[NFBNJ] Automated Production of Braille Math Books in the Works

[joe ruffalo]

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Great News!
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Joe

**

NEWS BRIEF

Automated Production of Braille Math Books in the Works

Blind students who read Braille are all too familiar with waiting for 
Braille versions of their school textbooks. Some blind students can wait up 
to six months to receive an accessible version of a textbook if they get one 
at all, leading to a gap in education. The lack of Braille is particularly 
problematic in STEM subjects. As blind mathematician and longtime member of 
the National Federation of the Blind Dr. Al Maneki says, "A Braille formula 
enables a person to touch and compare various pieces. Having the computer 
pronounce a formula for you is not adequate for a blind reader any more than 
it would be adequate for a sighted reader."

With a grant from the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, 
along with support from the National Science Foundation, a working group of 
members of the National Federation of the Blind and other researchers is 
developing an automated method for creating textbooks in Braille. The 
American Institute of Mathematics (AIM) just announced the production method 
and a week-long workshop to explain and improve on it.

"The National Federation of the Blind is an organization of blind Americans 
working to solve our own problems and set our own priorities, and as such we 
take seriously our leadership role in developing solutions that benefit all 
blind people," said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of 
the Blind. "Braille literacy and the availability of Braille textbooks are 
keys to educational success, particularly in STEM fields. We are proud of 
our work to use cutting-edge technology for the  timely production of 
Braille textbooks so that blind students, like my two daughters and 
thousands more, do not needlessly struggle or fall behind their peers."

Learn more by reading the official AIM press 
release<https://aimath.org/aimnews/braille_full/>.

###

About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is 
the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded 
in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the 
fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of 
blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families 
with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We 
believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to 
transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and 
initiatives at wwwnfb.org<http://www.nfb.org>.

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>

This news brief is also available at: 
https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/automated-production-braille-math-books-works







Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.
Director of Public Relations
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314, Ext. 2330 | cdanielsen at nfb.org
Twitter: @rlawyer

[National Federation of the Blind]<https://nfb.org/>

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who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work 
together to help blind people live the lives they want.
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