January 2024

Braille Authority of North America Board Meeting 

Monday, January 22, 2024, 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time

 

1. Call to Order: Jen Goulden

Jen called the meeting to order at 1:04 P.M. Eastern Time.

 

2. Roll Call: Amber Pearcy

The following board members were in attendance:

  • Jen Goulden, CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), Chair

  • Amber Pearcy, National Braille Press (NBP), Secretary 

  • Danette Johnson, Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Treasurer

  • Frances Mary (FM) D'Andrea, American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

  • Kyle DeJute, American Printing House for the Blind (APH)

  • Tracy Gaines, California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CTEBVI)

  • Hollie Knight, Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (CIDI) Tina Seger, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

  • Tina Seger, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

  • Diane Spence, National Braille Association (NBA) 

  • Jennifer Dunnam, National Federation of the Blind (NFB) 

  • Wendy Buckley, Perkins School for the Blind

  • Susan (Sue) Reilly, Administrative Assistant

  • Aquinas Pather, associate member Allyant

  • Emily Coleman, Council of Schools and Services for the Blind (COSB)

  • Holly Bullock, associate member Crawford Technologies

Not attending:

  • Mary Nelle McLennan, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), Vice Chair 

  • Tamara Rorie, National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress (NLS), Immediate Past Chair

  • Marie Zaldivar, Alternate Text Production Center (ATPC)

  • Judy Dixon, American Council of the Blind (ACB)

 

3. Approval of Minutes from Last Meeting: Amber Pearcy

No additional edits were requested for the December meeting minutes. 

MSC: Amber moved to approve the minutes from the December 18, 2023 teleconference. Kyle seconded. Motion carried.

4. Chemistry Update: Frances Mary D’Andrea/Jennifer Dunnam

FM discussed the letter of thanks from the American Chemical Society. The society thanked and congratulated BANA on the new chemistry document. They would also like to assist in the announcement and dissemination of the print and web publication of the document. Discussion followed; we would like to know how they want to be involved with the dissemination of the documents. It would be helpful if they wanted to promote the new document in their newsletters. 

Jen suggested that FM could communicate with the American Chemical Society. Jennifer suggested that we could simply ask them to help spread the press releases once they are ready. 

FM preferred that Jen respond to the letter; therefore, Jen will follow up with a response.  

5. Nemeth Update: Holly Bullock

The tagging and proofing of the PDF has been completed. A few minor suggestions were made by Jen, and Jennifer will submit comments to Holly and her team. Holly expects that these corrections can be made quickly. Jennifer is available to work with Publications to get the PDF posted on the website.

Jen got a request from Susan Osterhaus about a book that she has written about using Nemeth within UEB. Given that the updated Nemeth Code will soon be posted, Susan would like to know if she could have access to the pre-published Nemeth Code document so that the authors can use it to make updates to their book. She is asking because they have a limited funding opportunity. 

Jennifer pointed out that the Nemeth Code is about to be posted on the website, so there may not need to be a special exception made for the use of this document. 

The board discussed that there is a large spreadsheet of changes to the Nemeth Code that the Nemeth Committee provided to us, and we agreed that she could access this document for the purposes of her writing. The Committee has also been keeping a list of changes for a future eratta.

MSC: Diane moved that in response to Susan Osterhaus’s request, we do the following: 1) the BANA Chair will advise Susan Osterhaus when the updated Nemeth Code document is posted; and 2) the BANA board will permit Susan Osterhaus and co-authors to use the change document but not publish it or share it in any way. Tracy seconded. Motion carried.

6. Tactile Graphics Update: Jen Goulden

Jen reported that the index is now available and only needs to be added to the PDF and the BRF. The BRF and the PDF will be posted soon with the accessible PDF to follow later.

FM asked about the timeline for the publication of the chemistry document. Jen suggested that we could possibly pay Crawford Technologies to work on the accessible PDF of the chemistry document. FM would like to have a timeframe to give to the committee. 

Diane reminded the board that we promised access of the Tactile Graphics document to NBA by January 15 if the document was not posted on the website. Jen will make sure that Patrick Janson gets the document within the next few days.

7. Graphing Calculator Guidelines: Jen Goulden

The GCUEB has provided some feedback on this document which will be given to Braille Literacy Canada. After the changes have been made, we will consider a board review of the document so that it can be posted on the BANA website.

8. GCUEB: Wendy Buckley

It has come to light that GCUEB does not have any defined criteria to determine when an issue should come to the BANA board for recommendation to the ICEB Code Maintenance Committee for their action. 

MSC: Wendy moved to charge GCUEB with developing a decision-making guide for evaluating suggestions to bring to the board to recommend sending to the ICEB CMC. Jennifer seconded. Motion carried.

9. Business Card document: Tina Seger

The feedback from the review has been incorporated into the document. Tina will send the revised document back to the board for approval at the February meeting. 

10. Knit and Crochet Guidelines: Jennifer Dunnam

Jennifer reported that the review panel has provided changes, and these changes need to be incorporated into the document. Jennifer hopes to have this document back to the board by the next meeting.

11. Spring meeting: Kyle DeJute

Kyle will send an update to the board via email. She reminded the board to think about discussion topics related to eBRF and requests for production-related things that we would like to see at APH.

12. Fall 2024: Diane Spence

Diane sent a document to the board with hotel information. BANA will receive the link for reserving rooms in advance of the general public.

13. Next Meeting: Jen Goulden

Jen proposed the date of February 26, 2024 for our next meeting. Amber will send a calendar invite. 

14. Adjournment: Jen Goulden 

Jen adjourned the meeting at 1:54 P.M. Eastern Time. 

 

Respectfully submitted:

Amber Pearcy

February 13, 2024