Introduction to
Unified English Braille
What is UEB
 UEB stands for Unified English Braille.
 It is a code that simplifies and unifies the system of braille
used for English speaking countries. It will replace the current
braille code, the EBAE or English Braille American Edition.
 UEB started as a research project by BANA in 1992 with the
goal of creating one Braille code that could be applied across
all subject areas except music.
 In 1993 the International Council on English Braille (ICEB)
took on UEB as a project.
 In 2004, the ICEB endorsed UEB as an official braille code.
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3
Adoption of UEB
 BANA (Braille Authority of North America), officially
adopted the UEB in the United States on November 2, 2o12.
 In November of 2013, BANA announced January 2016, as
the implementation date of UEB for the United States.
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4
Why UEB?
 Braille is the most commonly used method for tactually
representing written English. English, is constantly
evolving, and has become more diverse and visual.
 Over the years there have been drastic changes in the
appearance and production methods of print: new
characters, icons, layouts, and fonts.
 There has been a need for expandability and the ability to
add new symbols not currently available in literary braille.
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5
Why UEB?
 Print is increasingly being read digitally providing the
capability for braille readers to read information in braille
instantly from refreshable braille devices.
 Braille users need a code that will convey the same
information as in print, ensuring that the print reader and
the braille reader both comprehend the information at the
same rate.
 The inconsistencies within the current EBAE and its
complex rules, affect the automated conversion of print to
braille (forward translation) and from braille to print (back
translation). The UEB allows for greater accuracy in back
translation.
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6
How Will UEB Help?
 Provide for more consistency, less ambiguity, and fewer
exceptions to braille rules making braille easier to produce
and learn.
 Allow for expandability and the ability to add new symbols
not currently available in literary braille.
 Reduce errors when reading contracted braille on
refreshable braille displays.
 Improve back translation of braille written using electronic
devices, so braille users can write in braille to communicate
easily and accurately with non-braille users.
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7
Official Codes
As of January 2016, the official codes in the U.S. will be:




UEB (Unified English Braille)
Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science
Music Braille Code
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet
 Formats 2011 and Tactile Graphics 2010 will be revised to
align with UEB
 A Nemeth-UEB Task Force is developing guidelines for text
in Nemeth textbooks
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8
UEB and Technology
 UEB has already been built into the Duxbury Braille
Translation Software, Version 11.2.
 UEB has been built into popular refreshable braille devices,
such as products from APH, Freedom Scientific,
HumanWare, and HIMS as well as the Mountbatten
Brailler.
 UEB is available in VoiceOver screen reader in iOS8. Users
using iPhones or iPads with refreshable braille displays can
use UEB with these devices.
 Braille Tutor IOS App for iPAD
http://ienabletechnology.com/braille-tutor/
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9
The UEB Transition
 The full implementation over to UEB from EBAE will not
happen overnight but will take a number of years with
careful planning.
 In Indiana, the training of teachers will take place during
the 2014-2015 school year.
 Student instruction will begin in the 2015-2016 school year.
 The transcription and production of braille instructional
materials at the IERC will begin in 2015. The braille
transcription staff at the IERC and the IERC braille prison
program have been studying and training in the UEB since
2013.
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10
Terminology
 Braille character: any one of the 64 distinct patterns of six dots,
including the space, which can be expressed in braille
 Braille sign/symbol: one or more consecutive braille characters
comprising a unit, consisting of a root on its own or a root
preceded by one or more prefixes (also referred to as braille
symbol)
 Groupsign: a contraction which represents a group of letters
 Indicator: a braille sign that does not directly represent a print
symbol but that indicates how subsequent braille sign(s) are to
be interpreted
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[UEB Rule Book § 2]
12
Terminology
 Grade 1: the meaning assigned to a braille sign which
would otherwise be read as a contraction or as a numeral
 Grade 1 braille: used interchangeably with uncontracted
 Grade 2 braille: used interchangeably with contracted
 Mode: a condition initiated by an indicator and describing
the effect of the indicator on subsequent braille signs
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[UEB Rule Book § 2]
13
Terminology
 Letters-sequence: an unbroken string of alphabetic signs
preceded and followed by non-alphabetic signs, including space
 Symbols-sequence: an unbroken string of braille signs,
whether alphabetic or non-alphabetic, preceded and followed by
space (also referred to as symbols-word)
 Passage: three or more symbols-sequences
 Passage indicator: initiates a mode which persists indefinitely
until an explicit terminator is encountered
 Standing alone: condition used to determine when a braille
sign is read as a contraction
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[UEB Rule Book § 2]
14
Terminology
 Strong: designating contractions (other than alphabetic
wordsigns) containing dots in both the top and bottom
rows and in both the left and right columns of the cell
 Terminator: a braille sign that marks the end of a mode
 Wordsign: a contraction which represents a complete
word
 Word indicator: initiates a mode which extends over the
next letters-sequence in the case of the capitals indicator or
over the next symbols-sequence in the case of other
indicators
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[UEB Rule Book § 2]
15
Terminology
 Root: any one of the 56 braille characters, including the
space, which is not a prefix
 Prefix: any one of the seven braille characters having only
right-hand dots or the braille character
@ ^ _ " . ; , #
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[UEB Rule Book § 2]
16
The ABCs of UEB
A Guide for the Transition from
English Braille American Edition (EBAE)
to
The Rules of Unified English Braille (UEB)
by Constance Risjord
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17
1. Capitalization
,
Capital letter
,, Capitals word indicator
,,, Capitals passage indicator
,' Capitals passage terminator
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ABCs pg. 5-6
[UEB Rule Book § 8]
18
1. Capitalization
[8.4.1] The capitalized word indicator sets capitals mode for
the next letters-sequence or the remainder of the current
letters-sequence.
[8.4.2] The effect is terminated by a space, a single capital
letter, a nonalphabetic symbol, or a capitals terminator, but
not by a modifier or a ligature indicator.
McGRAW-HILL ,mc,,graw-,,hill
OK'd ,,ok'd
HOTELS.COM ,,hotels4,,com
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ABCs pg. 5-6
[UEB Rule Book § 8]
19
1. Capitalization
[8.5.2] A passage is three or more symbols-sequences and it
may include non-alphabetic symbols.
[8.5.3] A capitalized passage is terminated by the capitals
terminator immediately following the last affected symbolssequence.
CAUTION: WET PAINT!
,,,cau;n3 wet pa9t6,'
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ABCs pg. 5-6
[UEB Rule Book § 8]
20
1. Capitalization
[8.5.5] In a capitalized series of paragraphs or listed items,
each item is preceded by the capitalized passage indicator
and the capitals mode is terminated only at the end of the
final text element.
[8.5.6] Where the text elements do not constitute a
continuous passage (e.g.: a series of headings), each text
element is capitalized separately.
[8.5.7] A single heading is capitalized as a unit even if it
extends over more than one braille line.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 5-6
[UEB Rule Book § 8]
21
1. Capitalization
[8.6.1] The capitals terminator is placed after the final
capitalized letter.
He shouted “I WILL NOT!”
,he %\t$ 8,,,i w n6,'0
The two CEOs met in our CEO's office.
,! two ,,ceo,'s met 9 \r ,,ceo's
(fice4
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 5-6
[UEB Rule Book § 8]
22
1. Capitalization
[8.6.2] The capitals terminator may precede or follow
punctuation and other terminators but it is best to close
paired punctuation and indicators in reverse order of
opening.
IT'S A HOAX! (APRIL FOOL!)
,,,x's a hoax6 "<april fool6">,'
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ABCs pg. 5-6
[UEB Rule Book § 8]
23
Practice
Exercise 1
1. Johnny
2. JOHNNY
3. JOHNny
4. JohnNY
5. GPs
6. Ps and Qs
7. DON’T
8. GO HOME!
9. PLEASE, GO HOME.
10. Please KEEP OFF THE GRASS.
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2. Punctuation
Many punctuation marks remain the same in UEB:
Period, question mark, exclamation mark, comma,
semicolon, hyphen, and forward slash (/).
No.
No?
No!
,No4
,No8
,No6
Yes,
,Yes1
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Yes;
,Yes2
ABCs pg. 7-13
Yes,Yes-
[UEB Rule Book § 7]
Yes/
,Yes_/
25
2. Punctuation
Many punctuation marks are new symbols:
[7.3.1] Follow print for the spacing and number of dots for
the ellipsis.
444 ellipsis
[7.2.1] Follow print spacing for the dash.
,- dash
[7.2.4] Use the long dash only when print uses both the short
and long dash.
",1/13/2015
long dash
ABCs pg. 7-13
[UEB Rule Book § 7]
26
2. Punctuation
[7.2.1] Use the underscore (low line) for blanks to be filled in.
.-
underscore
[7.6] There are several different kinds of quotation marks.
Usually, those listed below will suffice. Note the reversal of
cells in the closing single quotation mark from EBAE.
8 opening one-cell (nonspecific) quotation mark
0 closing one-cell (nonspecific) quotation mark
,8 opening single quotation mark
,0 closing single quotation mark
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 7-13
[UEB Rule Book § 7]
27
2. Punctuation
 This is the root for grouping signs. < >
 Add prefixes to form different Grouping Signs:
"<
.<
`<
_<
">
.>
`>
_>
Parentheses ( )
Square brackets [ ]
Angle brackets < >
Curly brackets { }
 Full list is shown at beginning of Section 7 in UEB
Rulebook.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 7-13
[UEB Rule Book § 7]
28
Practice
Exercise 2
1. (Note)
2. [Note]
3. {Note}
4. This ... or that?
5. Absolutely - if things go well - I can do this.
6. Ah– maybe I can go.
7. She was born in ____ Indiana.
8. “Don’t say ‘I can’t’ all the time!”
9. Tom said, “Repeat after me, ‘I will try’.”
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3. Contractions
Contractions discontinued
6
to
#
ble
,n ation
1/13/2015
96 into
- com
,y ally
ABCs pg. 15-29
0
by
4 dd
o'c
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
o'clock
30
3. Contractions
Generally, contractions are used more frequently in UEB than
EBAE. More relaxed view of usage with:
 permissible to use across a prefix or suffix with a base word:
professor pr(essor
 permissible to use when the pronunciation is altered
sword s^w
 permissible to use with ligatures
Phœnix ,Pho5ix
 permissible to use with dipthongs
aerial a]ial
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ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
31
3. Contractions
Alphabetic Wordsigns: but, can, do …
[10.1.1] Use the alphabetic wordsign when the word it represents is
"standing alone". This includes the musical notes "do" and "so".
[10.1.3] Do not use the alphabetic wordsign when the letters are
pronounced separately in an acronym or abbreviation.
[United States]
US ,,us
IT ,,it
[Information Technology]
[10.1.4] Do not use in a word shown in syllables.
but-ton but-ton
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ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
32
3. Contractions
Standing Alone Rule:
[2.6.1] A letter or letters-sequence is considered to be
"standing alone" if it is preceded and followed by a space, a
hyphen or a dash.
[2.6.2-2.6.3] Common punctuation and indicator symbols
before or after the letter or letters-sequence do not affect this
rule.
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ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
33
3. Contractions
Standing Alone Rule is not affected by:
 parenthesis, square bracket or brace
 quotation mark
 apostrophe
 typeform indicator or terminator
 capitals indicator or terminator
 transcriber's note indicator
 punctuation: comma, semicolon, colon, period, ellipsis,
exclamation point or question mark
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
34
3. Contractions
Strong Wordsigns: Words no longer joined.
[1.3.1] "and," "for," "of," "the," "with," "a" are not brailled
together
,& ) a big smile1 %e walk$ away4
[10.3] Used as Strong Contractions: they may bridge prefix
and base word.
profane pr(ane
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
35
Practice
Exercise 3
1. with the flick of the switch
2. can-like [a hyphenated compound word]
3. can-dle [a word divided into syllables]
4. can't
5. He went to the train station.
6. Sally is not able to help.
7. Go into the room by the company office.
8. Daddy comes home at 8 o'clock.
9. Go to the IT room for help.
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36
3. Contractions
Strong Wordsigns
* child
% shall
? this
: which
| out
/ still
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
37
3. Contractions
Strong Groupsigns
*
%
?
:
\
/
1/13/2015
ch
sh
th
wh
ou
st
>
$
]
<
[
+
ar
ed
er
gh
ow
ing
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
38
3. Contractions
[10.4.1] Use the strong groupsign wherever the letters it
represents occur unless other rules limit its use.
aerial a]ial
boredom bor$om
malediction mal$ic;n
mistake mi/ake
derailed d}ail$
erase ]ase
freedom fre$om
lingerie l+]ie
meningitis m5+itis
nightingale ni<t+ale
predated pr$at$
redistribute r$i/ribute
reroute r]\te
trebled trebl$
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
39
3. Contractions
[10.11.2] Do not use the strong groupsigns for "ch", "gh", "sh",
"th", or "wh" or the strong contraction for "the" when the "h"
is aspirated.
knighthood kni<thood
mishandle mish&le
mishap mishap
mishear mishe>
Newhaven ,newhav5
shanghaied %anghai$
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
40
3. Contractions
[10.11.1] Do not use a groupsign which would bridge the words
which make up an unhyphenated compound word.
 carthorse c>thorse
 grasshopper grasshopp]
northeast nor?1/
painstaking pa9stak+
 insofar 9sof>
rawhide rawhide
 kettledrum kettledrum
storeroom
 longhand l;gh&
sweetheart
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
/oreroom
sweethe>t
41
Practice
Exercise 4
1. freedom for all the people
2. redirect the other child
3. Professor Vandyke is on St. Thomas.
4. Mr. King lives on southeast 14th St.
5. She looked at the microfilm.
6. A foghorn and a firedrill are very loud.
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42
3. Contractions
Lower Wordsigns
Eliminated contractions:
to, into, by
He ran into the house to get a bag by the table.
,He ran 9to ! h\se to get a bag by ! table4
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
43
3. Contractions
Lower Wordsigns
be, were, his, was
[10.5.1] Use when standing alone.
 Do not use when in contact with any punctuation that has
only lower dots, including the hyphen or dash.
 Do not use when in contact with any quotation mark.
 Capital indicators do not affect this rule.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
44
3. Contractions
Lower Wordsigns: enough, in
 These contractions can be in contact with punctuation as
long as sequence is in contract with an upper dot.
mother-in-law "m-9-law
"In any case" 8,in any case0
Lower Groupsigns: en, in
 Used more frequently, but not if they bridge the two words
of a compound word.
toenail
1/13/2015
toenail
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
45
3. Contractions
Lower Groupsigns: be, con, dis
[10.6.1, 10.10.4, 10.11.3] Use when they represent the first
syllable of a word.
[10.6.2] Must be followed by a letter, a contraction, a
modified (accented) letter or a ligatured letter.
Note: The beginning of a word is defined as the letterssequence which follows a space, hyphen or dash and which
may be preceded by punctuation and indicator symbols.
shut-in
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
%ut-9
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
46
3. Contractions
Lower Groupsigns: be, con, dis
[10.6.3] Do not use "be", "con", or "dis", when followed by a
capitals indicator or terminator.
DisCORD ,dis,,cord
DISlike ,,dis,'like
[10.6.4] Use "be", "con" or "dis" in an abbreviation when it is
used in the unabbreviated form of the word and when it is
followed by at least one other letter.
Conn. ,3n4 [Connecticut] cont 3t [continued]
dist. 4t4 [district]
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
47
3. Contractions
Lower Groupsigns: ea, bb, cc, ff, gg
[10.6.5] Use the lower groupsign for "ea", "bb", "cc", "ff", or
"gg" when preceded and followed by a letter, a contraction, a
modified letter or a ligatured letter unless other rules limit its
use.
 Most changes occur with ea, (cannot bridge a prefix or
suffix) or because other contractions have been eliminated.
limeade limeade
really r1lly
 Note: These signs may also represent punctuation signs.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
48
3. Contractions
Lower Groupsigns: ea, bb, cc, ff, gg
Use
Do not use
agreeable agre1ble
preamble preamble
doggone do7"o
hideaway hideaway
northeast nor?1/
pineapple p9eapple
peaceable p1c1ble
speakeasy sp1k1sy
teacup t1cup
subbasement subbase;t
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
49
Practice
Exercise 5
1. by the light of the moon
2. Be very quiet as you go in.
3. I want to enjoy the linen.
4. We will deconstruct the concert hall.
5. Near the office was a big bubble.
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50
3. Contractions
Initial-letter contractions:
[10.7.1] Use as a wordsign and wherever the letters it
represents occurs; except for the specific provisions given
below; and unless other rules limit its use. (original sound is
no longer emphasis)
Use:
Do not use:
sword s^w
father-in-law "f-9-law
parterre "p]re
wherever :]"e
Dayan ,dayan
chemotherapy *emo!rapy
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
51
3. Contractions
Final-letter contractions:
[10.8.1] Use when it follows a letter, a contraction, a modified
letter or a ligatured letter unless other rules limit its use.
mongoose m;goose
rationally ra;nally
incongruous 9c;gru\s
[10.8.2] Do not use when they follow a capitals indicator or
terminator.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
52
3. Contractions
Shortform Words
[10.9.1] Use whenever the word is "standing alone", regardless
of meaning, pronunciation, proper name, or invented words.
[10.9.2] Use within a longer word provided that the longer
word is “standing alone” and that the longer word:
(a) appears in the UEB Shortform List /Appendix 1 or
(b) satisfies rule 10.9.3.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10 and Appendix 1]
53
3. Contractions
Shortform Words
*The UEB Shortform List (Appendix 1 in The Rules of Unified
English Braille) is a definitive list of Shortforms.
[10.9.3] There are ten shortforms with special rules.
blind braille children first friend
good great letter
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
little quick
[UEB Rule Book § 10 and Appendix 1]
54
3. Contractions
Shortform Words
[10.9.3] Use any of the ten shortforms within a longer word
that is not on the Shortforms List, provided the word is
“standing alone” and that any restrictions are met.
(a) “braille” or “great”: Use whenever it occurs.
(b) “children”: Use if it is not followed by a vowel or “y”.
(c) “blind, “first”, “friend”, “good”, “letter”, “little”, or “quick”:
Use if it begins the word and is not followed by a vowel or “y”.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10 and Appendix 1]
55
Practice
Exercise 6
1. uneasy
2. fever
3. Their names are Mr. and Mrs. Goodman
4. Do you know my mother-in-law?
5. Does your greatgrandmother live here?
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56
4. Font Attributes
Typeforms: Italics, bold, underlining, and script
 Print typeforms can often be ignored. Determine if print
emphasis is significant.
 Refer to page 91 of The Rules of Unified English Braille for
expanded list of typeforms.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 31-34
[UEB Rule Book § 9]
57
4. Font Attributes
Typeforms: Italics, bold, underlining, and script
 Small capitals are the same height as lowercase letters. If
use is significant, use a transcriber-defined typeform
indicator. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SMALL CAPS.
 Typeform symbol indicators affect only the letter or symbol
immediately following it. No termination indicator needed.
 Remember: A passage is considered 3 words or more.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 31-34
[UEB Rule Book § 9]
58
Practice
Exercise 7
1. Be careful!
2. Be careful!
3. Be careful!
4. Be careful!
5. You be careful!
6. You be careful!
7. You be careful!
8. You be careful!
9. Be careful
10. Be careful
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59
5. Grade 1 Mode
Grade 1 Symbol Indicator
 The UEB Grade 1 Symbol Indicator is the same symbol, ;
dots 56, as the EBAE letter indicator.
 Some indicators apply only to the symbol next to it. Others
establish “modes” that extend over several symbols or
multiple words.
 A number indicator assigns a number meaning to following
symbols. The sequence is said to be in the “numeric mode”.
 A fully capitalized word is in the “capitals mode”
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 35-39
[UEB Rule Book § 5]
60
5. Grade 1 Mode

Grade 1 mode tells the reader that what follows is not to be
read as contractions. Grade 1 mode occurs within
contracted braille.

Grade 1 braille is uncontracted braille.

Grade 2 braille is contracted braille.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 35-39
[UEB Rule Book § 5]
61
5. Grade 1 Mode

There have always been modes: b can mean "b" or "but"
or "2" depending on the presence of indicators.
;
#
"3
$
\
1/13/2015
Grade 1 mode
Numeric mode
Line mode
Shape mode
Arrow mode
ABCs pg. 35-39
[UEB Rule Book § 5]
62
5. Grade 1 Mode
[5.1.1] A grade 1 indicator is used when a symbol could be
misread as a contraction or a number.
[5.6.1-5.6.2] Grade 1 mode is also set by the numeric
indicator. When set this way, it is terminated by a space,
hyphen, dash or grade 1 terminator.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 35-39
[UEB Rule Book § 5]
63
5. Grade 1 Mode
;
grade 1 symbol indicator
;;
grade 1 word indicator
;;; grade 1 passage indicator
;'
1/13/2015
grade 1 terminator
ABCs pg. 35-39
[UEB Rule Book § 5]
64
5. Grade 1 Mode
[5.2.1] The grade 1 symbol indicator sets grade 1 mode for the
next symbol. It is not required before the letters a, i and o.
Think: Can it be misread for a contraction?
 the vowels are: a, e, i, o and u
! v[els >e3 a1 ;e1 i1 o & ;u
 J. S. Bach ;,j4 ;,s4 ,ba*
 adagio e cantabile adagio ;e cantabile
 Add either ? or ! to each sentence.
,add ei ;8 or 6 to ea* s5t;e4
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 35-39
[UEB Rule Book § 5]
65
5. Grade 1 Mode
Standing Alone









x ;x it x which : was 0 al ;al also al
e-x-u-d-e ;;e-x-u-d-e
out-and-out \-&-\
I like x–it works. ,i l ;x,-x "ws4
his child–this one 8 *,-? "o
th--r th--;r
Mme. M— ,mme4 ;,m",(q, r) "<;q1 ;r">
[quite, rather] .<q1 r.>
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 15-29
[UEB Rule Book § 10]
66
6. Numbers/Non-Technical
[6.1] Numeric indicators:
#a #b #c #d #e #f #g #h #i #j #1 #4
[6.1.1] Numeric indicators set numeric mode for the
remainder of the symbols-sequence.
[6.5.1] A numeric indicator also sets grade 1 mode. Grade 1
mode set by a numeric indicator is terminated by a space,
hyphen, dash or grade 1 terminator.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 41-44
[UEB Rule Book § 6]
67
6. Numbers/Non-Technical
[6.2.1] The following symbols do not terminate numeric
mode:






the ten digits
full stop (period, decimal point)
comma
simple numeric fraction line
numeric space-digit symbols (10)
line continuation indicators (2)
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 41-44
[UEB Rule Book § 6]
68
6. Numbers/Non-Technical
[6.3.1] Anything else terminates numeric mode.
7:30 a.m. #g3#cj a4m4
9-10 #i-#aj
8-cab fleet #h-cab fleet
1/4 cup #a_/#d cup
on call 24/7 on call #bd_/#g
7(2) #g"<#b">
7(b) #g"<b">
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 41-44
[UEB Rule Book § 6]
69
6. Numbers/Non-Technical
[6.5.2] A grade 1 indicator is not required unless a lowercase
letter a–j follows a digit, period or comma.
32 #cb
4.2 #d4b
3b #c;b
4.b #d4;b
3B #c,b
4.B #d4,b
3m #cm
4.m #d4m
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 41-44
[UEB Rule Book § 6]
70
6. Numbers/Non-Technical
6.5.3 While grade 1 mode is in effect, contractions may not
follow a number.
1st #ast
4th #dth
houses4lease h\ses#dlease
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 41-44
[UEB Rule Book § 6]
71
6. Numbers/Non-Technical
6.10.3 When dividing long numbers, use the one-cell line
continuation indicator " at the end of the line.
6.10.5 A numeric indicator is not required in the next line.
100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
#ajj1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj1"
jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 41-44
[UEB Rule Book § 6]
72
6. Numbers/Non-Technical
6.10.4 When the division takes place at a numeric space, use
the two-cell line continuation indicator "" at the end of the
line.
100 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000
#ajj"jjj"jjj"jjj"jjj"jjj"jjj""
jjj"jjj"jjj"jjj
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 41-44
[UEB Rule Book § 6]
73
6. Numbers/Non-Technical
Signs of Operation
plus
+ "6
multiply
x "8
minus
equals
- "= "7
divide
÷ "/
5+5–1 = 9
#e"6#e"-#a "7 #i
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 41-44
[UEB Rule Book § 6]
74
6. Numbers/Non-Technical
6.8.1 The spaced numeric indicator allows alignment of
digits.
$ 4.50
10.00
.50
@s# d4ej
-----$15.00
"3333333
1/13/2015
#aj4jj
#
4ej
@s#ae4jj
75
6. Numbers/Non-Technical
Code Switching
 Specific guidelines for Code Switching are provided in
Section 14 of The Rules of Unified English Braille.
 Begin and End Nemeth Code indicators already exists
in the Nemeth Code.
_% begin Nemeth Code indicator followed by a space
_: Nemeth Code terminator preceded by a space
1/13/2015
[UEB Rule Book § 14]
76
Practice
Exercise 8
1. Our spelling words have the vowels: a, o and u.
2. T S Elliot
3. T. S. Elliot
4. 36cm
5. 36m
6. Room 14b
7. Room 14k
8. Room 14E
1/13/2015
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7. Symbols & Abbreviations
 Refer to UEB Rule Book, Section 3, for an extended list of
general Symbols and Indicators.
 In UEB, a symbol is the same regardless of its meaning or
context. An asterisk is an asterisk, whether it is used as a
reference marker or indicates omitted matter.
 When attention is drawn to the dots in a braille symbol in a
transcriber's note or on the special symbol's page, in UEB
the dot numbers are not explained. Instead, a dot locator
symbol (.=) is placed immediately before the braille
symbol.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 45-47
[UEB Rule Book § 3 & 10; Technical Materials § 11]
78
7. Symbols & Abbreviations
 Transcriber Note Symbols are grouping signs.
 The root for grouping signs are: < >
`.< Opening TN indicator NOT followed by a space
`.> Closing TN indicator NOT preceded by a space
The bar graph is on page 62d.
`.<,! B> graph is on page #fb;d4`.>
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 45-47
[UEB Rule Book § 3 & 10; Technical Materials § 11]
79
7. Symbols & Abbreviations
Abbreviations and acronyms
 Preferably, letters within an abbreviation or acronym that
would make up a contraction are pronounced separately as
letters, do not use the contraction. In case of doubt, use the
contraction.
WHO ,,who [World Health Organization]
OED ,,oed [Oxford English Dictionary]
POW ,,pow [prisoner of war]
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 45-47
[UEB Rule Book § 3 & 10; Technical Materials § 11]
80
8. Electronic Addresses
In UEB:
 Web sites, file names, URLs, e-mails: Not necessary to
switch into a special code.
 All dots-- period, decimal point, an ellipsis, computer dot--
are represented by 4.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 49
[UEB Rule Book § 10.12.3; Technical Materials § 17]
81
9. Accented Letters
 UEB gives each diacritic mark a distinct dot configuration
and refers to them as modifiers.
blessèd
señor
café (Fr.)
caffè (It.)
b.s^*ed
se^}nor
caf^/e
ca6^*e
 Use these modifiers for foreign language words and phrases
in English context for leisure reading, in English words or
in anglicized words and phrases.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 51-55
[UEB Rule Book § 4.2]
82
9. Foreign Words
 Where a significant knowledge of a foreign language is
presupposed or is being taught, use signs from the
indigenous foreign language braille code.
1/13/2015
ABCs pg. 51-55
[UEB Rule Book § 13.2]
83
Practice
Exercise 9
1. B & O Railroad
2. http://www.aph.org
Braille the following symbols:
3. Transcriber Note symbols, opening and closing
4. Dot locator for “mention”
5. %
6. $
1/13/2015
84
UEB Trainings
 The PASS Project, Blumberg Center, Indiana State
University will be conducting the UEB Ready? Training
Series for professionals working with students who are
blind or have low vision. The training series includes:
 UEB Ready? Introduction to Unified English Braille (Fall 2014)
 UEB Ready? ListServ (Fall 2014)
 UEB Ready? A Supported Independent Study (Spring 2015)
 UEB Ready? Teaching the Transition (2015)
 UEB Ready? Teaching the Technology (2015)
 UEB Ready? Teaching the Software – Duxbury Braille Translator
(2015)
UEB Tutorials and Resources
 Braille Authority of North America (BANA)
http://www.brailleauthority.org/ueb.html
 Scalar’s Publishing
Ashcroft’s Programmed Instruction: Unified English Braille
ISBN 978-0-9960353-0-9 $98.50
Ashcroft’s Programmed Instruction Companion Reader: Unified
English Braille ISBN 978-0-9960353-2-3 $38.50
 Hadley School for the Blind UEB Transition Course: (Available from
Hadley for $99.00 in 2015). CEU’s not yet determined. A certificate is
awarded for successful completion of the course which notes the CEUs,
grade, date completed. It is not based on a semester enrollment, but is
an open enrollment. http://www.hadley.edu/
1/13/2015
88
UEB Tutorials and Resources
 New Zealand UEB Manual
http://www.brailleauthority.org/ueb/NZ%20UEB%20Manual%202011.pdf
 Unified English Braille: Australian Training Manual 2013
http://brailleaustralia.org/unified-english-braille/unified-english-brailleaustralian-training-manual-2013/
 UEB Online, Braille Training for Sighted Learners - a training program
created by the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children’s Renwick
Centre, Australia. Appropriate for teachers, paraprofessionals, and
other professionals. http://uebonline.org/
 Transcriber’s UEB Course (CNIB) - a self-directed course, covering
eleven topics with fifteen practice exercises, for transcribers,
proofreaders and BLV/TVI’s
http://www.cnib.ca/en/living/braille/Pages/Transcribers-UEB-Course.aspx
1/13/2015
89
UEB Rules and Guidelines
 The ABCs of UEB: A Guide for the Transition from English Braille
American Edition (EBAE) to The Rules of Unified English Braille
(UEB). http://www.brailleauthority.org/ueb.html
 The Rules of Unified English Braille (the Rulebook). Available as a print
pdf file or as a braille filed from the International Council on English
Braille (ICEB) website www.iceb.org/ueb.html
 UEB Braille Symbols and Indicators List
http://www.brailleauthority.org/ueb/symbols_list.pdf
 UEB Guidelines for Technical Materials
http://www.brailleauthority.org/ueb/Guidelines_for_Technical_Material_2008
-10.pdf
1/13/2015
90
Contact Information
 Leslie Durst
 Email: [email protected]
 Marcee Wilburn
 Email: [email protected]
 Betsy Scott
 Email: [email protected]
1/13/2015
91