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.

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New! BANA Position Statement—

"Terminology: UEB Math/Science and UEB with Nemeth"

PDF and BRF

 

 

Do you have feedback or a question for BANA? Contact BANA

Do you have feedback or a question for BANA? 

Do you have questions about the Unified English Braille (UEB) code and how it works? BANA's General Committee on UEB is here to answer your questions. Click on the link below to send your question to the committee.

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BANA Press Releases about the Adoption of UEB

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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

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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

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Nemeth-UEB Guidance

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. The necessity for this adaptation, which is similar to the current use of switching to computer braille code for email addresses and the like, stems from two basic issues: 

  1. In current Nemeth code transcriptions, the nonmathematical text that surrounds the mathematics is based on English Braille, American Edition (EBAE), which is being replaced by Unified English Braille (UEB). If the surrounding text were to continue to be in EBAE, then, in order to use Nemeth Code, braille users and producers would need to be familiar with two sets of rules for contractions, capitalization, emphasis, punctuation, spacing, and so on. Such a requirement would be especially burdensome in the long term to future braille users and producers who learn braille according to UEB symbols and rules and would then need to learn old rules that have been replaced.
  2. As the use of electronic means to read and write in both print and braille proliferates, the need for accurate translation both from print to braille and from braille to print becomes an increasingly critical consideration. An unambiguous switching method eliminates code conflicts and makes it possible for accurate translation in either direction to occur, so that mathematics can be communicated between print users and braille users using Nemeth Code. 

 

PDF, BRF

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UEB Free Resources

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

Hadley Courses — Information is available at https://www.hadleyhelps.org/braillecourses.asp

CNIB Transcriber's UEB Course — The CNIB offers a course for Canadians wishing to become UEB transcribers. Course information may be found at https://cnib.ca/en/unified-english-braille-ueb-transcription-course?region=gta

Canadian Technical Course — This resource is a short self-study set of materials that provides additional information about using UEB for math and science found at https://cnib.ca/en/sight-loss-info/braille-services-and-courses/writing-braille-courses/ueb-technical?region=gta

Duxbury UEB Chart — Duxbury's one-page chart listing the contractions and short forms in alphabetical order is available at https://www.duxburysystems.com/braillechart.asp

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

Literary Braille Contraction Checklist — TVI Carmen Willings of Cumming, GA, created this helpful UEB contraction checklist and graciously shares it through the BANA website.

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

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.

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

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 Math Tutorial https://uebmath.aphtech.org/

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

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UEB Priced Resources

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

A Braille Spelling Dictionary for Beginning Writers — from National Braille Press, containing 1,400 entries in uncontracted an contracted braille now available in UEB. https://shop.nbp.org/products/braille-spelling-dictionary-ueb

Braille 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 https://brl2.com/ueb-too

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: https://www.aph.org/product/burns-braille-guide-a-quick-reference-to-unified-english-braille/

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 https://shop.nbp.org/products/just-enough-to-know-better-ueb?_pos=1&_sid=707639bb6&_ss=r

Mangold Basic Braille Program — Unit 3 of this program introduces UEB contractions and rules. http://exceptionalteaching.com/mangold-basic-braille-program-kits-unit-3-ueb-contractions-89-169/

Math Symbol Reference Booklets: UEB Contains a list of UEB math symbols, along with an explanation for what each symbol represents. The symbols are broken down into three levels of difficulty: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

Large print (catalog number 7-87300-00): https://www.aph.org/product/math-symbol-reference-booklets-large-print-version/    

Braille (catalog number 5-87300-00) https://www.aph.org/product/math-symbol-reference-booklets-braille-version/

Math Window: https://mathwindow.com

The McDuffy Reader: A Braille Primer for Adults — This instructional guide for beginning adult braille readers is now available in UEB. The book presents first uncontracted braille, then the braille contractions in logical groups. The book contains eighty-nine braille pages in one volume. The UEB edition of the McDuffy Reader is available from the National Federation of the Blind Independence Market via email at independencemarket@nfb.org and via phone at (410) 659-9314, extension 2216.

UEB Reference Sheets for Math: This handy reference book logically organizes common math symbols as transcribed in UEB. Available in large print or braille https://shop.nbp.org/products/ueb-reference-sheets-for-math

Unified English Braille (UEB) Practice Sentences — A comprehensive revision of Literary Braille Practice Sentences, by Mangold and Becker. This priced resource contains sequential sentences for elementary to adult. Matching print/simulated braille sentences are helpful for teachers, staff, parents. Teacher and student editions are available in print and hard copy braille. https://www.actualtactuals.com/

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Example Documents in UEB

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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 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:

 

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Background Information to the UEB Project

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