Press Release
May 2026
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jen Goulden, Chair
Braille Authority of North America
613-552-4191; chair@brailleauthority.org
BANA Holds Its Spring Meeting in Pittsburgh
The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) held its 2026 spring meeting in Pittsburgh, PA, on May 11 through 13. The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), a BANA member organization hosted the meeting on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
BANA Chair Jen Goulden presided throughout the meeting. Dr. Sirry Alang and Dr. Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher from the School of Education at the university welcomed BANA to the campus. Eric Bridges, President and CEO of AFB greeted the Board and shared congratulations on its fifty years of work to support literacy for braille users.
During its three-day meeting, the BANA Board reviewed semiannual reports from its general, technical, and Board committees, each of which continues to work on codes and guidelines through specific charges from the Board. The Board acted on recommendations from these committees and issued new charges when appropriate. Discussions were held around 3D printing, braille and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and electronic braille translation. Separate ad hoc committees were established to gather details around trends and methodologies used in 3D printing and the role of AI in braille translation, with reports expected at a future meeting.
While the Board continues its schedule of monthly remote meetings via Zoom, the in-person gathering underscored the value of physical presence. The face-to-face meeting provided an opportunity for hands-on access to explore and compare 3D printed samples while discussing various applications for the technology as it applies to braille and tactile access to information.
The 50th Anniversary Celebration Planning Task Force presented a progress report to the Board, outlining ongoing and future activities to commemorate this important milestone. To mark the significance of this golden jubilee, the group shared a celebratory cake during the lunch break, providing a much-appreciated chance to connect and celebrate our history together. The Board extends a sincere thank you to the Penn-Del chapter of AER for generously providing the beautiful cake.
The Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (CIDI) will host BANA's fall meeting in Atlanta, GA. Additional information will be announced nearer the meeting date.
Interested parties are invited to attend and observe the BANA Board’s face-to-face meetings. If you are interested in being an in-person observer, please contact BANA Chair Jen Goulden at 613-552-4191 or by email at chair@brailleauthority.org.
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.