Unified English Braille (UEB)

Click on the following links for more information on each topic. All materials produced by BANA have been approved by the BANA Board. Materials listed here from other sources are provided for your information and convenience. Inclusion on this website does not indicate BANA's endorsement.

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New! BANA Position Statement—

"Terminology: UEB Math/Science and UEB with Nemeth"

PDF and BRF

 

 

Questions about UEB?

Do you have questions about the Unified English Braille (UEB) code and how it works? BANA's General Committee on UEB is here to answer your questions. Click on the link below to send your question to the committee.

Send a message to BANA

BANA Press Releases about the Adoption of UEB

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UEB Rules and Guidelines

  • The Rules of Unified English Braille — UEB Rulebook available on the UEB page of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) website.
  • UEB Guidelines for Technical Materials — Guidelines available on the UEB page of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) website.
  • UEB Braille Symbols and Indicators List — Symbols & Indicators List

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Provisional Guidance for Transcribing Mathematics in UEB

This new publication from BANA provides provisional guidance for use in UEB transcription that involves mathematics. These guidelines, intended for use in the US and Canada, supplement the rules and guidance presented in the international publications Rules of Unified English Braille, 2013 (RUEB) and Unified English Braille Guidelines for Technical Material (GTM) authorized by the International Council on English Braille (ICEB). The purpose of this document is to provide additional clarification and practical suggestions for the transcription of "technical" texts (i.e., mathematics and science) transcribed using Unified English Braille.

PDF, BRF

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Nemeth-UEB Guidance

This method of switching between the Nemeth Code and Unified English Braille has been developed to ensure the continued viability of the use of the Nemeth Code for mathematics. The necessity for this adaptation, which is similar to the current use of switching to computer braille code for email addresses and the like, stems from two basic issues: 

  1. In current Nemeth code transcriptions, the nonmathematical text that surrounds the mathematics is based on English Braille, American Edition (EBAE), which is being replaced by Unified English Braille (UEB). If the surrounding text were to continue to be in EBAE, then, in order to use Nemeth Code, braille users and producers would need to be familiar with two sets of rules for contractions, capitalization, emphasis, punctuation, spacing, and so on. Such a requirement would be especially burdensome in the long term to future braille users and producers who learn braille according to UEB symbols and rules and would then need to learn old rules that have been replaced.
  2. As the use of electronic means to read and write in both print and braille proliferates, the need for accurate translation both from print to braille and from braille to print becomes an increasingly critical consideration. An unambiguous switching method eliminates code conflicts and makes it possible for accurate translation in either direction to occur, so that mathematics can be communicated between print users and braille users using Nemeth Code. 

 

PDF, BRF

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Provisional Guidance for Chemistry Notation Using Nemeth in UEB Contexts 

The BANA Chemistry Committee developed this provisional guidance for transcribing chemistry using Nemeth in UEB contexts. This document is a revision of the previously published provisional guidance. The Word version of this document is provided for accessibility purposes only; it is intended to be used in its entirety and is not to be modified. A BRF file is provided for braille readers and for embossing; a PDF is provided for print readers and for those who wish to print a hard copy of the document. 

BANA welcomes feedback from users of this publication.

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY WITHDRAWN

 

 

Foreign Language Provisional Guidance

Provisional Guidance for Transcribing Foreign Language Materials in UEB
This new publication provides provisional guidance for use in UEB transcription that involves foreign language.

PDF, BRF

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Learn UEB

  • NLS Braille Transcriber Course — Information about the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) braille transcriber course is available at https://nfb.org/braille-transcribing

    For currently certified transcribers who wish to add a Letter of Proficiency in UEB: www.nfb.org/ueb-resources.

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UEB Resources

  • Overview of Changes from Current Literary Braille to UEB — File types: HTML, PDF, and BRF
  • Tips and Resources for Learning More about Unified English Braille — File types: HTML and BRF
  • NLS list of Frequently Used UEB Symbols — NLS will begin producing books and magazines in UEB in 2016. NLS has provided this list of new symbols that are frequently used. File types: PDF and BRF
  • Duxbury UEB Chart — Duxbury's one-page chart listing the contractions and short forms in alphabetical order is available at https://www.duxburysystems.com/braillechart.asp
  • UEB Chart from Canadian Assistive Technology (formerly Aroga Technologies UEB Chart) — Canadian Assistive Technology presents the UEB contractions and symbols by category, available at
    https://mailchi.mp/canasstech/unified-english-braille-chart
    Braille-ready file version is attached here: BRF
  • The ABCs of UEB — BANA is pleased to share this new publication—The ABCs of UEB—authored by Constance Risjord. This document outlines the major differences between English Braille, American Edition (EBAE) and UEB. Although this is not a complete instruction manual, it provides examples and practice exercises, which allow people who already know EBAE to quickly build on their knowledge of braille to understand UEB. This is a valuable resource that will help us make the transition to UEB, and BANA sincerely appreciates the work of Constance Risjord who volunteered to design and create this project. File types: HTML, PDF, BRF
  • Supplementary Guide to UEB Reference Materials — An index to the Rules of UEB 2013, developed by braille transcribers Peggy Spiess and Trumbull Ogilby, Oregon Textbook and Media Center/Willamette Educational Service District, Salem, Oregon.
  • UEB to EBAE Comparison: Transitioning to UEB — Barb Lhotka developed this convenient guide for teachers and transcribers to quickly compare the two codes.
  • UEB/EBAE Assessment Checklist — Tina Peaslee, a transcriber in Utah, developed this handy checklist for teachers to keep track of the braille symbols their students have learned.
  • Literary Braille Contraction Checklist — TVI Carmen Willings of Cumming, GA, created this helpful UEB contraction checklist and graciously shares it through the BANA website.
  • Nemeth or UEB: Factors and Considerations for Math Code — Developed by the Indiana UEB Implementation Sub-Committee, this resource can be used by IEP teams as they discuss individual needs of students regarding technical materials.
  • Assessment of Braille Literacy Skills: UEB and EBAE, 2nd Ed. — This priced publication can be purchased from Texas Region IV and provides a tool for educators to document braille skills and knowledge. Order from the following link: http://www.region4store.com/Catalog.aspx?catid=347927&itmid=1196188
  • Burns Braille Guide: A Quick Reference to Unified English Braille, 2nd Ed. — This new edition of an old favorite is a priced publication available from AFB Press. Order from the following link: https://www.aph.org/product/burns-braille-guide-a-quick-reference-to-unified-english-braille-epub/
  • The Hitchhiker's Guide to UEB Maths. — This document was created by teachers in New Zealand as a quick reference for technical materials in UEB. Available for download from http://www.banzat.org.nz/documents/HHGMaths.pdf
  • UEB Too. — A complete revision of the "Braille Too" curriculum materials, this priced resource is designed for middle and high school students who are learning UEB. Available from BRL2 Publishing; ordering information available from https://brl2.com/ueb-too
  • UEB Curriculum for Braille Students — This free resource presents a series of 10 lessons for students who are making the transition from EBAE to UEB. Developed by Catherine Summ and Suzanne Cappiello, the lessons are available on the "Paths to Literacy" website from Perkins. http://www.pathstoliteracy.org/blog/ueb-curriculum-braille-students
  •  Braille Lessons — Retired teacher Louise Johnson has devised this book, Braille Lessons for Sighted People as a resource for parents, paraprofessionals, and others who read print and are interested in braille. While this manual does not cover every rule and symbol in UEB, it introduces the most common ones. For more information, visit https://books.google.com/books/about/Kester_Braille_Reading_Program.html?id=UD87YgEACAAJ
  • "Braille Basics Plus" — Written by Merry-Noel Chamberlain (edited by Faye Miller), this print resource provides parents with an overview of UEB. Available from http://pdrib.com/downloads/Braille-Basics-Plus.pdf
  • UEB Maths Practice Exercises — UKAAF has a page that includes practice exercises in higher level math (along with an answer key) taken from their Technical UEB course. This link goes to the page that has .pdf, .docx, and .brf versions: https://www.ukaaf.org/ueb/

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Example Documents in UEB

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Planning the Implementation of UEB

CCSSO Guide for UEB Implementation Planning

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) has worked with BANA to conduct a national survey to collect information from each state about their plans for the transition to Unified English Braille (UEB). The information in the survey has led to the development of an implementation guide to support states in their efforts to make the change to UEB over the next year. The implementation guide is available for free download (PDF format) on the CCSSO web site and an accessible BRF posted here.

BLUEPRINT for Planning the Transition to UEB — File types: PDF and BRF

UEB Fact Sheet for School Administrators — PDF

State Plans for the Implementation of UEB

States are encouraged to share their plans for the implementation of UEB through the BANA website. The following states have supplied BANA with their respective state plans for the implementation of UEB:

 

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Background Information to the UEB Project

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