Guidelines for the Production of Braille Materials Through the Use of Braille Production Software A Position Statement of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) Adopted May 2007 The ability to produce braille materials has become easier through the use of computers, braille production software, and braille embossers. This has resulted in a proliferation of providers who are putting braille materials into the hands of readers. BANA encourages the development of a network of knowledgeable persons as resources, the attendance of braille producers at conferences where braille format and transcription/translation workshops are held, and the acquisition of braille skills for all non-certified transcribers who use software programs to produce braille materials. While the use of braille production software has greatly assisted in the transcription of print and electronic materials into braille, there are considerations and limitations that producers of braille must recognize. .All braille materials should be proofread to ensure braille format and accuracy. .Braille materials produced by persons who are not certified by either the Library of Congress or the Canadian Braille Authority should be proofread by knowledgeable person to ensure braille format and accuracy. .Materials of a technical nature, such as mathematics, science,computer notation, music, diacritics, phonetics/phonemics, foreign languages, etc. require transcription by a person knowledgeable in these specialized codes and formats. .Materials with complex formats, such as tables, financial statements, puzzles, matching columns, etc. require assistance from a person knowledgeable of these specialized formats. .Current production software is limited in its ability to produce tactile graphics. Care should be exercised in the selection of the appropriate medium for any tactile graphic. The mission of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) is to assure literacy for tactile readers through the standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics. Its purpose is to promote and to facilitate the uses, teaching and production of braille. It publishes rules, interprets and renders opinions pertaining to braille in all existing and future codes and recommends a code of ethics for braille producers. It deals with codes now in existence or to be developed in the future, in collaboration with other countries using English braille. The Library of Congress and the Canadian Braille Authority certify braille transcribers who demonstrate knowledge of the Literary Braille Code, the Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation, and Music Braille Code. The National Braille Association offers a course and examination which can lead certification as a braille text book transcriber. BANA also provides format guidelines for the production of materials into braille. All materials provided in braille must adhere to the appropriate braille code and format as authorized by the Braille Authority of North America (BANA). These include: .English Braille, AmericanEdition, 1994, Revised 2002(EBAE), the literary braille code .Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation, 1972 .Music Braille Code,1997 .Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription, 1997 BANA publications relating to the braille codes and formats are available for purchase from: American Printing House for the Blind 1839 Frankfort Avenue Louisville, KY 40206-0085 Phone:800-223-1839 Website:http://sun1.aph.org/products/bana.html Workshops and materials are available from: National Braille Association 3 Townline Circle Rochester, NY 14623-2513 Phone:716-427-8260 Email: nbaoffice@nationalbraille.org Website:www.nationalbraille.org California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Handicapped 741 North Vermont Street LosAngeles,CA 90029 Phone: 323-666-2211 Website:www.ctevh.org There are other organizations that also provide workshops and materials. Persons interested in learning more about certification in braille transcription should contact: Jennifer Dunnam, Manager of Braille Programs Jernigan Institute National Federation of the Blind 1800 Johnson Street Baltimore, Maryland 21230 Phone: 612-767-5658 Email: transcribers@nfb.org Website: www.nfb.org/transcribers or CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) 1929 Bayview Avenue Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4G 3E8 Phone: 416-486-2500 #7652 E-mail: leslie.deane@cnib.ca Website: http://www.cnib.ca/ For further information regarding the Braille Authority of North America, contact the BANA Chairperson: 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