[nabs-l] NUBS was Re: BANA still considering abolishingtheNemethbraillecode

Mon Sep 12 02:27:13 UTC 2011

Nicole thanks for sharing this. It gives some background and reasoning 
behind the changes and says what Nubs stands for.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Nicole B. Torcolini at Home
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 7:41 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] NUBS was Re: BANA still considering 
abolishingtheNemethbraillecode

Please note that this is from over two years ago, so some things may have
changed.PRESS RELEASE March, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Judith
Dixon, Chairperson Braille Authority of North America PHONE: 1-202-707-0722
E-MAIL: <mailto:jdix at loc.gov>jdix at loc.gov Braille Authority of North
America To Evaluate Nemeth Uniform Braille System The Braille Authority of
North America announced today that it is making plans for the evaluation of
the recently completed Nemeth Uniform Braille System (NUBS). According to
its developer, Dr. Abraham Nemeth, NUBS is an updated version of the Nemeth
code, which has been in use since 1972.  The new system has been in
development for ten years and is capable of rendering both literary and
technical texts. "BANA deliberates very carefully before making even small
changes to braille," said Judith Dixon, BANA chairperson.  "We want to
ensure that braille readers have access to the same information as do their
print-reading counterparts in this age in which the norms for printed
material are evolving rapidly.  However, it is essential that we understand
the impact of any changes on readability, writeability, space
considerations, familiarity to current braille readers, etc.  The benefits
of making any change must be shown to outweigh the drawbacks." The timeline
and other details of the evaluation process are still being determined.  The
evaluation will involve the input of all stakeholders,  and information on
how those interested can provide input will be made available soon. To view
the completed code, or to read documents explaining the code, visit
http://www.braille2000.com/brl2000/nubs.htm The mission and purpose of the
Braille Authority of North America are to assure literacy for tactile
readers through the standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics. BANA
promotes and facilitates the use, teaching and production of braille. It
publishes rules, interprets and renders opinions pertaining to braille in
all existing codes. It deals with codes now in existence or to be developed
in the future, in collaboration with other countries using English braille.
In exercising its function and authority, BANA considers the effects of its
decisions on other existing braille codes and formats; the ease of
production by various methods; and acceptability to readers. For additional
resource information, visit www.brailleauthority.org.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nicole B. Torcolini at Home" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 4:37 PM
Subject: [nabs-l] NUBS was Re: BANA still considering abolishing
theNemethbraillecode

> NUBS info coming soon.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 2:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] BANA still considering abolishing the 
> Nemethbraillecode
>
>
>> The NFB representative on BANA is Jennifer Dunnam.  I forwarded some of 
>> the messages that appeared here, and
>> she asked if I would post the following for her.
>>
>> Jennifer Dunnam Wrote:
>> "Since I am the NFB's representative on BANA, Steve Jacobson has shared 
>> with
>> me some of the discussion that has occurred on list regarding BANA and 
>> the
>> Nemeth Code.  In addition to the excellent points that he has made, I 
>> would
>> strongly urge everyone to please read the three-part article that is 
>> being
>> distributed by BANA, the first part of which appeared in the May Braille
>> Monitor, and the second part of which will appear in Octobers (to be
>> followed shortly by the third).  The article is intended to lay out the
>> issues confronting all of us at braille users and what BANA is 
>> considering.
>> Please know that BANA is engaged in a thoughtful process and will not be
>> making snap decisions.  We have asked for and will continue to seek input
>> from all concerned, and we want people to be informed as well.
>>
>> On Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:17:28 -0400, Ashley Bramlett wrote:
>>
>>>I'm interested in Nemeth's new code. What does it combine? How much does 
>>>it
>>>resemble the current math code?
>>
>>>-----Original Message----- 
>>>From: Joshua Lester
>>>Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 2:14 PM
>>>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] BANA still considering abolishing the
>>>Nemethbraillecode
>>
>>>Mr Jacobson:
>>>Please E-mail me off list.
>>>I'm interested in his new code.
>>>Thanks, Joshua
>>
>>>On 9/11/11, Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at visi.com> wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> Let me respectfully suggest that we turn down the rhetoric on this.
>>>> First,
>>>> one doesn't just complain to the chair of the
>>>> resolutions committee and expect her to write a resolution, and second,
>>>> resolutions won't be considered until next
>>>> summer so there is time to sort all this out.  I've been trying to 
>>>> follow
>>>> the BANA deliberations on some of this and things
>>>> just are not as simple as it might seem on the surface.  Whether we 
>>>> like
>>>> it
>>>> or not, print has been and is changing very
>>>> quickly, and we all need to figure out how to find a way for braille to
>>>> keep
>>>> up.  Something has to happen to let us
>>>> expand the characters that are represented in braille, and how to
>>>> seemlessly
>>>> weave in the kinds of technical writing
>>>> that is more a part of everyday print now than was the case not long 
>>>> ago.
>>>> Whether a separate code for mathematics
>>>> needs to be maintained and whether it should remain the Nemeth code is
>>>> still
>>>> an open question, as far as I know.
>>>> Some of you apparently are not aware of the fact that Dr. Nemeth even 
>>>> sees
>>>> limitations in the current code and has
>>>> created a braille code called NUBS which would also be a significant
>>>> change
>>>> from the current code.
>>>>
>>>> I do not ask that people support the elimination of Nemeth code as that
>>>> isn't really the issue by itself, but it is necessary
>>>> for all of us to be as informed as we can be on this subject.  Let's 
>>>> just
>>>> keep our cool a little.
>>>>
>>>> Best regards,
>>>>
>>>> Steve Jacobson
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:31:35 -0400, Chris Nusbaum wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>I think you will.  She's good that way.  If you don't let me
>>>>>know.
>>>>
>>>>> Chris Nusbaum
>>>>
>>>>>"The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight.  The
>>>>>real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that
>>>>>exists.  If a blind person has the proper training and
>>>>>opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a mere physical
>>>>>nuisance." -- Kenneth Jernigan (President of the National
>>>>>Federation of the Blind, 1968-1986.)
>>>>
>>>>>  Visit the I C.A.N.  Foundation online at:
>>>>>www.icanfoundation.info for
>>>>>information on our foundation and how it helps blind and visually
>>>>>impaired children in MD say "I can!"
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Sent from my BrailleNote
>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>From: Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu
>>>>>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>><nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>Date sent: Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:06:57 -0500
>>>>>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] BANA still considering abolishing the
>>>>>Nemeth braillecode
>>>>
>>>>>Carly, it's shameful.
>>>>>I E-mailed the chairman of the resolutions committee.
>>>>>Hopefully, I'll hear something.
>>>>>Blessings, Joshua
>>>>
>>>>>On 9/10/11, Carly <carlymih at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi, Joshua,
>>>>
>>>>> I'm with ya, brother!
>>>>
>>>>> The example of that BANA attempt att braille I saw, struck me as
>>>>> being totally watered down and very much removed from the code I
>>>>>know
>>>>> and love so very deeply.  In fact, my Not being able to find
>>>>>meaning
>>>>> within the sensual, bumps does not make me love braille any
>>>>>less.
>>>>> 2011, you wrote:
>>>>>I'm all for a unified Braille code.
>>>>>That code, is the Nemeth Code!
>>>>>Leave it alone!
>>>>>Blessings, Joshua
>>>>
>>>>>On 9/10/11, Nicole B.  Torcolini at Home
>>>>><ntorcolini at wavecable.com> wrote:
>>>>> [Blindmath] BANA still considering abolishing the Nemeth braille
>>>>>code
>>>>> Susan Jolly easjolly at ix.netcom.com
>>>>> Fri Sep 9 17:10:37 CDT 2011
>>>>
>>>>>   a..  Previous message: [Blindmath] SPSS accessibility
>>>>>   b..  Next message: [Blindmath] BANA still considering
>>>>>abolishing
>>>>> the Nemeth
>>>>> braillecode
>>>>>   c..  Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [
>>>>>author ]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>---------------
>>>>
>>>>> I have just recieved my copy of the Summer 2011 Bulletin of the
>>>>>National
>>>>> Braille Association (NBA) which is the professional organization
>>>>> providing
>>>>> continuing education to both paid and volunteer braille
>>>>> transcribers here in
>>>>> the United States.  The President's Message states, "At some
>>>>>point in the
>>>>> near future, the braille powers-that-be will make a decision
>>>>> about a unified
>>>>> braille code for the English-speaking worlds--a code that will
>>>>>combine
>>>>> literary and technical transcriptions under one set of rules and
>>>>> constructions."
>>>>
>>>>> Elsewhere in this issue of the Bulletin, the NBA representive to
>>>>> the Braille
>>>>> Authority of North America (BANA) writes that the BANA
>>>>>"Education and
>>>>> Outreach committee is still reviewing the possibility of a
>>>>>universal
>>>>> code."
>>>>> Note that the next meeting of BANA will be held November 3-6,
>>>>>2011 and
>>>>> will
>>>>> be hosted in the Baltimore area by the NFB.
>>>>
>>>>> If you believe as I do that the BAUK-like representation of
>>>>>maths in the
>>>>> current proposals for a unified code are significantly inferior
>>>>>to the
>>>>> Nemeth code's representation of mathematics, you might want to
>>>>>take
>>>>> action
>>>>> now.
>>>>
>>>>> Wouldn't it be ironic if the US were to abolish the use of the
>>>>>Nemeth
>>>>> code
>>>>> just as it is being widely adopted in countries such as India
>>>>>and
>>>>> Indonesia
>>>>> which have larger populations of braille users?
>>>>
>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>> SusanJ
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>---------------
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>   a..  Previous message: [Blindmath] SPSS accessibility
>>>>>   b..  Next message: [Blindmath] BANA still considering
>>>>>abolishing
>>>>> the Nemeth
>>>>> braillecode
>>>>>   c..  Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [
>>>>>author ]
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