[nfb-talk] Fwd: [BANA-Announce] BANA to Vote about Braille Code in November

[David Andrews]

>
>Press Release
>
>August 2012
>
>
>
>For Immediate Release
>
>CONTACT: Frances Mary D'Andrea, Chair
>
>Braille Authority of North America
>
>Phone: 412-521-5797
>
>Email: <mailto:literacy2 at mindspring.com>literacy2 at mindspring.com
>
>
>
>BANA to Vote about Braille Code in November
>
>
>
>At its fall 2012 meeting, which will be held November 2nd through 
>4th, the Braille Authority of North America will take a vote that 
>will set the course for the future of braille codes in the United 
>States. The direction under consideration is the adoption of Unified 
>English Braille while maintaining the Nemeth Code for technical materials.
>
>
>
>"We need to make improvements to reduce barriers that hinder timely 
>and accurate braille transcription and to ensure that braille will 
>remain a flexible, robust system that meets the needs of people who 
>read and write braille in this digital age," said Frances Mary 
>D'Andrea, Chair of BANA. "If the motion is approved, it would be the 
>first step in the decision-making process, which will include 
>developing a carefully formulated plan for transition and 
>implementation of the code while as much as possible avoiding 
>disruption for current braille readers."
>
>
>
>The Board of BANA consists of appointed representatives from fifteen 
>member organizations of braille producers, transcribers, teachers, 
>and consumers. Detailed information about the background of the code 
>issues can be found in the article "Evolution of Braille: Can the 
>Past Help Plan the Future?" Links to this article are available on 
>the BANA website home page at 
><http://www.brailleauthority.org/>www.brailleauthority.org. Print 
>and braille copies of this article are available upon request. 
>Please send an email to 
><mailto:brailleauthority at gmail.com>brailleauthority at gmail.com, 
>providing your postal mailing address and stating if you want a 
>print or braille copy.
>
>
>
>Additional information about UEB can be found at the website of the 
>International Council on English Braille at 
><http://www.iceb.org/>www.iceb.org.
>
>
>
>Details about the fall BANA Board meeting, to be hosted by the 
>Braille Institute of America in Los Angeles, will be announced in 
>the coming weeks. For additional resource information, visit 
><http://www.brailleauthority.org/>www.brailleauthority.org.
>
>
>
>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.
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>BANA-Announce mailing list
>BANA-Announce at brailleauthority.org
>http://www.brailleauthority.org/mailman/listinfo/bana-announce