Unified English Braille Code (UEB)

UEB was developed with the aim of establishing a single braille code for all English-speaking peoples of the world. UEB has been adopted in Australia (2005), Canada (2010), New Zealand (2005), Nigeria (2005), South Africa (2004), UK (2011) and USA (2012).

General resources for teachers

• Rules of Unified English Braille – second edition, 2013
• Guidelines for Technical Material – updated 2014
• Australian Training Manual – revised April 2014
• Literary code – summary sheet adapted by Lyn Robinson, 2008
• Punctuation and symbols – summary sheet compiled by Lyn Robinson, 2008
• UEB Braille Chart from Duxbury Systems, 2008
• UEB at a glance – lists the main changes from the “old code” to UEB, 2013
• For further information or documentation, see also:
  • Australian Braille Authority (ABA)
  • International Council on English Braille (ICEB) – UEB
  • Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities – production guidelines for Australia
  • World Braille Usage – international codes

Foreign languages

• World Braille Usage – compilation of braille codes for languages from around the globe (2013)

Maths

• UEB maths: Basic signs and layout – by Lea Nagel, 2011 (enlarge to A3 if you’d like correctly sized braille)

Music

• Braille music – resources and braille music files

Learning braille: for sighted learners

• SVRC Course in Literary Braille – for eligible adults only
• UEBOnline: Braille training course for sighted learners – based on UEB: Australian Training Manual, 2013
• Braille Tutor allows sighted or blind users to learn and practice contracted braille (UEB).

Learning braille: for touch readers

• Ozzie Dots – developed by staff and volunteers of the Statewide Vision Resource Centre, this is a fun and light-hearted resource to introduce contracted braille and tactual graphicacy to young braille readers
• I Do Like It – a braille reading program developed by Tricia d’Apice which uses repeated reading of short sentences made up of word signs to allow the student to gain confidence and speed in reading braille
• Mangold braille programs – sequential program to develop tactual skills and letter and word recognition for beginners

Other resources

• Physical specifications for braille – as determined by the Australian Braille Authority