Programs & Services

Workshops

Braille Literacy Canada offers a series of workshops, typically held on a bi-monthly basis using Zoom, on topics relating to braille, braille technology, braille teaching, and more.

Workshops are typically free for members (and members of corporation/organizational members), and cost $20.00 for non-members. In many cases, additional resources and post-workshop recordings will be available for those interested in participating but who cannot attend live.

If you have an idea for a workshop or there is a topic that you would like to see us explore, please contact us and give us your suggestions!

Upcoming Workshops

Past Workshops

Qu’en est-il des ressources francophones sur le braille musical au Canada?

June 14, 2024 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Symposium 2024 - Touch the Future (français)

Audio Recording Available
Resource Materials Available

2024 Braille Literacy Canada Symposium: Touch The Future

June 14, 2024 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Join us for an afternoon of exciting presentations from international speakers on a variety of future-focused braille topics!

2024 Braille Literacy Canada AGM

June 8, 2024 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

2024 Annual General Meeting

2023 Braille Literacy Canada Symposium: Boundless Braille

June 2, 2023 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Join us for this year's symposium!

Celebrating the Slate and Stylus with Judy Dixon

April 22, 2023 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Join Judy Dixon for a fascinating workshop on the venerable slate and stylus

Tips on Brailler and Braille Device Maintenance

November 19, 2022 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn how to maintain your Perkins brailler and other braille devices

Audio Recording Available
Resource Materials Available

Using the Hable One Keyboard: A Joint CCB-GTT and BLC Presentation

November 12, 2022 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn how to use the Hable One braille keyboard to control your smartphone

Advocating for Braille

October 22, 2022 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Join a panel of experts to explore how we can advocate for braille for ourselves.

Audio Recording Available
Resource Materials Available

2022 Braille Literacy Canada Symposium

June 17, 2022 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

This event will be of interest to braille readers, educators, transcribers, parents, producers and anyone else with a passion for braille literacy!

Orbit Reader Workshop

April 23, 2022 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Tracy Mousseau and Betty Nobel will share their experiences to help you decide whether an Orbit Reader is right for you.

Guidelines for the Transcription of Early Braille Literacy Materials

November 20, 2021 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Bonnie Read, one of the lead authors, will present BANA's new Guidelines for the Transcription of Early Educational Materials from Print to Braille

Audio Recording Available
Resource Materials Available

Duxbury for Braille Readers

September 25, 2021 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn how to use the Duxbury Braille Translator (as a braille reader) to produce your own electronic or printed braille documents

Audio Recording Available
Resource Materials Available

Braille Literacy Canada Symposium: From Braille Literacy to Empowerment

June 4, 2021 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

A host of exciting and world-renowned speakers will give half hour presentations followed by time for Q&A and discussion, with a game of trivia to cap it all off!

Let's Talk About it: Braille, Adulthood and Aging

April 17, 2021 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Betty Nobel, Chair of the BLC Teaching and Learning committee sits down with BLC President Dr. Natalie Martiniello for a lively discussion about her research on braille, adulthood and aging.

Your help is needed to ensure CELA/NNELS continue to receive funding for the production of braille

March 18, 2021 @ 7:00 PM (EST)

Join Braille Literacy Canada and the Canadian Council for the Blind to learn how you can help CELA and NNELS restore their federal funding

Teaching Braille Virtually: Ideas and Strategies

February 24, 2021 @ 12:00 PM (EST)

A panel of teachers of students with visual impairments (biographies below) will provide their insights about teaching braille in a virtual classroom.

Audio Recording Available
Resource Materials Available

It’s Connected: Pairing and Using a Braille Device with a Mobile Phone or Tablet

September 19, 2020 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn the steps to follow so you can connect your braille display to your iOS or Android mobile device

Audio Recording Available

Getting Started with Braille Screen Input on the iPhone: Hands-On Strategies for Success

July 31, 2020 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn how to use 'braille screen input' on the iPhone through a detailed, step-by-step overview with hands-on demonstrations

Audio Recording Available
Resource Materials Available

Literacy In Your Living Room: Braille Resources for TVI’s, Parents And Students Learning From Home

April 7, 2020 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

BLC President Natalie Martiniello and Vice President Daphne Hitchcock will discuss a variety of resources for blind and visually impaired students.

Audio Recording Available
Resource Materials Available

Teaching English and Braille to New Language Learners

February 19, 2020 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn from teacher experiences and creative strategies for working with new language learners

Resource Materials Available

Braille resources: Where to find them and how to create your own

January 25, 2020 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

learn where to find and purchase braille resources (braille books, games, household items)

Audio Recording Available

Braille is Best: Out and About - Everyday Strategies for Advocating for the Use of Braille

November 30, 2019 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Panelists share their experiences advocating for braille in post-secondary education and in everyday life

Audio Recording Available

Formatting Documents Using Refreshable Braille Displays

September 28, 2019 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn how to format a document, from the basics to the advanced, and how a braille display can help with this task

Audio Recording Available
Resource Materials Available

The ABCs of Learning Braille: Tips, Tricks and Tools for Adults

June 1, 2019 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Join Braille Literacy Canada for a special teleconference all about learning braille as an adult or senior

Audio Recording Available

The War of the Dots and Other Fascinating Events in the History of Braille

March 30, 2019 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn how we got from a system developed by a French teenager in the 1820s to the Unified English Braille code we’re using nearly 200 years later

Audio Recording Available

Celebrating World Braille Day: A Look At The World Of Braille On An International Scale

January 26, 2019 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn about what is happening in the world of braille on the international stage

Braille for All Ages

November 24, 2018 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Are you wondering if braille would be a helpful tool for you? Do you have a student or a family member who is making the transition to braille?

The Copyright Act Demystified for Production of Alternative Format Materials

September 15, 2018 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn how copyright impacts braille (and alternate format) transcription, what's allowed, and more!

Audio Recording Available
Resource Materials Available

Introduction to Braille Blaster

May 26, 2018 @ 3:00 PM (EST)

An introduction to the freely available Braille Blaster braille translation tool

Audio Recording Available

Emerging Braille Technology

March 3, 2018 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn more about up and coming braille technologies - directly from the people involved and companies themselves!

Audio Recording Available

BLC Past, Present, and Future

January 27, 2018 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn more about the role and work of Braille Literacy Canada (BLC) and its impact on those who use, teach, transcribe or otherwise are passionate about braille

UEB Technical Material: From Counting to Calculus

November 27, 2017 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn the ins and outs of transcribing technical material in UEB

Audio Recording Available
Resource Materials Available

What you need to know about CELA

September 30, 2017 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn about the services offered by the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA)

Audio Recording Available

Bringing Braille Home for the Summer: A Special Teleconference Workshop for Parents

May 27, 2017 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn about the exciting opportunities that exist for teachers and rehabilitation therapists who work with blind and partially sighted children, adults and seniors, as well as in braille and alternative format transcription, production, and proofreading

Choosing your next braille display

April 8, 2017 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Our panel discusses a variety of braille display devices to help you decide which one would be most helpful to you

Audio Recording Available

Learn about Professions in the Field of Visual Impairment and Braille

January 14, 2017 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn about the exciting opportunities that exist for teachers and rehabilitation therapists who work with blind and partially sighted children, adults and seniors, as well as in braille and alternative format transcription, production, and proofreading

UEB Virtual Party for Braille Users

November 19, 2016 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

Learn what UEB is and the main changes it introduces for you as a reader

Braille in the context of the proposed federal disability legislation: BLC seeks your input

January 28, 2016 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

BLC seeks consumer input to inform its submission to the Federal Government outlining the importance of federal organizations ensuring that information is accessible and available in braille

Braille in the 21st Century

January 9, 2016 @ 1:00 PM (EST)

A panel of braille users discuss different themes related to "Braille in the 21st Century", and what is new and exciting in the world of braille