Production of Braille and Tactual Materials at the Statewide Vision Resource Centre
After a book is requested in braille for a student, the text is captured to the computer prior to translation into braille. The text can be emailed, scanned or typed into the computer, or it can be “cut and pasted” from the internet or a CD.
Following text capture, the document is translated into braille using the Duxbury Braille Translation program.
For foreign languages, mathematics, sciences, music etc, transcribers must use the “6-key entry” method - braille directly on to the computer keyboard (keys SDFJKL and the space bar).
The text is proof read on-screen by two braille transcribers or by a transcriber and a volunteer.
Following proof reading, the braille is embossed on the Everest Braille Embosser - which can emboss on both sides of the paper.
Many text books contain diagrams. Some of these are produced using a drawing program on the computer. Some are hand drawn by tracing the original using a light box, simplifying and adding braille labels.
This diagram is photocopied onto stereo (capsule) paper and then fed through a heat machine.
The diagrams are stuck into the appropriate pages of braille, bound and labelled, and sent off to the student.
