Braille Transcription Services for Inclusive Accessibility
What is Braille?
Braille was developed by Louis Braille in 1821. It consists of a system of raised dots which can be deciphered through tactile modalities for reading and writing. People who are Blind or have vision-loss regularly utilize and depend on Braille as a means of reading and navigating their environment. Braille is NOT a language, but rather a modality of communication similar to writing, speaking, or signing.
The process of transcribing text into Braille is known as Braille transcription; although, it is also mistakenly referred to as translation, even though there is no change in the source language..
Who Benefits from Braille?
Braille serves as a means of equal-access to literature and signage for individuals who identify as Blind or who experience low-vision or vision-loss. While many organizations such as the Helen Keller National Center for the Deaf-blind and Lighthouse Guilds regularly teach and refer individuals with vision-loss to resources that teach Braille, it’s important to keep in mind that not all Blind and low-vision individuals can understand Braille. Some individuals may prefer alternate means of accessibility such as Large Print or Text-to-Audio.
Inclusive Communication Service coordinators are available to help you determine which accessibility solution is right for your intended audience. We work directly with your team throughout the transcription process to ensure the final product provides quality access to your content. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Braille Authority of North America (BANA) have strict requirements for Braille transcription and printing, and our team aims to help you navigate these requirements with ease and efficiency.
What Documents Can Be Transcribed to Braille?
Inclusive Communication Services transcribes text materials into a variety of languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German, and for a wide range of documents, some of which include:
- Advertising Materials
- Business Cards and Brochures
- Books and Letters
- Legal Documents
- Meeting Agendas and Materials
- Job Applications and Other Applications
- Notices and Disclosures
- Remittance and Invoice Records
- Healthcare and Medical Records
- Restaurant Menus and Service Catalogs
- Preliminary Information and Statements
- Brochures and Flyers
- Instruction Manuals
Types of Braille
There are two commonly recognized forms of Braille: Uncontracted and Contracted. Uncontracted Braille refers to the transcription of text letter by letter – meaning a 4-letter word will transcribe into a 4-unit display. Contracted braille, on the other hand, refers to the method of abbreviating or compressing words to simpler displays to save space while allowing the Blind or Low-vision individual to read the information more quickly. For example, the word “you” is contracted to “y,” which therein can readily be understood as “you” by any Blind or Low-vision individual trained in contracted Braille. In general, Contracted Braille is more commonly used because it can be transcribed more quickly while also being efficient to digest for the end-user.
Braille Transcription also incorporates a process of reformatting text content and layouts so that they are decipherable to technologies like Braille Readers and Braille Displays. Page elements such as tables, graphs, and images must be properly formatted in Braille to ensure the reader understands them correctly. Our Braille products have been tested by people who identify as Blind and low-vision and are developed to provide the optimal accessibility for readers with vision loss.
To determine which Braille transcription method would be appropriate for your content, reach out to an ICS coordinator!
What does the Braille Transcription Process Look Like?
ICS partners with reputable printing facilities to manage the transcription, embossing, and binding of our clients’ Braille content. By engaging trusted SOC 2 Certified partners, we’re able to guarantee the confidentiality of our clients’ documents while ensuring that our Braille products provide quality equal-access to your target readers.
Here’s what you can expect when you work with Inclusive Communication Services for your Braille transcription needs:
- Submit your materials online, via email, or via our service portal to request a service quote within 24-hours.
- We review your materials and provide a quote, estimated turnaround, and additional recommendations for optimal accessibility.
- Once you engage our services, we transcribe your text content into Braille Ready Format (BRF) using credentialed and experienced Braille transcribers.
- We submit the transcribed content to our Quality Assurance team for review of accuracy and completeness.
- We emboss your materials with the latest printing technology on high-quality Braille paper to ensure an ideal final product.
- We bind your final product according to your preferences:
- GCB Comb Binding
- Spiral Binding
- Magazine Fold / Saddle Stitch
- We once again review the quality of the final printed product and prepare your newly accessible content for shipping to one or more requested locations!
- That’s it – you’ve just provided quality equal-access to your content and signage!
Why Choose Inclusive Communication Services for your Braille Accessibility Needs?
We know that providing equal-access to your content can be overwhelming – we’re here to make it simple! With over 30-years of combined experience working with the Deaf-blind, Blind, and low-vision communities, Inclusive Communication Services is dedicated to ensuring your text content is accessible to everyone with quality-assured Braille transcription services.
Providing equally-accessible materials for your workforce and customers is not only a business best practice but also a requirement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As the number of people with vision-loss continues to grow, businesses must ensure that their information is accessible and readily available in formats such as Braille and Large Print. In working directly with Braille consumers and prominent organizations for the Blind, ICS continues to set the standard for equally-accessible content, incorporating direct feedback from the readers we aim to serve.
Braille is an invaluable resource for providing equal-access to the Blind and those with low-vision. Don’t trust your organization’s accessibility and Section 508 compliance to just anyone. Partner with an experienced accommodations provider and ensure you’re providing an inclusive experience every time! Our dedicated and professional service coordination team will oversee your project from start to finish, keeping you up-to-date every step of your way to becoming a more accessible organization! Contact us today to discuss your project, ask questions, or to request a quote.
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