| Press release: UEB | | Print | |
| Wednesday, 06 July 2011 |
UK Association for Accessible Formats (UKAAF)Because format quality mattersUEB – Unified English BrailleIn what is possibly one of the most important issues to touch braille codes for the past thirty years, the UK Association for Accessible Formats (UKAAF), is consulting with users, teachers and producers of braille in the UK on the possible introduction of a revised code for braille, known as Unified English Braille (UEB). Pete Osborne, an experienced braille reader himself, Chair of UKAAF and the Right to Read Alliance, and RNIB’s International Liaison Officer, says: "At present there are different coding systems for braille in the different English speaking countries. Although these differences are not great, they do present difficulties for braillists who wish to read a variety of material produced in more than one country. UEB seeks to harmonise these different codes, so that blind people need only know the one code for all their braille needs. This has particular relevance when we look at areas such as education. There now, and always has been, a need to duplicate some texts because of these differing coding requirements. "It is an enormous responsibility on us all to look at this and consider both the positive and negative aspects of any change to the braille code. I personally find it quite challenging, as I am sure do my various colleagues in the representative organisations who are looking at this. We are in a position where we cannot please everyone regardless of what decision is eventually taken. I am sure however that I am surrounded by the very best advice possible, as this is an extensive survey which is being carried out." Braille experts have developed UEB over nearly 20 years across the world, including the UK. As well as harmonising the generic codes in different countries, UEB also incorporates the symbols used in special codes, such as maths, science and computing. So people who read these technical braille codes would only have to learn UEB rather than numerous different codes. Pete went on to say: "UEB has already been adopted by many English speaking countries including Australia, Canada and South Africa. It is suggested that adopting this revised braille code would make braille easier to learn, reduce current ambiguities of meaning, and make braille more useable for the braille readers of the future. The translation of print to braille and braille to print would be easier and the opportunity to share resources with other UEB users will mean that braille readers everywhere will be able to have access to more materials. Existing braillists would notice some changes to the current UK codes, but for those who use braille for reading everyday materials such as books, magazines or utility bills, the main differences are that a small number of contraction signs have been withdrawn. However, those who use the technical codes will need to learn some additional signs. Many people have differing views about whether we should adopt UEB, this is why we are gathering as much opinion as is realistically possible and from the widest base as we can before any decision is made." UKAAF is mounting a programme of consultation to explain UEB to braille readers and producers and to gauge their response to the possible introduction of UEB in the UK. James Bowden, Chair of the UKAAF Braille Coding Group explained: "Like Pete, I feel we need to be very sure that UEB would work for all users before we could recommend it as the standard code for braille in the UK. As part of the consultation, we are carrying out trials of the technical codes feature in UEB to identify whether it would be suitable for secondary and higher education needs, as well as for blind people employed in technical posts. These trials are not yet complete, and until they are we cannot assume the outcome." One concern about the possible introduction of UEB is that braille would occupy more space, meaning that there would be less material on each page. This is a consequence of having unique symbols and combinations of symbols for all the types of material UEB covers. For straightforward texts this increase in space is very small, but is a little more significant for technical material. Pete Osborne concluded: "UKAAF will process all responses received from this consultation and hopes to be able to make a recommendation regarding UEB in the autumn. When we do, I am convinced that it will have been done with the widest recommendation of either approval or rejection we have been able to get." UKAAFBecause format quality mattersEnd Notes to Editors: Press Contacts UKAAF UKAAF, PO Box 127, Cwmbran, NP44 9BQ |