Braille in Focus

Content

In association with the Scottish Sensory Centre, Sight and Sound Technology sponsored this day-long event to explore, experience and try out the very latest in refreshable Braille technology. Braille users, QTVIs, parents and disability support professionals in further or higher education discovered more about braille and the technology to support braille users.

The Keynote address was provided by Steve Tyler, Director of Assistive Technology and Digital Transformation, Leonard Cheshire.

Participants viewed some of the newest multi-line Braille displays, allowing access to Maths, Science, Music, Tactile Graphics, and so much more.

• Bristol Braille demonstrated the Canute multi-line braille display.
• Sight and Sound Technology demonstrated their multi-line braille display, Orbit Slate.
• Paige Connect demonstrated how they use the Perkins brailler to allow you to output your manually typed braille wirelessly to any phone, tablet or laptop for instant braille translation.

Finally we gathered around "the fire" to discuss how braille has impacted learning and the lives of visually impaired people.

Programme

• 09:30 - Arrival and registration
• 10:00 - Welcome to the Braille In Focus event
• 10:15 - Keynote address: Steve Tyler, Director of Assistive Technology at Leonard Cheshire Disability
• 11:15 - Multi-line Braille on the Canute Console, Ed Rogers (Bristol Braille Technology)
• 11:45 - Multi-line Braille on the Orbit Slate, Stuart Lawler (Sight and Sound Technology)
• 12:10 - Introducing the Paige Connect, Gregory Hargraves (Paige Braille)
• 12:30 - SSC Braille activities (support for teachers, professional development) Elizabeth McCann (University of Edinburgh)
• 13:00 - Lunch and exhibition of Braille technology
• 14:15 - Fireside chat (Braille in the 21st century) Moderated by Stuart Lawler (Sight and Sound Technology)

Target Audience

(Q)TVIs, Learners who use braille, Parents, Disability Advisors from FE/HE.

Presenters

Stuart Lawler and colleagues, Sight & Sound Technology.