[NFB-Braille-Discussion] FW: [Tech-VI] From Access Interrupted: A Guide To BrailleAccess by Maria Reyes

Thu Oct 9 23:52:42 UTC 2025

From: tech-vi at groups.io <tech-vi at groups.io> On Behalf Of David Goldfield via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, October 9, 2025 1:37 PM
To: Tech-VI Announcement List <tech-vi at groups.io>
Subject: [Tech-VI] From Access Interrupted: A Guide To BrailleAccess by Maria Reyes

Original Source <https://accessinterrupted.substack.com/p/a-guide-to-brailleaccess> 

A Guide To BrailleAccess

Meet Your Built In Braille Companion

Maria Reyes <https://substack.com/@theblinddragon> 

Oct 08, 2025

Apple released their annual batch of software, including iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, and tvOS on September 15, and every platform came with its own exciting features. In this post, however, I am focusing on iOS and the new BrailleAccess.

The New Braille Notetaker Built Right into Your Phone

With the new BrailleAccess feature built into iOS 26, you really don’t need a Braille notetaker, unless you just like having separate devices for different things. But honestly, why spend money on overpriced hardware tailored just to blind people when you can use BrailleAccess on the iPhone or iPad you already use every day? It comes with BrailleNotes, so nobody but you can access them, and they’re stored in your Notes app in a folder called Braille Notes. You can store .brf files to read with your Braille Display, and those are saved to your iCloud Drive in the Files app. You can launch apps on your phone by typing their names, and you can find a button or icon on the screen by using the Choose Item feature of BrailleAccess. Oh, and it comes with a Nemeth calculator!

Some things to keep in mind: This feature works best with a Braille Display. Keyboard users can use it too according to Apple by using the Toggle Braille Access command. So Mantis users, you’re in luck!

How to Enable

By default, BrailleAccess is enabled, and there’s no toggle switch to turn it on or off. To enter BrailleAccess, press dots 7 and 8 on your Braille Display.

Settings

Before diving into BrailleAccess, let’s explore its settings. Go to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Braille, then scroll to BrailleAccess. Here, you’ll find options such as Main Menu Items, Open to Last Position, Speak List Items, Show Visuals, and Typing Speech Feedback (enable this if you want to hear what you type inside Braille Notes). There are also buttons that open settings for Braille Notes, BRF Files, Calculator, and Live Captions.

Braille Notes

This screen is quite simple. Here, you can determine how you want your notes sorted and the order. You can sort by Date Edited (default) or Date Created, and set the sort order to Newest First (default) or Oldest First.

BRF Files

Here you’ll find a toggle for Fit BRF Content to Display (on by default) and another to hide the BRF Page Indicator (off by default).

Calculator

There’s not much here besides changing your math code. You can choose Nemeth (default) or UEB Math.

Live Captions

Here you can change the source for live captions. Microphone (default) or iPhone Audio.

Main Menu Items

Double-tapping Main Menu Items from the BrailleAccess settings opens a customization page. You can toggle items like Launch App on or off, and reorder them using the Reorder button (double-tap and hold, then drag up or down until you hear the desired position).

Launch App

Now it’s time for the good stuff! Launch App lets you type the name of an application and open it instantly. Press dots 7 and 8 to start BrailleAccess. If you have VoiceOver speech enabled, you’ll hear “Launch App.” Type in an app name like Facebook, then press Enter, and it’ll launch right away.

Choose Item

Choose Item works similarly to Launch App. You’ll hear “Choose Item,” and it’ll be displayed in Braille with a blinking cursor. Type in the name of an icon or button like Notifications in Facebook, and VoiceOver focus will jump there. Keep in mind that if VoiceOver focus is already on that button, Choose Item won’t do anything. It’s basically the space+F find feature on steroids.

Braille Notes

Braille Notes works just like the notepad on a Braille notetaker. You can type simple notes and save them. A Braille Notes folder will appear under iCloud in your Notes app on your iOS device. Just imagine, your personal information like passwords and credit card details stored safely where only you can read them.

To create a new note, press dots 7 and 8 to enter BrailleAccess. You’ll land in the main menu, which says “Launch App.” Press space with dot 4 until you hear or read “Braille Notes,” then press Enter. You’ll see options for New…, a numbered list of your notes, folders, and a Back option. Selecting New… lets you create a new note or folder.

Once inside a note, you can use commands such as:

· Space+F: Find

· Space+S: Save

· Space+1-2-3: Go to top

· Space+4-5-6: Go to bottom

· Space+Z: Undo

To exit, press Space+4 until you reach the Back option, then press Enter. When focused on a note or folder, pressing Space+D opens a menu with Move, Pin, Delete, and Rename (for folders) options.

Calculator

The BrailleAccess calculator is a quick and simple way to run equations without summoning Siri. You can choose Nemeth or UEB Math for your Braille table. To access it, press dots 7 and 8 to enter BrailleAccess, then press Space+4 until you reach Calculator. Enter your equation, press Enter, and boom, your answer appears. It’s basically the BrailleSense calculator reborn.

Live Captions

This feature is a total game-changer for deafblind users. Live Captions lets you read spoken content, whether it’s someone talking nearby or a show playing on your device. Your iPhone mic picks up audio and displays it in Braille. No notetaker on the market has this, and it’s empowering to see Apple take this step toward true communication access. Accuracy isn’t perfect yet (it’s giving dictation energy), but the potential is massive. press dots 7 and 8 again to exit BrailleAccess and stop the live captions.

Final Thoughts

BrailleAccess isn’t just another update, it’s Apple finally recognizing that blind and deafblind users deserve the same powerful, built-in tools as everyone else. For years, Braille notetakers have been the go-to solution, but they’ve also been expensive and limited. BrailleAccess changes that. It’s integrated, modern, and right there on the device you already use every day.

But more than that, this feature feels like a turning point. It’s not a side note, it’s a statement. It’s saying that accessibility doesn’t have to live in its own ecosystem. It can stand proudly inside the same technology that powers the world.

Whether you’re writing class notes, reading a BRF file, or hearing the world through your fingers, BrailleAccess shows that accessibility isn’t a feature, it’s freedom. And if this is the direction Apple’s heading, then the future of inclusive tech just got a lot brighter.

David Goldfield,

Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist

 <http://www.davidgoldfield.com/> www.DavidGoldfield.com

Director of Marketing,

Blazie Technologies

 <http://www.blazietech.com/> www.BlazieTech.com

Am Yisrael Chai

The Nation of Israel Lives!

 <https://www.freedomscientific.com/Training/Certification> 

 <https://certification.nvaccess.org/> NVDA Certified Expert

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