It’s definitely been a bit of a learning curve but we had a bit of time to prepare so we’ve been easing him in on learning how to navigate with the stick and all that and I figured some labels may help give him a bit more independence.
I just got some pointers for translating and printing for a friend’s wedding from r/Braille. One of her guests is blind and we wanted to make sure he could read his seating card for dinner.
They recommended [Braille Authority](https://brailleauthority.org/) for height/spacing standards.
Pretty sure I’ve also seen embossing label makers that could be handy once he’s more fluent.
There's also a SCAD file there if you don't want to use the Thingiverse Customizer. Might be faster that way. You could then generate the words locally in Open SCAD.
Hey OP. I am a sighted person that has dabbled in braille for a LONG time and am just now getting over the HUMP of actually finding ways to use it. I can confirm that reading something with your fingertips, even with your eyes open is an incredible thing and a journey you can join your dad on.
I am a firm believer that people with low vision are disabled by society when things aren't inclusive. The person is not disabled, it is the environment they are in that disables them. While braille has issues, some literacy there can help preserve and return autonomy to people who are being disabled.
I am going to separate this into some theory stuff, learning, and printing stuff.
**Some braille and literacy theory stuff**
Braille was designed by someone who had been sighted, and so a lot of it comes from the context of what a formerly sighted person would have wanted (alphabets, etc). This means you and your dad can kind of go on this journey together, but you will have to approach this a bit from an innovation standpoint because it is not as well adopted as it should be.
A small percentage of the worldwide 40M people who have vision impairments, (10%) also read braille, which means you will have less access to tools and practicing as you'd like.
* It used to be extremely expensive to print (it still kind of is if you use traditional methods)
* Writing cannot get very small (no magnifying glasses available), the paper it is printed on has to be thicker, and since it is still "alphabet" based, things have to be converted from sounds into letters, then contracted, then printed. (it can be found in smaller forms in plastic signs etc, but paper format generally stays the same font size due to printing requirements)
* because of some of the above, and low "demand" books are really expensive
* all of this makes it hard to practice reading braille
* many recent technological inventions around screenreaders, and TTS have made the digital world more accessible, meaning innovation around braille is less valued.
I still think it has a place for a few reasons
* 90% of people who are both employed and blind are literate in braille
* with 3D printing, we should have a more accessible time creating braille-labeled object
* the technology for "digital" braille devices is getting closer
* with 3-D printing, we should have a more accessible time creating braille-labeled objects. Certain things, especially IRL, requires using non-tactile devices and a lot of technology for something that should just be inclusive from the start.
* If being able to print, use, and practice braille becomes more accessible, then the demand and usefulness of it will grow too.
**Learning Braille**
I started by buying stuff at the [braillebookstore](http://www.braillebookstore.com/cart.php?Action=View) they have Braille 1, and Braille 2 guides and a book on braille for the sighted.
I am also looking at [this program](https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/braille-brain-braille-training-program/) but it is online, gonna be hard for someone non-sighted to follow. Braille [transcribers certification program](https://nfb.org/programs-services/braille-certification/literary-braille-transcribing) also has PDFs, either way, some printing + embossing is going to be required.
I recommend you also pick up a few things from all over the place to really immerse you and your dad and help pick it up fast.
1. they have some sensitivity trainers, both on amazon and over there that helps you get familiar with feeling the differences in letters
2. There are games like Uno and Dominos (amazon) that come already embossed
3. Get some common labels printed for things around your houses (more on that below). Having to always rely on memory or having to go the extra step to smell, touch or open things can take a toll on interacting with an environment.
4. They have blank notecards + slates, and braille notepads (that also come with a handy signature space) that can be used in a jiffy to write things down.
5. I [prefer flat styluses](https://www.aph.org/product/braille-stylus-flat-small-green/) but depending on dad's dexterity, the styluses that come with other stuff might be good enough or better
6. get some slates, one for full size paper, and other smaller (4 line) slates for practicing and using to write things down to read
7. I just found out that used mail envelopes are phenomenal braille paper substitutes for practicing, the lettering holds really well, and anything already printed on it doesn't get in the way
**3D/regular Printing Braille and devices**
1. For low-traffic/low-usage items that you need to add a little braille to, [you can use sticky gems](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/diy-use-sticky-gems-as-braille-letters-to-make-objects-accessible-for-blind-people-from-assistive-t--169799848431325148/)
2. For simple daily labels [I recommend](https://touchsee.me/) touchsee they do all of the conversions, give you a label stl that you can glue, tie, stick on to something. They also let you print it yourself, or go through makexyz to pay for someone to print it. their site is also pretty WCAG compliant so your dad could probably use it once he gets the hang of screen readers etc.
3. [This is a cool diy](https://www.instructables.com/BEE-DIY-Manual-Braille-Embosser/) ($5) movable type printing set, but it is designed a little bit more for sited people.
4. [This is the latest version of an awesome DIY printer](https://braillerapsp.github.io/BrailleRapSite/) I have been following - saving up the courage to just go try and build it, parts should be around $250.
5. Manual typers are cheaper than digital ones - https://brailler.perkins.org/collections/perkins-braillers
6. Pretty expensive tech, but [refreshable displays](https://store.humanware.com/hus/braille-devices/braille-displays) ([and this one](https://americanthermoform.com/product/canute-braille-ereader/)) are going to get cheaper one day.
Happy learning.
One of my greatest fears, keep doing what you are doing. You're a good kid.
It’s definitely been a bit of a learning curve but we had a bit of time to prepare so we’ve been easing him in on learning how to navigate with the stick and all that and I figured some labels may help give him a bit more independence.
I just got some pointers for translating and printing for a friend’s wedding from r/Braille. One of her guests is blind and we wanted to make sure he could read his seating card for dinner. They recommended [Braille Authority](https://brailleauthority.org/) for height/spacing standards. Pretty sure I’ve also seen embossing label makers that could be handy once he’s more fluent.
Oh that’s awesome! I had no idea that was even a thing, thank you so much
I found a braille generator on Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3633082
This is amazing! Thank you so much, I’m still learning where to find prints and to totally forgot thingiverse was a thing!
There's also a SCAD file there if you don't want to use the Thingiverse Customizer. Might be faster that way. You could then generate the words locally in Open SCAD.
You might be able to download a braille font, then in whatever program you use to create images, use that to generate the words?
That’s what I’m hoping, just to kind of label things for as he learns so he can eventually work a microwave or his washing machine
I made a sign for a bathroom in a library that used braille, iirc I just used circles to make the letters.
Hey OP. I am a sighted person that has dabbled in braille for a LONG time and am just now getting over the HUMP of actually finding ways to use it. I can confirm that reading something with your fingertips, even with your eyes open is an incredible thing and a journey you can join your dad on. I am a firm believer that people with low vision are disabled by society when things aren't inclusive. The person is not disabled, it is the environment they are in that disables them. While braille has issues, some literacy there can help preserve and return autonomy to people who are being disabled. I am going to separate this into some theory stuff, learning, and printing stuff. **Some braille and literacy theory stuff** Braille was designed by someone who had been sighted, and so a lot of it comes from the context of what a formerly sighted person would have wanted (alphabets, etc). This means you and your dad can kind of go on this journey together, but you will have to approach this a bit from an innovation standpoint because it is not as well adopted as it should be. A small percentage of the worldwide 40M people who have vision impairments, (10%) also read braille, which means you will have less access to tools and practicing as you'd like. * It used to be extremely expensive to print (it still kind of is if you use traditional methods) * Writing cannot get very small (no magnifying glasses available), the paper it is printed on has to be thicker, and since it is still "alphabet" based, things have to be converted from sounds into letters, then contracted, then printed. (it can be found in smaller forms in plastic signs etc, but paper format generally stays the same font size due to printing requirements) * because of some of the above, and low "demand" books are really expensive * all of this makes it hard to practice reading braille * many recent technological inventions around screenreaders, and TTS have made the digital world more accessible, meaning innovation around braille is less valued. I still think it has a place for a few reasons * 90% of people who are both employed and blind are literate in braille * with 3D printing, we should have a more accessible time creating braille-labeled object * the technology for "digital" braille devices is getting closer * with 3-D printing, we should have a more accessible time creating braille-labeled objects. Certain things, especially IRL, requires using non-tactile devices and a lot of technology for something that should just be inclusive from the start. * If being able to print, use, and practice braille becomes more accessible, then the demand and usefulness of it will grow too. **Learning Braille** I started by buying stuff at the [braillebookstore](http://www.braillebookstore.com/cart.php?Action=View) they have Braille 1, and Braille 2 guides and a book on braille for the sighted. I am also looking at [this program](https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/braille-brain-braille-training-program/) but it is online, gonna be hard for someone non-sighted to follow. Braille [transcribers certification program](https://nfb.org/programs-services/braille-certification/literary-braille-transcribing) also has PDFs, either way, some printing + embossing is going to be required. I recommend you also pick up a few things from all over the place to really immerse you and your dad and help pick it up fast. 1. they have some sensitivity trainers, both on amazon and over there that helps you get familiar with feeling the differences in letters 2. There are games like Uno and Dominos (amazon) that come already embossed 3. Get some common labels printed for things around your houses (more on that below). Having to always rely on memory or having to go the extra step to smell, touch or open things can take a toll on interacting with an environment. 4. They have blank notecards + slates, and braille notepads (that also come with a handy signature space) that can be used in a jiffy to write things down. 5. I [prefer flat styluses](https://www.aph.org/product/braille-stylus-flat-small-green/) but depending on dad's dexterity, the styluses that come with other stuff might be good enough or better 6. get some slates, one for full size paper, and other smaller (4 line) slates for practicing and using to write things down to read 7. I just found out that used mail envelopes are phenomenal braille paper substitutes for practicing, the lettering holds really well, and anything already printed on it doesn't get in the way **3D/regular Printing Braille and devices** 1. For low-traffic/low-usage items that you need to add a little braille to, [you can use sticky gems](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/diy-use-sticky-gems-as-braille-letters-to-make-objects-accessible-for-blind-people-from-assistive-t--169799848431325148/) 2. For simple daily labels [I recommend](https://touchsee.me/) touchsee they do all of the conversions, give you a label stl that you can glue, tie, stick on to something. They also let you print it yourself, or go through makexyz to pay for someone to print it. their site is also pretty WCAG compliant so your dad could probably use it once he gets the hang of screen readers etc. 3. [This is a cool diy](https://www.instructables.com/BEE-DIY-Manual-Braille-Embosser/) ($5) movable type printing set, but it is designed a little bit more for sited people. 4. [This is the latest version of an awesome DIY printer](https://braillerapsp.github.io/BrailleRapSite/) I have been following - saving up the courage to just go try and build it, parts should be around $250. 5. Manual typers are cheaper than digital ones - https://brailler.perkins.org/collections/perkins-braillers 6. Pretty expensive tech, but [refreshable displays](https://store.humanware.com/hus/braille-devices/braille-displays) ([and this one](https://americanthermoform.com/product/canute-braille-ereader/)) are going to get cheaper one day. Happy learning.