Links

Here are a few links to some key web sites to enable you to read more about Braille, the work of the Australian Braille Authority, education for people who are blind or have low vision and other related topics, or find links to some local organisations and agencies or suppliers of Braille related technologies. It is certainly not an exhaustive list and if you represent or know of an organisation or agency which you consider would be a useful addition to the list below, please let us know.

100 Years of Braille and Communication Media - A Look Back

This article by JVIB (April 2006) provides a history of braille and communication media, including the topics its editors thought were important in the last 100 years, as well as who the authors were, what they were submitting and the areas of interest concerning the field of vision impairment and blindness.

Australian Braille Authority

The Australian Braille Authority oversees the development and maintenance of Braille codes and specifications used in Australia.

AER Online

The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) is an international organisation supporting education and rehabilitation professionals providing services to children and adults with vision impairment.

American Foundation for the Blind

AFB website and online information centre.

American Council of the Blind

The ACB website provides general information about the Council, including recent issues of ACB's monthly publication, The Braille Forum.

American Printing House for the Blind

APH distributes a wide variety of adapted educational and daily living products that are useful to people who are blind or have a vision impairment.

Blind Citizens Australia

Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) is an advocacy organisation representing the united voice of blind and vision-impaired Australians.

Canadian National Institute for the Blind

CNIB is the primary source of support and information for Canadians affected by vision loss.

Department of Education, Training and the Arts

Queensland State Government entry point for information about access to education, training and the arts.

Department of Natural Resources and Water - Tactual maps

In conjunction with the Queensland Tactual Mapping Committee, the department has produced over 60 tactual maps for people who are blind and vision impaired, to help them in everyday situations (e.g. visiting the Brisbane City Mall). The maps are simplified, generalised maps that have been prepared with particular attention to line size, symbols, patterns and use of braille. They are usually printed with a low vision version on one side and a braille raised image on the reverse.

Disability Services Support Unit

The DSSU's purpose is to enhance and facilitate inclusive education practices through supporting specialists who work with students with disabilities.

DSSU Learning Community

The "Learning Place" website is an online resource created by Education Queensland for professionals working with students who have a vision impairment.

Duxbury Systems

The Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT) and MegaDots, are used by many of the world's leading braille publishers.

EASI Equal Access to Software and Information

EASI is an American provider of online training on accessible information technology for people with disability.

e-Bility Disability Information Resources

A comprehensive online Australian disability resource with information of interest to people with vision impairment. e-Bility also provides web accessibility consultancy services.

Guide Dogs Queensland

GDQ services include Guide Dog training and placement, community and professional education workshops, mobility programs for vision impaired and blind children, counseling by our on staff psychologist and a variety of residential and training programs including counseling retreats, holiday camps, Long Cane training and electronic travel aid training.

Humanware

HumanWare markets products and offers service and support to help people with vision impairment get access to information such as Braille and Speech, Low Vision, Orientation and Digital Talking Book Players.

International Braille Research Center (IBRC)

Information on Braille facts and research, including the International Electronic Braille Library.

International Council on English Braille (ICEB)

The purpose of the International Council on English Braille is to coordinate and improve standards for braille usage for all English-speaking users of braille.

Jot a Dot

A lightweight, portable brailling device.

Mountbatten Brailler Website

The Mountbatten Brailler is adaptive technology that has been designed to meet the needs of blind students in today’s environment, especially in early braille instruction, as a foundation tool for literacy.

Moon Literacy

Moon allows people who are blind or partially sighted to read by touch. It is a code of raised shapes with over half the letters bearing a strong resemblance to the print equivalent. Moon has been found particularly suitable for people who lose their sight later in life.

National Braille Press

National Braille Press is a non-profit braille printer and publisher offering braille books, magazines, textbooks, tests, and customized embossing services (USA).

National Federation of the Blind

The NFB is the leading blindness agency in the United States.

National Library for the Blind (UK)

A book library in alternative formats maintained by the Royal National Institute for the Blind in England.

Optek Systems

Optek Systems supports and distributes a wide range of electronic products that assist people with disability throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Overbrook School for the Blind

Along with academics, Overbrook School in Philadelphia US teaches orientation and mobility skills, as well as other activities important to children who are blind or who have vision impairment.

Pentronics

An Australian company which provides service and support of adaptive technologies for people who are blind and vision impaired and is the author of Toccata Braille Music Translator and PictureBraille tactile graphic creation software.

Perkins School

The Perkins School website includes the Blind Howe Press History.

Quantum Technology

An Australian company which provides access to assistive technology products for people with a print disability and produces such devices as the Mountbatten Brailler and Jot a Dot.

Queensland Blind Association Inc

QBA is an independent voluntary organisation run by and for people who are blind in Queensland.

Queensland Narrating Service

The Queensland Narrating Service (QNS) produces audio information, educational text and recreational reading material for people with a print disability.

Radio 4RPH

Queensland radio for people with a print disability - turning print into sound.

RCEVH Birmingham

The University of Birmingham Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching And Research (VICTAR) has a long history of work in the area of visual impairment and education.

Retina Australia

Retina Australia is a voluntary organisation that provides scientific research and support to people and families affected by retinal degenerative diseases.

RNIB - Royal National Institute of the Blind, UK

RNIB is the UK's leading charity offering information, support and advice to people with sight loss, including accessible information services.

Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities

The Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities facilitates and influences the production and use of quality alternative formats for people with a print disability.

South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment Association

South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment - SPEVI - acts as the professional body in matters pertaining to the education of people with a vision impairment within the South Pacific region.

Statewide Vision Resource Centre (Victoria)

The Statewide Vision Resource Centre promotes an understanding of the educational needs of students who are blind or have low vision. They provide a range of services including short courses and support for school staff, parents and students with vision impairments. They also produce student books in their preferred format - braille, large print, e-text or audio CD. The Statewide Vision Resource Centre is a Department of Education facility located in Melbourne, Australia.