Braille is a system of touch reading and writing in which raised dots represent letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and other symbols. It is written in horizontal lines from left to right across each page, much as print is written. Braille users read by moving a finger or fingers from left to right along each line. Both hands are usually involved in the reading process. The average reading speed is about 125 words per minute, but greater speeds of up to 200 words per minute are possible.
The braille cell, an arrangement of six dots, is the basic unit for reading and writing braille. Sixty-three different patterns are possible from these six dots.
By using braille, blind people can review and study the written word. They can become aware of different conventions such as spelling, punctuation, paragraphing, and footnotes. Most of all, blind individuals can have access to a wide range of reading materials - educational and recreational reading as well as other practical materials. Written matter that is part of daily adult life is equally important. These materials include contracts, regulations, insurance policies, directories, appliance instructions, and cookbooks, to name a few. Also through braille, blind people can pursue hobbies and cultural enrichment with such materials as music scores, hymnals, playing cards, and games.
Braille has undergone continuing modification, particularly the addition of contractions, which represent groups of letters or whole words that appear frequently in a language. The use of contractions permits faster braille reading and helps reduce the size of braille books.
BANA's mission is to assure literacy for tactile readers through standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics.
BANA's purpose is to promote and to facilitate the use, teaching, and production of braille. It publishes rules, interprets and renders opinions pertaining to braille in all existing and future codes. It deals with codes now in existence or to be developed in the future, in collaboration with other countries using English braille. In exercising its function and authority, BANA considers the effects of its decisions on other existing braille codes and formats; the ease of production by various methods; and acceptability to readers.
The Braille Authority of North America is made up of the member organizations shown below. One representative of each member organization serves on the BANA Board.
Full Members:
American Council of the Blind - Kim Charlson, Representative
American Foundation for the Blind - Frances Mary D'Andrea, Representative
American Printing House for the Blind - Mary Nelle McLennan, Representative
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind & Visually Impaired - Diane Wormsley, Representative
Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired - May Davis, Representative
Braille Institute of America - Bonnie Grimm, Representative
California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Sue Reilly, Representative
Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired -
Doug Jacques, Representative
CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) - Darleen Bogart, Representative
National Braille Association - Cindy Laurent, Representative
National Braille Press, Inc. - Jefferson Lyons, Representative
National Federation of the Blind - Jennifer Dunnam, Representative
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped -
Judy Dixon, Representative and BANA Board Chair
Associate Members:
Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind - Maria Stevens, Representative
T-Base Communications - Sharlyn Ayotte, Representative
BANA works largely through committees composed of transcribers, braille readers, education and rehabilitation professionals, and Board Members. These committees are charged with updating the braille codes, formats, and techniques as well as the on-going business of BANA. Changes to the braille codes may be suggested by readers, transcribers, and/or producers. Before any changes are made, the committees carefully study possible impact on readability and usability of braille as well as the benefit the change would provide. Proposed new codes or revisions are submitted to all other technical committees to avoid conflict with existing braille codes. The BANA Board issues final approval for adoption and dissemination.
BANA committees are:
Braille Formats Technical Committee
Computer Braille Technical Committee
Crafts and Hobbies Technical Committee
Literary Braille Technical Committee
Mathematics Braille Technical Committee
Music Braille Technical Committee
Publications Committee
Refreshable Braille Technical Committee
Tactile Graphics Technical Committee
Ad Hoc Committee on Braille Research
Ad Hoc Committee on Early Literacy Materials Production
Ad Hoc Committee on Signage and Labeling
Ad Hoc Committee on Foreign Language Materials
Ad Hoc Committee on Standardized Tests
Ad Hoc Committee on Uncontracted Braille
BANA Braille Codes Update 2007
This latest update for several BANA codes is available for download from www.brailleauthority.org/update07.html. The Update is being distributed in several electronic formats through the BANA web site (www.brailleauthority.org). Users can easily create print and/or braille versions from the files provided there. Hard copy print or braille versions will be included with the relevant codebooks being sold by the American Printing House for the Blind.
These code changes took effect on January 1, 2008.
Literary Braille
English Braille, American Edition, 1994; Revised 2002.
Source: APH;
Braille: Catalog #5 35932 00, Cost: $21.50;
Print: Catalog #7 35932 00, Cost: $21.50
Braille Formats
Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription, 1997.
Source: APH;
Braille: Catalog #5 09652 00, Cost $30.00;
Print: Catalog #7 09652 00; Cost: $30.00
Computer Braille
Computer Braille Code: 2000 Revision.
Source: APH;
Braille: Catalog #5 24410 00, Cost: $20.20;
Print: Catalog #7 24410 00, Cost: $20.20Computer Braille Code: Flowchart Design for Applicable Braille Codes Supplement, 1992.Source: APH;
Braille: Catalog #5 24440 00, Cost $17.00;
Print: Catalog #7 24440 00, Cost: $17.00
Mathematics Braille
Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision.
Source: APH;
Braille: Catalog #5 87430 00, Cost: $40.00;
Print: Catalog #7 87430 00, Cost: $40.00Addendum 1 to the Nemeth Code for Mathematics & Science Notation, 1972 Revision: Ancient Numeration Systems.
Source: APH;
Braille: Catalog #5 68654 00, Cost: $5.00;
Print: Catalog #7 68654 00, Cost: $5.00Guidelines for Mathematical Drawings, 1983.
Addendum: Number Lines, 1990.
(These two documents are sold as a set.)
Source: NBA;
Print price, $44.00;
Braille price to individuals, $56.40;
All others, $136.50Learning the Nemeth Braille Code: A Manual for Teachers and Students, 1987.
Source: APH;
Braille: Catalog #5 68653 00, Cost: $32.00;
Print: Catalog #7 68653 00, Cost: $32.00Braille Code for Chemical Notation, 1997.
Source: APH;
Braille: Catalog #5 16900 00, Cost: $20.00;
Print: Catalog #7 16900 00, Cost: $20.00
Music Braille
Music Braille Code 1997.
Source: APH;
Braille: Catalog #5 09651 00, Cost: $41.00;
Print: Catalog #7 09651 00, Cost: $41.00
Refreshable Braille
Provisional Guidelines for Linear Braille Format, 1987.
Source: APH;
Braille: Catalog #5 09650 00, Cost: $3.00;
Print: Catalog #7 09650 00, Cost: $2.50
Sources for purchase:
American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue
PO Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206 0085
Phone: 502 895 2405
Toll Free: 800 223 1839
FAX: 502 899 2274
Website: http://www.aph.org/products/bana.html
E mail: info@aph.org
National Braille Association
95 Allens Creek Road. Bldg. 1, Suite 202
Rochester, NY 14618
Phone: 585 427 8260
FAX: 585 427 0263
Website: www.nationalbraille.org
E mail: nbaoffice@nationalbraille.org
BANA-Announce Listserv
BANA-Announce is a one-way email list that disseminates official BANA information. To join this listserv, send a blank email message to
bana-announce-subscribe@brailleauthority.org and follow the directions in the confirmation email that will be sent automatically in response to your subscription request. If you have any problems, contact Kim Charlson at Kim.Charlson@Perkins.org or call 1-617-972-7249 for assistance.
Judy Dixon, Chairperson
Braille Authority of North America
1805 North Oakland Street
Arlington, VA 22207
Phone: 202-707-0722
E-mail: jdix@loc.gov
Website: www.brailleauthority.org
The Braille Authority of North America is a member of the International Council on English Braille. For more information about ICEB, visit www.iceb.org.