Unified English Braille (UEB)

Click on the following links for more information on each topic. All materials produced by BANA have been approved by the BANA Board. Materials listed here from other sources are provided for your information and convenience. Inclusion on this website does not indicate BANA's endorsement.

New! BANA Position Statement—
"Terminology: UEB Math/Science and UEB with Nemeth"

PDF, BRF, and BRF for downloading

BANA Press Releases about the Adoption of UEB
UEB Rules and Guidelines
UEB Guidance from BANA
Nemeth-UEB Guidance
Foreign Language Provisional Guidance
Learn UEB
UEB Resources
Braille Formats, 2016 This new revision aligns with UEB.
Example Documents in UEB
Planning the Implementation of UEB
CCSSO Implementation Guide
State Plans for Implementing UEB
Background Information to the UEB Project
Research on UEB

BANA Press Releases about the Adoption of UEB

UEB Rules and Guidelines

The Rules of Unified English Braille — UEB Rulebook available on the UEB page of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) website.
UEB Guidelines for Technical Materials — Guidelines available on the UEB page of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) website.
UEB Braille Symbols and Indicators List — Symbols & Indicators List

Provisional Guidance for Transcribing Mathematics in UEB

This new publication from BANA provides provisional guidance for use in UEB transcription that involves mathematics. These guidelines, intended for use in the US and Canada, supplement the rules and guidance presented in the international publications Rules of Unified English Braille, 2013 (RUEB) and Unified English Braille Guidelines for Technical Material (GTM) authorized by the International Council on English Braille (ICEB). The purpose of this document is to provide additional clarification and practical suggestions for the transcription of "technical" texts (i.e., mathematics and science) transcribed using Unified English Braille.

PDF, BRF, and BRF for downloading.

Nemeth-UEB Guidance

Guidance for Transcription Using the Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts
This method of switching between the Nemeth Code and Unified English Braille has been developed to ensure the continued viability of the use of the Nemeth Code for mathematics. Click the above link to expand information ...

Provisional Guidance for Chemistry Notation Using Nemeth in UEB Contexts

The BANA Chemistry Committee developed this provisional guidance for transcribing chemistry using Nemeth in UEB contexts. This document is a revision of the previously published provisional guidance. The Word version of this document is provided for accessibility purposes only; it is intended to be used in its entirety and is not to be modified. A BRF file is provided for braille readers and for embossing; a PDF is provided for print readers and for those who wish to print a hard copy of the document.

BANA welcomes feedback from users of this publication.

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY WITHDRAWN

PDF BRF BRF for downloading Word (docx)

Foreign Language Provisional Guidance

Provisional Guidance for Transcribing Foreign Language Materials in UEB
This new publication provides provisional guidance for use in UEB transcription that involves foreign language.

PDF, BRF, and BRF for downloading

Learn UEB

NLS Braille Transcriber Course — Information about the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) braille transcriber course is available at https://nfb.org/braille-transcribing

For currently certified transcribers who wish to add a Letter of Proficiency in UEB: www.nfb.org/ueb-resources.

Introduction to Unified English Braille — Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired: http://www.wcbvi.k12.wi.us/outreach/professional-development/ueb-introduction
Unified English Braille Online Training (UEBOT) — Northern Illinois University's online course designed for people proficient in English Braille, American Edition (EBAE) is available at http://uebot.niu.edu
The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired UEB Courses — Information is available at https://www.hadley.edu/braillecourses.asp
CNIB Transcriber's UEB Course — The CNIB offers a course for Canadians wishing to become UEB transcribers. The files for the self-paced course are available online. File types: Word, print PDF, BRF, and DXB. Course information may be found at http://www.cnib.ca/en/living/braille/Pages/Braille-Courses.aspx
Canadian Technical Course — This resource is a short self-study set of materials that provides additional information about using UEB for math and science fount at https://cnib.ca/en/sight-loss-info/braille-services-and-courses/writing-braille-courses/ueb-technical?region=gta
New Zealand UEB Manual — Information is available at http://banzat.org.nz/BrailleCodes.htm

Unified English Braille Australian Training Manual 2014 — Information is available at http://printdisability.org/guidelines/unified-english-braille-australian-training-manual-2013/
UEB Online — New online UEB course from the RIDBC in Sydney, designed for sighted readers, is available at http://uebonline.org
Just Enough to Know Better — National Braille Press has updated their parent resource to UEB! Just Enough to Know Better presents the braille code in a self-paced workbook to parents who wish to know enough braille to keep up with their youngsters. For more information, visit http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/JETKB-UEB.html

UEB Resources

Overview of Changes from Current Literary Braille to UEB — File types: HTML, PDF, and BRF
Tips and Resources for Learning More about Unified English Braille — File types: HTML and BRF
NLS list of Frequently Used UEB Symbols — NLS will begin producing books and magazines in UEB in 2016. NLS has provided this list of new symbols that are frequently used. File types: PDF and BRF
Duxbury UEB Chart — Duxbury's one-page chart listing the contractions and short forms in alphabetical order is available at http://duxburysystems.com/images/ueb_black.pdf
UEB Chart from Canadian Assistive Technology (formerly Aroga Technologies UEB Chart) — Canadian Assistive Technology presents the UEB contractions and symbols by category, available at
https://mailchi.mp/canasstech/unified-english-braille-chart
Braille-ready file version is attached here: BRF
The ABCs of UEB — This document, authored by Constance Risjord, outlines the major differences between English Braille, American Edition (EBAE) and UEB. To expand information about, click this link The ABCs of UEB

Supplementary Guide to UEB Reference Materials — An index to the Rules of UEB 2013, developed by braille transcribers Peggy Spiess and Trumbull Ogilby, Oregon Textbook and Media Center/Willamette Educational Service District, Salem, Oregon.
UEB to EBAE Comparison: Transitioning to UEB — Barb Lhotka developed this convenient guide for teachers and transcribers to quickly compare the two codes.
UEB/EBAE Assessment Checklist — Tina Peaslee, a transcriber in Utah, developed this handy checklist for teachers to keep track of the braille symbols their students have learned.
Literary Braille Contraction Checklist — TVI Carmen Willings of Cumming, GA, created this helpful UEB contraction checklist and graciously shares it through the BANA website.
Nemeth or UEB: Factors and Considerations for Math Code — Developed by the Indiana UEB Implementation Sub-Committee, this resource can be used by IEP teams as they discuss individual needs of students regarding technical materials.
Assessment of Braille Literacy Skills: UEB and EBAE, 2nd Ed. — This priced publication can be purchased from Texas Region IV and provides a tool for educators to document braille skills and knowledge. Order from the following link: http://www.region4store.com/Catalog.aspx?catid=347927&itmid=1196188
Burns Braille Guide: A Quick Reference to Unified English Braille, 2nd Ed. — This new edition of an old favorite is a priced publication available from AFB Press. Order from the following link: http://www.afb.org/store/Pages/ShoppingCart/HomePage.aspx
The Hitchhiker's Guide to UEB Maths. — This document was created by teachers in New Zealand as a quick reference for technical materials in UEB. Available for download from http://www.banzat.org.nz/documents/HHGMaths.pdf
UEB Too. — A complete revision of the "Braille Too" curriculum materials, this priced resource is designed for middle and high school students who are learning UEB. Available from BRL2 Publishing; ordering information available from http://www.brl2.com/home.html
UEB Curriculum for Braille Students — This free resource presents a series of 10 lessons for students who are making the transition from EBAE to UEB. Developed by Catherine Summ and Suzanne Cappiello, the lessons are available on the "Paths to Literacy" website from Perkins. http://www.pathstoliteracy.org/blog/ueb-curriculum-braille-students
Braille Lessons — Retired teacher Louise Johnson has devised this book, Braille Lessons for Sighted People as a resource for parents, paraprofessionals, and others who read print and are interested in braille. While this manual does not cover every rule and symbol in UEB, it introduces the most common ones. For more information, visit www.kesterbraille.com
"Braille Basics Plus" — Written by Merry-Noel Chamberlain (edited by Faye Miller), this print resource provides parents with an overview of UEB. Available from http://pdrib.com/downloads/Braille-Basics-Plus.pdf
UEB Maths Practice Exercises — UKAAF has a page that includes practice exercises in higher level math (along with an answer key) taken from their Technical UEB course. This link goes to the page that has .pdf, .docx, and .brf versions: http://www.ukaaf.org/braille/ueb/ueb-maths-practice-exercises/

Example Documents in UEB

Document: The Gettysburg Address — BRF and simbraille PDF
Document: Pumpkin Pie Recipe — File types: BRF and simbraille PDF
Document: I Have A Dream — File types: BRF and simbraille PDF
Document: The Wizard of Oz, Chapter 1 — File types: BRF and simbraille PDF
Document: Papa John's Online Menu — File types: BRF and simbraille PDF
Document: 20 Google Search Shortcuts — File types: BRF, and simbraille PDF, and print DOC
Document: How to Carve Chicken and Turkey — File types: BRF, simbraille PDF, and print HTML
Document: Portion Distortion Quiz — File types: BRF, simbraille PDF, and print PDF
Document: Dallas, November 22, 1963 — Available from BARD for eligible patrons https://nlsbard.loc.gov

Planning the Implementation of UEB

CCSSO Guide for UEB Implementation Planning

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) has worked with BANA to conduct a national survey to collect information from each state about their plans for the transition to Unified English Braille (UEB). The information in the survey has led to the development of an implementation guide to support states in their efforts to make the change to UEB over the next year. The implementation guide is available for free download (PDF format) on the CCSSO web site and an accessible BRF or a BRF for downloading posted here.

BLUEPRINT for Planning the Transition to UEB — File types: PDF and BRF

UEB Fact Sheet for School Administrators — PDF

State Plans for the Implementation of UEB

States are encouraged to share their plans for the implementation of UEB through the BANA website. The following states have supplied BANA with their respective state plans for the implementation of UEB:

North Carolina
North Carolina Memo
Ohio
Oregon

South Carolina

Virginia

Washington State

Background Information to the UEB Project

The original memo from 1991 that proposed that BANA consider working on a unified code: http://www.iceb.org/cranem.html
Considerations and Impact of Adopting UEB in the US — File types: HTML and BRF
Article: Evolution of Braille: Can the Past Help Plan the Future?