c-consuming/.

Part 3 of the series is now available and you can read more at the following link: https://sendy.braillists.org/l/gghTfJ1lbSJShj8925818StQ/Fl4NS6jd9892lvSaCYlGpWcw/beQ7qdMvSzm9XvsPPA9kgA

The final Expert Table Talk will be available on the livingbraille.eu site in the coming weeks.

Braille Art: How we love our dogs!

This braille art design shows the profile of a dog, looking to the left. It seems to be attentively receiving a command. The tail on the right swoops down and his muscular legs support his compact body. A distinctive feature of this dog is his floppy ears.

• Line 1: 6 spaces, dot 6, dots 3-6, dot 3
• Line 2: 4 spaces, dots 3-6, dots 2-4, dots 4-5-6, 1 space, dot 4, dots 2-3-6
• Line 3: 3 spaces, dots 1-2-4-5-6, 3 spaces, dots 1-2-3, 1 space, dots 4-5-6, dots 1-5, dot 3
• Line 4: 4 spaces, dots 1-4, dots 1-4, dots 1-4, dots 1-2-3-4, dots 2-5, dot 1, 1 space, dot 4, dots 2-5, dots 2-6, dots 3-6, dots, 3-6, dots 3-6, dots 2-5, dots 2-5, dots 2-5, dots 2-6, dots 3-6, dot 3
• Line 5: 7 spaces, dots 1-5-6, 14 spaces, dot 4, dots 2-6
• Line 6: 7 spaces, dots 4-5, dot 3, 14 spaces, dot 3, dots 1-5-6
• Line 7: 8 spaces, dots 1-5-6, 8 spaces, dots 3-6, dots 3-6, dots 2-5-6, 3 spaces, dots 1-2-3-4-5, dot 3 dots 1-5-6
• Line 8: 9 spaces, dots 1-5-6, dots 2-5-6, dots 3-6, dots 3-6, dots 3-5, dots 2-5, dots 2-4, dots 1-4, 1 space, dot 4, dot 3, dots 1-5-6, 2 spaces dots 1-2-3, dot 4, dots 2-6, dots 1-3-5
• Line 9: 9 spaces, dots 4-5-6, dots 4-5-6, dots 4-5-6, dots 4-5-6, 7 spaces, dots 1-5, dots 3-4, dots 2-6, dot 4, dots 2-6
• Line 10: 9 spaces, dots 4-5-6, dots 4-5-6, dots 4-5-6, dots 4-5-6, 8 spaces, dots 4-5-6, dots 4-5-6, dots 1-2-6, dots 4-5-6
• Line 11: 8 spaces, dots 2-4-6, dots 1-3-6, dots 1-2-5, dots 1-3-6, dots 1-2, 7 spaces, dot 5, dots 1-3-4-6, dots 3-4-5, dots 2-3-4-6, dots 3-4-5

Thanks to https://einfachmachbar.de/projekt-braillebilder for providing this design.

Social Media Links

Here are a few of the items we have posted on our social media platforms in recent weeks.

• More Braille means more empowerment. More Braille means more opportunity. #MoreBrailleMoreEmpowerment #BrailleBuildsFutures #GlobalBrailleLiteracyCampaign
• For information, contact ICEVI and WBU: Email: braillecampaign@icevi.org Visit websites: https://wbu.ngo/about/global-braille-literacy-campaign; https://icevi.org/icevi-wbu-global-braille-literacy-campaign/
• This week is Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (VRT) Appreciation Week. BLC would like to honour the professionals who provide training in #braille and other daily living skills to people who are blind or partially sighted. (Posted April 13)
• This celebration takes place every year to commemorate the birthday of Anne Sullivan - teacher of Helen Keller - born April 14th, 1866.
• Best Kept Secrets for Travelers With Sight Loss by Lynn Jensen is available through online retailers and at the official web site: blindtraveltips.com
• The Victor Reader Stream Now Supports eBraille: https://www.braillists.org/uncategorised/the-victor-reader-stream-3-now-supports-ebraille/