<html>
<body>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20160916160013.04ab8218@visi.com.1" width=230 height=94 alt="BANA logo">
<br><br>
<h1><b><a name="_GoBack"></a>Press
Release</b></h1><a name="_GoBack"></a><br>
<br>
September 2016<br>
For Immediate Release<br>
<br>
Contact: Jennifer Dunnam, Chair<br>
Braille Authority of North America<br>
612-767-5658<br>
chair@brailleauthority.org<br><br>
<h1><b>BANA to Hold Final UEB Transition Forum <br>
Preceding 2016 APH Annual Meeting</b></h1><br><br>
The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) will hold its fourth and
final UEB Transition Forum October 6, 2016, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at
the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. This forum will
immediately precede the 148th Annual Meeting of the American Printing
House for the Blind (APH). Delegates from more than 30 agencies and
organizations from throughout the braille community have been invited to
share successful strategies and ways of supporting each other as they
continue to move through the implementation of Unified English Braille
(UEB). BANA will report the results of a recent survey of forum delegates
regarding experiences they encountered in their transition to UEB. BANA
conducted the survey to determine what has gone well, where the
challenges lie, and how BANA can provide support.<br><br>
Delegates to the forum are appointed by each respective agency. Observers
are welcome to audit the proceedings. Individuals are asked to notify
BANA if they plan to observe. <br><br>
The BANA Board meets face-to-face semiannually. The American Foundation
for the Blind (AFB) will host BANA’s fall meeting, which will be held
November 3–5 in Atlanta, Georgia. Details about that meeting will be
announced in a separate press release. <br><br>
NOTE: This press release is available in HTML on the BANA website at
<a href="http://www.brailleauthority.org/pressreleases/pr-2016-7.html" eudora="autourl">
<u>http://www.brailleauthority.org/pressreleases/pr-2016-7.html</a><br>
<div align="center"><br>
</u></div>
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! <br><br>
The Board of BANA consists of appointed representatives from seventeen
member organizations of braille producers, transcribers, teachers, and
consumers.<br><br>
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><br>
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><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
</blockquote></body>
</html>