juin 2, 2023 Workshop: 2023 Symposium de Braille Literacy Canada : Le braille sans frontières

Braille Literacy Canada (BLC) will be holding its third annual virtual braille symposium on Friday, June 2, 2023 from 1 – 5 PM EDT (10am-2pm Pacific/11am-3pm Mountain/Saskatchewan, 12pm-4pm Central, 2pm-6pm Atlantic, 5pm-9pm UTC).

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

Schedule overview

The schedule of events is as follows:

• 1:00pm EST: Concurrent English/French presentations:
  • English: About Braille Files (James Bowden, RNIB, Braille Technical Officer)
  • French: Les albums tactiles illustrés des Doigts Qui Rêvent, presque 30 ans d'innovation (Sophie Blain, Les Doigts Qui Rêvent)
• 2:00pm EST: I-M-ABLE: Individualized Meaning-Centered Approach to Braille Literacy Education (Dr. Diane Wormsley, Brenda Brodie Endowed Professor, North Carolina Central University, Retired)
• 3:00 pm EST: Expanding the Frontiers of Literacy: Developing Braille Codes for Indigenous Languages (Jen Goulden and Christine Muise)
• 4:00pm EST: Unified English Braille Across Borders (Frances Gentle, Josie Howse, Craig Cashmore)

Each presentation will be approximately 30 minutes long, followed by a 15 minute question-and-answer period, and then a 15 minute intermission. More information on our exciting line up of speakers is provided below.

Merci à nos incroyables commanditaires !

Nous aimerions prendre un moment pour remercier tous nos commanditaires qui, par leur soutien généreux, contribuent à faire de cet événement un véritable succès, notamment en offrant d'incroyables prix de présence et des offres spéciales que vous ne voudrez pas manquer !

• Canadian Assistive Technology et son équipe font partie du secteur des technologies d'assistance depuis plus de 33 ans. Ils apportent leur expertise, leur empathie et leur service à leurs clients tout en leur fournissant tous les outils d'accessibilité dont ils ont besoin pour réussir sur leur lieu de travail ou lorsqu'ils s'adonnent à leurs activités préférées à la maison.
• Kids Can Press, qui fait partie de la famille Corus Entertainment, est le plus grand éditeur de livres pour enfants appartenant à des intérêts canadiens et le lauréat 2017 du distingué Prix Bologna du meilleur éditeur de livres pour enfants en Amérique du Nord. Son catalogue comprend une liste primée de plus de 700 livres d'images, des ouvrages documentaires et de fiction pour enfants et jeunes adultes qui sont traduits et vendus dans le monde entier. Kids Can Press fêtera son 50e anniversaire en 2023.
• Humanware est le chef de file mondial des solutions technologiques pour les personnes aveugles et celles ayant une basse vision. Nous proposons un large éventail de produits innovants, notamment l'afficheur braille BrailleNote Touch+ Brailliant, la gamme complète de lecteurs de livres audio numériques Victor Reader, y compris Stream 3, les loupes électroniques Connect 12, les écrans Reveal 16 et les loupes électroniques ultracompactes Explore.
• Crawford Technologies est un fournisseur mondial de solutions logicielles et de services qui aident les entreprises à optimiser et à améliorer la livraison, le stockage et la présentation sécurisés et accessibles de leurs communications avec leurs clients.
• La Banque Scotia s'est donné pour mission de rendre le hockey plus diversifié, plus inclusif et plus accessible à tous. La plupart des livres sur le hockey destinés aux enfants ne présentent pas de joueurs de couleur. Ils ont créé The Hockey Jersey - une nouvelle histoire de hockey pour inspirer la prochaine génération.
• Select Roses est un fleuriste à service complet à Saskatoon qui est agréable, amical et chaleureux dès le moment où vous franchissez la porte. Nous nous efforçons de mettre nos clients à l'aise et nous possédons l'expertise en matière de fleurs et de design moderne pour que vous n'ayez pas à le faire. C'est ce qui fait de Select Roses le meilleur fleuriste de Saskatoon.
• Groundwood Books a été fondé en 1978 par Patricia Aldana avec pour mission de publier des livres pour enfants de la plus haute qualité possible pour tous les âges. Son catalogue comprend désormais la fiction, les livres d'images, les romans graphiques et les ouvrages documentaires. Ses livres primés et acclamés des critiques sont connus pour être avant-gardistes et orientés vers la justice. De plus, l’éditeur ne craint pas d'aborder des sujets lourds ou controversés - mais toujours centrés sur le point de vue de l'enfant. Selon lui, les livres peuvent être importants sans sacrifier la convivialité, la beauté, le plaisir et l'humour. Des éditions en braille de certains livres sont disponibles auprès de Groundwood Books.
• Au-delà de L’imprimè d’INCA est l’un des créateurs de documents accessibles les plus expérimentés au Canada. Au-delà de l’imprimé d’INCA collabore avec des entreprises commerciales, des éditeurs indépendants, des organismes gouvernementaux et de compétence fédérale ainsi que des établissements d’enseignement afin d’assurer l’équité et l’inclusion des imprimés à l’échelle nationale. Nos partenaires sont des innovateurs en matière d’accessibilité qui ont pris l’engagement permanent d’améliorer l’accès pour tous les Canadiens incapables de lire les imprimés.
• Purdys Chocolatier, un fier chocolatier familial canadien qui s'enorgueillit de son utilisation exclusive de cacao durable et qui a attiré l'attention du monde entier grâce à l'introduction de sa boîte de chocolats en braille de 18 pièces, entièrement accessible et étiquetée en braille !
• National Braille Press est la première maison d'édition en braille des États-Unis, spécialisée dans la production d'ouvrages originaux en braille écrits par des auteurs aveugles expressément pour les personnes aveugles. NBP promeut l'alphabétisation des enfants aveugles par le biais de programmes de sensibilisation, encourage l'enseignement du braille aux enfants aveugles en fournissant du matériel de lecture en braille adapté à l'âge et du matériel de soutien pour les soignants et les éducateurs, et promeut l'alphabétisation en braille comme une compétence importante pour l'emploi et la vie en général. NBP fournit également des services de transcription et de production en braille à des organisations partageant les mêmes idées et à des entreprises afin de soutenir le braille et l'accessibilité pour tous.

Nous sommes très reconnaissants du soutien de nos merveilleux sponsors.

Registration information

This event is open to anyone in Canada and internationally with an interest in braille.

It is free of charge to members of Braille Literacy Canada (or members of organizations who are corporate members of BLC) and $20.00 for non-members. Interested in becoming a BLC member? Annual membership (open to all Canadians) is $20 - check out our membership section for more information!

Registration will close on Thursday, May 31, 2023 at midnight. Live automatic captioning will be provided for the presentations through Zoom, and written transcripts of the presentations will be made available after the event. (Zoom is not able to support live captioning and transcripts for the French presentation at 1pm EST.)

Once you have submitted your registration, your request will be reviewed and a Zoom link will be e-mailed to you within a few days. If you do not hear from us or you have any other questions, please write to info@blc-lbc.ca.

Click here to register

If you have trouble with that link, point your browser here: https://www.brailleliteracycanada.ca/en/programs/workshops/register/36, or email us at info@blc-lbc.ca.

About Braille Files

Presented at 1pm EST (10am Pacific, 11am Mountain/Saskatchewan, 12pm Central, 2pm Atlantic, 5pm UTC) by James Bowden

In this workshop James will attempt to demystify the various types of braille and braille files. What is six- and eight-dot braille, computer and literary braille? What do braille files contain? How do you create them, read and navigate them, and what are their advantages?

What about the future? James will talk about the ongoing work of the eBraille project which aims to overcome current limitations of braille files.

James Bowden works at the RNIB as the Braille Technical Officer, handling queries about braille and is involved in various braille-related projects both in the UK and internationally. In recent years these have included the launch in the UK of the Orbit Reader braille display and associated SD card containing braille books, testing braille music translation software and improving the Liblouis translation system. James is involved of various braille standards bodies including the UK Association for Accessible Formats Braille groups and is the current UK rep to the International Council on English Braille. A lifelong braille reader, James is passionate about all things braille, including an interest in grade 3. He is familiar with several braille codes including the technical aspects of UEB, braille music and some foreign languages.

Les albums tactiles illustrés des Doigts Qui Rêvent, presque 30 ans d'innovation (en français)

Presented at 1pm EST (10am Pacific, 11am Mountain/Saskatchewan, 12pm Central, 2pm Atlantic, 6pm UTC) by Sophie Blain

Sophie Blain, directrice générale des Doigts qui rêvent, présentera l’importance des illustrations tactiles dans la construction de la littératie et de la conscience de l’écrit pour les enfants aveugles ou ayant une basse vision dès l’âge de deux ans. Elle abordera ensuite les différents types d’illustrations tactiles conçues aux doigts qui rêvent, la façon de les produire, ainsi que les pistes de médiation proposées. Enfin, elle parlera brièvement de deux innovations : un livre numérique pour les enfants malvoyants où l’enfant peut paramétrer la lisibilité des illustrations et un livre tactile avec des tissus connectés permettant de déclencher des sons en fonction des manipulations tactiles de l’enfant dans le livre.

Sophie Blain, éditrice jeunesse spécialisée en édition accessible aux enfants déficients visuels, elle dirige les éditions benjamins media de 2001 à 2016 (album, livre audio, livre en braille, livre numérique au format epub3, illustration en relief), puis dirige les éditions Les Doigts qui Rêvent depuis 2018 (albums tactiles illustrés). Pour Les Doigts Qui Rêvent, en plus de la direction du projet associatif, elle pilote des projets de création de supports de lecture innovants, projets qui mixent lecture numérique et tissus connectés. Au fil des publications, son expertise en termes d’accessibilité au livre et à l’écrit des personnes en situation de handicap s’est accrue, tant en direction des publics avec handicap sensoriel (visuel, auditif) que cognitif, mental, mais aussi moteur. En plus de son métier d’éditrice, elle forme aussi à l’accessibilité des professionnels du livre et de la culture (formation continue) ou futurs professionnels (formation initiale).

I-M-ABLE: Individualized Meaning-Centered Approach to Braille Literacy Education

Presented at 2pm EST (11am Pacific, 12pm Mountain/Saskatchewan, 1pm Central, 3pm Atlantic, 7pm UTC) by Dr. Diane Wormsley

I-M-ABLE begins with words which are meaningful to a student, to help engage them, motivate them, and provide for success in learning to read. This presentation will include information about when this approach might be useful to use with what types of students. Differences between this approach and traditional approaches are discussed. Case studies of students with whom the approach has been used will give presenters an idea of the approach in action. Resources for learning more about the approach and additional reading material for those interested in implementing the approach will be provided.

Diane Pomeroy Wormsley, Ph. D. (University of Pittsburgh 1979) began her teaching career at the New York State School for the Blind. She taught in Australia and Papua New Guinea, was Assistant Professor at Illinois State University; Assistant to the Dean, College of Health Sciences University of Wyoming; Educational Specialist and Regional Director for American Foundation for the Blind. She was also Program Director and Associate Professor at Pennsylvania College of Optometry (now Salus University) and the Brenda Brodie Endowed Chair and Professor in Special Education at North Carolina Central University, retiring in 2015. In retirement, she served briefly as Executive in Residence at American Printing House for the Blind. She is former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Visual Impairments and Blindness and served as an Associate Editor of the Journal through 2021.

Her publications include: Braille Literacy: A Functional Approach, Braille Literacy Curriculum, and I-M-ABLE: The Individualized Meaning-Centered Approach for Braille Literacy Education. She co-authored Foundations of Braille Literacy, and co-edited Instructional Strategies for Braille Literacy. She has published numerous articles on her research including the ABC Braille Study and braille literacy, and has presented on those topics at conferences and workshops around the world. She continues to be engaged in consulting and presenting workshop and webinars on I-M-ABLE.

Among her awards are the Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh, the Alan J. Koenig Research in Literacy Award and the Holbrook-Humphries Award from Getting in Touch with Literacy, and the Mary K. Bauman Award and the C. Warren Bledsoe Award (for Instructional Strategies for Braille Literacy) from the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Expanding the Frontiers of Literacy: Developing Braille Codes for Indigenous Languages

Presented at 3pm EST (12pm Pacific, 1pm Mountain/Saskatchewan, 2pm Central, 4pm Atlantic, 8pm UTC) by Jen Goulden and Christine Muise

Many languages around the world do not yet have a written orthography, and there are even more that still need a braille code. In this session we will highlight best practices for developing braille codes as well as the issues to consider throughout the process. We'll provide an overview of the development of the Mi'kmaw braille code and discuss factors which can help ensure that a code truly meets the needs of the braille readers who will rely on it for literacy and independence.

Jen Goulden is an Accessibility Compliance Support Manager with Crawford Technologies and holds a Master's degree in linguistics from the University of Ottawa. She is a certified braille transcriber, including UEB Technical. She was the President of Braille Literacy Canada from 2011-2018 and is the Treasurer of the International Council on English Braille. She is CNIB’s representative to the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) and currently serves as the BANA Chair. She is a piano player who loves Jane Austen, dark chocolate and the Lord of the Rings.

Christine Muise (Halifax, NS) has been a certified Braille Transcriber with APSEA for over 15 years, as well as being a contract transcriber and volunteer. The majority of her work has been UEB Technical with tactiles. Last year she was honoured with the Louis Award from APH for her work in the creation of the Mi'kmaw Braille Code. In her off time, she enjoys renovating her house, and kayaking when the Atlantic Canada weather cooperates.

Unified English Braille Across Borders

Presented at 4pm EST (1pm Pacific, 2pm Mountain/Saskatchewan, 3pm Central, 5pm Atlantic, 9pm UTC) by Frances Gentle, Josie Howse and Craig Cashmore

This presentation will introduce the online literary and mathematics training courses in Unified English Braille which were developed by NextSense (Australia). The courses were created in response to requests from the blindness field in Australia and New Zealand, and to offer our support in addressing the chronic shortage of braille teachers worldwide, as identified by the World Blind Union.

Up until the launch of our first UEB online program in mid-2014, NextSense had provided in-person training in braille for specialist educators for 20 years. These in-person courses attracted around 40 braille learners each year and it was anticipated that the online braille courses would increase enrolments to 100 braille learners annually. To our surprise, the online braille courses have reached around 31,000 braille learners from more than 150 countries since 2014. We believe this strong uptake across national borders is associated with offering the courses in visual and non-visual access mode, the basic technology requirements, sequential nature of the lessons, and the lack of a fee to register and complete the courses. The registration process enables subscribers to create a personal profile and work through the braille lessons at their own pace from any computer, saving their work as they go.

In this presentation, we aim to achieve the following objectives:

• Overview of the braille training courses and resources offered on the UEB Online website
• Target audience, access options, and technology required
• Real time (live) demonstration of the user experience
• How to seek help
• Future plans

Frances Gentle (AO) is President of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI). She is a member of the academic and research staff at the NextSense Institute and a lecturer in the Master of Disability Studies program at Macquarie University (Australia). Her research interests include rights-based legislation and policies and disability-inclusive education for children with blindness, low vision, deafblindness and multiple disability.

Josie Howse (PSM) is an Adjunct Research Fellow with the NextSense Institute and former Manager of the Braille and Large Print Services, NSW Department of Education. Josie has extensive experience in braille code development both in Australia and at an international level. Josie was editor of the inaugural UEB Braille Primer: Australian Edition, published in 2006, and is co-editor of the first and second editions of the UEB Australian Training Manual (2016; 2022). She recently authored the UEB Online training modules for Introductory, Advanced and Extension Mathematics and has supported the many UEB Online subscribers as they complete their exercises.

Craig Cashmore is the Founder and Director of PeppaCode Pty Ltd, a web and app development business focused on 'out-of-the-ordinary' strategic web and software development for small business, start-ups and educational institutions. Craig's achievements include the successful launch of UEB Online and implementing educational apps for visually impaired children. Craig continues to work on new and innovative projects using modern web technologies.

Click here for information on how to register to attend the Symposium!