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<div align="center"><font size=5><b>Press Release<br>
</b></font></div>
<br>
<div align="center"><font size=5><b>May 2011<br>
</b></font></div>
<br>
<div align="center"><font size=4><b>For Immediate Release<br>
</b></font></div>
<br>
<font face="Verdana" size=2>CONTACT: Judy Dixon, Chair<br>
</font><br>
<font face="Verdana" size=2>Braille Authority of North America<br>
</font><br>
<font face="Verdana" size=2>Phone: 202-707-0722<br>
</font><br>
<font face="Verdana" size=2>Email: jdix@loc.gov<br>
</font><br>
<font face="Verdana"> <br>
</font><br>
<div align="center"><font size=4><b>BANA Releases Part One of Article on
the Evolution of Braille<br>
</b></font></div>
<br>
<font face="Verdana" size=2><b><i> <br>
</i></b></font><br>
<font face="Verdana" size=2>The Braille Authority of North America (BANA)
has just released the first segment of a three-part article on the
evolution of braille. In this initial piece, BANA focuses on the changing
nature of communication methods used by braille readers. It also looks at
other relevant transitions, such as how blind children are educated, the
range of available technologies, and the evolution of braille and
print.<br>
</font><br>
<font face="Verdana" size=2>Part One of “The Evolution of Braille: Can
the Past Help Plan the
Future?”</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2>
</font><font face="Verdana" size=2>is now posted on the BANA website at:
<a href="http://www.brailleauthority.org/article/evolution_of_braille-part1.pdf">
www.brailleauthority.org/article/evolution_of_braille-part1.pdf</a>
. Parts two and three of this article will be released in the
coming weeks. BANA will announce their publication through press releases
and email announcements. <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Verdana" size=2>You can follow the work of BANA by signing up
for BANA-Announce, a one-way email list that disseminates news and
information. To join this list, send a blank email message to
<a href="mailto:bana-announce-subscribe@brailleauthority.org">
bana-announce-subscribe@brailleauthority.org</a> and follow the
directions in the confirmation email that will be sent in response. You
can also follow BANA on Facebook and
Twitter</font><font face="Verdana">! <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Verdana" size=2> <br>
</font><br>
<font face="Verdana" size=2>For additional information and resources,
visit
<a href="http://www.brailleauthority.org/">www.brailleauthority.org</a>
<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2><i> <br>
</i></font><br>
<font size=2><i>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.
<br>
</i></font><br>
<font size=2> <br>
</font><br><br>
_______________________________________________<br>
BANA-Announce mailing list<br>
BANA-Announce@brailleauthority.org<br>
<a href="http://www.brailleauthority.org/mailman/listinfo/bana-announce" eudora="autourl">
http://www.brailleauthority.org/mailman/listinfo/bana-announce</a>
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