[il-talk] The Braille Literacy Committee Brings You "The UEB Adventure"

[Robert Gardner]

In January the U.S. switched from the American Braille code to the Unified
English Braille (UEB) code. In general all Braille materials produced in
this country are now being done in UEB. 

 

So, Braille reader, would you like to take an initial step in dealing with
UEB? Why not join "The UEB Adventure," sponsored by the NFBI Braille
Literacy Committee. 

 

The Committee has asked our current Braille reading group, the LIFE
(Literacy Is For Everyone) Group to use a UEB book as their next reading
project. This should start in approximately a month. 

 

The LIFE Group meets by teleconference once a week for an hour. Each one
calling into the group has either a hard copy or an electronic copy of the
chosen book. Attendees take turns reading aloud to the others. During the
week, "homework" of a certain amount of pages are assigned to be read before
the next meeting. 

 

The LIFE meetings (starting as mentioned above in about a month) will be
temporarily different in two ways. First of all, the group will read from a
UEB book attained through the NLS (Talking Books) system. Secondly, Lois
Montgomery has volunteered to be our UEB instructor. She will put together a
set of information about UEB, giving changes in contractions, punctuation,
and rules. This material will be basic and aimed only at literary Braille.
Lois will also be available during the telecon meetings to both instruct and
inform as the book is being read. 

 

The reading will be done at a leisurely pace, giving Lois time to explain
the unique features of UEB as they occur during the reading. Time will be
allowed for group discussion of these UEB differences during the one hour
teleconference. The end purpose of "The UEB Adventure" is to equip people to
read a novel or similar material in UEB.

 

Stay tuned for further information, including the title of the book selected
to be read and the exact date for the start of this project. It would be
great if you could send an email indicating your interest in attending these
telecons. 

 

Bob Gardner

Chair, Braille Literacy Committee

rgardner4 at gmail.com

 

Linda Hendle

Lead, LIFE Group

            iwannacu2 at sbcglobal.net