Team CBI (Center for Braille Innovation)

Brian Mac Donald, president of NBP, recruited a core team of engineers, entrepreneurs, and researchers, blind and sighted, in 2008 to comprise Team CBI. With experience from IBM, Motorola, and private firms, Team CBI is headed by Deane Blazie who is well known for inventing a successful line of braille computer products for blind people: Braille 'n Speak, Braille Lite, and Braille Lite 40. Many of the Team CBI members are devoting their expertise as volunteers.

Members of Team CBI

• Brian MacDonald, President of NBP
• Deane Blazie, founder of Blazie Engineering
• Noel Runyan, engineer and assistive technology consultant; developed the CBI Human Factor team focusing on AT features and ergonomics. The CBI Human Factor team includes the following braille readers: Anna Dresner, Alice Conway and Peter Cantasani .
• Paul Parravano, Chairman of the Board at NBP and administrator in government relations at MIT
• Jeff Chang, entrepreneur and former software engineer at IBM; delegate for Chinese business relations
• Ted Henter, software engineer and web accessibility consultant, most well known for creating JAWS
• Ann Taylor and Nancy Shaheen, educators at NFB
• Sile O'Modhrain, haptics expert and university researcher in Ireland
• Son Le, inventor and engineer; former CTO at Motorola
• Bryan Blazie, former VP of Blazie engineering; solar engineering expert
• Erica Tang, China Braille Press
• Shuping Wo, China Braille Press

Worldwide Collaborations

The launch of National Braille Press's Center for Braille Innovation, has created a new business model for creating more affordable accessible technology products. NBP has been joined by government agencies, non-profit organizations, universities, and profit companies like IBM, that agreed to work together in an effort to make a difference. Universities include: UCLA, MIT, North Carolina State University, Northeastern University, Bentley University, and the University of Tokyo. Non-profits include: National Federation of the Blind, American Printing House for the Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind), World Braille Foundation, American Council for the Blind, and the China Braille Press in Beijing.

If you would like to donate to this project, please go to our donation page.