Braille Summit Live Stream

The National Library Service's first-ever Braille Summit will be held June 19-21, 2013. The Summit brings together librarians, braille literacy professionals, braille readers, and other stakeholders to help determine the best ways to promote and support braille literacy.

Panel presentations will be streamed here during the following hours:

Wednesday, June 19, 2013
1:00-3:00 p.m.
3:15-4:15 p.m.

Thursday, June 20, 2013
8:30-9:45 a.m.
11:10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
2:45-4:10 p.m.

Friday, June 21, 2013
8:30-10:00 a.m.
2:45-4:30 p.m.

Email your questions and comments to braillesummit@gmail.com.

Video Highlights

NBP recently celebrated reading and braille literacy during Read Across America. Watch this video of an NBP staff member reading Oh, The Places You'll Go! to a local 3rd grade class.

Annual Meeting

Join National Braille Press at our Annual Meeting on June 18th as we honor our dedicated volunteers and recognize the Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation Award recipients. RSVP to Kathleen Cronin

Become a Literacy Champion

Literacy Champions are monthly donors whose steady stream of support helps NBP foster braille literacy. Your support offsets the cost of books for readers like Juna, who learned braille using NBP's print/braille children's books. "I admit I didn't want to learn braille at first... then my mom started to bring home books from NBP. All my favorites were there... I started to love to read again! I am about to enter Harvard this fall and I know I will be using braille for my tests and piano playing."

Petition Supporting WIPO Treaty for the Blind and Print Disabled

The American Council of the Blind needs your help. In a few weeks, representatives from 186 countries will finalize language for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Treaty for the Blind and Print Disabled, which asks every nation to revise their copyright laws so braille and audio books can be produced. You can help by signing their petition.

Making the iPad Accessible

iOS Success, written by blind user and iPad instructor Larry Lewis, gives step-by-step instructions for every pertinent accessibility feature the iPad has to offer - using VoiceOver and Zoom, setting accessibility options, pairing external devices such as keyboards and refreshable braille displays, using the Cloud and Dropbox, and much, much more. The last chapter includes tips from blind students - who use their iPads daily - and one very committed parent.

Listen to author Larry Lewis's interview about this book on The Tech Doctor Blog and Podcast.

2013 Hands On! Award

NBP is proud to announce Karen Keninger, Director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), as this year's Hands On! Awardee. The Hands On! Award will be presented to Karen at NBP's annual gala on November 1st in Boston. Learn more in NBP's enews.