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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Best,<BR>Melissa R. Green and Pj<BR>COAGDU
President<BR>"We love because he first loved us."<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=dandrews@visi.com href="mailto:dandrews@visi.com">David Andrews</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=david.andrews@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:david.andrews@nfbnet.org">david.andrews@nfbnet.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 26, 2013 8:11 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Pibe-division] Fwd: [BANA-Announce] BANA Affirms Date for
Implementation of UEB</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><BR>
<DIV align=center><B>Press Release<BR></B></DIV><BR>
<DIV align=center><B>November 2013<BR></B></DIV><BR>
<DIV align=center><B>For Immediate Release<BR><BR></B></DIV>CONTACT: Frances
Mary D’Andrea, Chair<BR><BR>Braille Authority of North America<BR><BR>Phone:
412-521-5797<BR><BR>Email: <A
href="mailto:literacy2@mindspring.com">literacy2@mindspring.com</A><BR><BR>
<DIV align=center><B>BANA Affirms Date for Implementation of
UEB<BR></B></DIV><BR>The Braille Authority of North America (BANA), at its
November 8–10 meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, affirmed January 4, 2016, as
the date by which the United States will implement the general use of Unified
English Braille (UEB). This action was based on a year of dialogue and
planning that included the UEB Transition Forum, held on October 16. The
forum, which involved 48 delegates representing 31 organizations from the
braille community, was structured to help organizations craft the steps and
timetable through which the United States will make an effective transition to
Unified English Braille. <BR><BR>The decision to adopt UEB in the United
States was made by a decisive vote of the BANA Board on November 2, 2012. The
full motion is posted on the BANA website at <A
href="http://www.brailleauthority.org/ueb/UEBpassed.html">http://www.brailleauthority.org/ueb/UEBpassed.html</A>.
<BR><A name=_GoBack></A><BR>BANA recognizes that the implementation of UEB
will require major adjustments to the infrastructures that produce, deliver,
and teach braille, as well as time and strategies for braille users to become
familiar with changes in the code. BANA continues to work with leaders
throughout the field to build a carefully designed timeline and coordinated
plan. Detailed timelines are under development by individual organizations,
and transition efforts are now being initiated. BANA stands ready to
collaborate with the braille community as it builds and adapts the
infrastructure necessary for a smooth transition to UEB.<BR><BR>NOTE: This
press release is available in HTML on the BANA website at <A
href="http://www.brailleauthority.org/pressreleases/pr-2013-11-26.html">http://www.brailleauthority.org/pressreleases/pr-2013-11-26.html</A>.<BR><BR> <BR><BR>For
additional resource information, visit <A
href="http://www.brailleauthority.org">www.brailleauthority.org</A>
. <BR><BR><I>The Board of BANA consists of appointed
representatives from seventeen member organizations of braille producers,
transcribers, teachers, and consumers.<BR></I><BR><I>The mission of the
Braille Authority of North America is to assure literacy for tactile readers
through the standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics.
<BR></I><BR><I> <BR></I><BR><I>The purpose of BANA is to promote and to
facilitate the uses, teaching, and production of braille. Pursuant to this
purpose, BANA will promulgate rules, make interpretations, and render opinions
pertaining to braille codes and guidelines for the<B> </B>provisions of
literary and technical materials and related forms and formats of embossed
materials now in existence or to be developed in the future for the use of
blind persons in North America. When appropriate, BANA shall accomplish these
activities<B> </B>in international collaboration with countries using English
braille. In exercising its function and authority, BANA shall consider the
effects of its decisions on other existing braille codes and guidelines, forms
and formats; ease of production by various methods; and acceptability to
readers.<BR></I><BR><I> <BR></I><BR> <BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
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