Press Release
October 3, 2013
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Frances Mary D'Andrea, Chair
Braille Authority of North America
Phone: 412-521-5797
Email: literacy2@mindspring.com
The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) is saddened to hear of the death of Dr. Abraham Nemeth on October 2, 2013. Dr. Nemeth passed away in his home in Southfield, Michigan. He was 94 years old.
Abraham Nemeth was born October 16, 1918, in New York City, NY. He is best known for the development of a braille code for mathematics. The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation was originally adopted in 1956 and is an official code in the United States. Shortly after the development of his code, Dr. Nemeth joined the Department of Mathematics at the University of Detroit where he created a system of communicating mathematical formulas called MathSpeak. During this time Nemeth received a Ph.D. in mathematics from Wayne State University.
In March, 2009, Dr. Nemeth was awarded BANA's first ever Braille Excellence Award, given to people or organizations that have developed or contributed to a code, have developed code materials or software that supports codes, or represent the highest standards of braille production.
Abraham Nemeth's contributions have made math and science accessible for blind people around the world. BANA honors his life and celebrates his memory and his accomplishments.
For additional resource information, visit www.brailleauthority.org
The Board of BANA consists of appointed representatives from seventeen member organizations of braille producers, transcribers, teachers, and consumers.
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.