February 2023

Braille Authority of North America Board Meeting 

Monday, February 13, 2023, 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time

1. Call to Order: Jen Goulden 

Jen called the meeting to order at 1:03 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

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

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

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

  • Guy Toles, Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (CIDI) 

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

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

  • 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

  • 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 

  • Marie Zaldivar, Alternate Text Production Center (ATPC)

3. Approval of Minutes from the December 2022 Meeting: Amber Pearcy

 MSC: Amber moved and Tracy seconded the approval of the minutes from December 12, 2022. Motion carried.

4. Nemeth Code Update: Jennifer Dunnam

Jennifer would like to find out whether the alt-text needs to be in its final format before handing files to Publications. 

5. Tactile Graphics Update: Diane Spence

Diane reported that APH will be the official producer of the Tactile Graphics supplement. Kyle will let Diane know who should receive the files at APH. The cost of microcapsule paper has increased significantly, which will affect the price that APH charges. 

Guy will send the sample of the supplement for reference for APH.

6. Chemistry Update: Frances Mary D'Andrea

APH will be sending section 10 out to the committee this month. They will be able to review this section once received. A turnover of the document will be possible after this.

7. Lindy Walton’s Request re Knit and Crochet: Jen Goulden 

Lindy works with volunteers who needed to use the knit and crochet guidelines. She is running a workshop and would like to use some samples from the guidance document. She is willing to update any of the samples that she uses so that they align with UEB.  She has not yet indicated the sections that she will be using. We would also like to see if she has volunteers who could update the entire document. 

MSC: FM moved and Kyle seconded that BANA gives Lindy Walton permission to update sections of the knit and crochet guidelines to align with UEB for use as a handout and to share these updates with the BANA board. Motion carried. 

8. Business cards: Tina Seger

The business card guidelines on the website need to be updated to align with UEB. Tina would also like to see more examples added. Particular examples include treatment of long names and long names that need to be shortened to a single initial. Updates also need to address the use of the grade 1 indicator. Tina and Jen are willing to work on this project. 

General Consensus: Jen Goulden, BANA Chair, establishes a task force   to update the fact sheet on business cards on behalf of the Outreach Committee; this update will be completed by the spring meeting.    Tina Sieger will chair the task force, and Jen and Guy will work with her.

MSC: Amber moved and Tina seconded to charge the business card task force to update the fact sheet on business cards by the spring meeting. Motion carried.

9. Computer Braille: Jennifer Dunnam

MSC: Jennifer moved and Tamara seconded to charge the task force on computer braille terminology to create a document on computer braille terminology by the spring meeting. Motion carried.

10. Signage: Jen Goulden

Jen reported that the Signage Committee has reviewed the board's comments and is working on changes. Some of the recommendations go against the ADA requirements, but all other updates are being made.

11. Spring Meeting: Tamara Rorie

The meeting will occur over three full days May 8, 9, and 10, and the DAISY consortium will join us on Wednesday to discuss concurrent issues. 

Tamara will send hotel information to the board. 

12. Next Meeting: Jen Goulden 

The next teleconference will occur on March 20, 2023 at 1:00 P.M. Eastern Time. 

Sue will send a calendar invite. 

13. ICEB Update: Frances Mary D’Andrea

The ICEB will be seeking a new code maintenance officer. 

14. Adjournment: Jen Goulden

Jen adjourned the meeting at 2:06 P.M. Eastern Time.   

Respectfully submitted,

Amber Pearcy

March 12, 2023