Introduction to

Unified English
Braille (UEB)
OBJECTIVES:
Atthe end of the session, the participants
should be able to:
 Identify the UEB Rules and Codes
 Differentiate the different dots in braille
 Discuss the principles in Unified English
Braille (UEB)
 PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY
YES or NO
1.Braille is a tactile method of reading and
writing for blind people developed by Louis
Braille.
2. Braille is used to represent one subject matter.
3. The dots in the left column are numbered 4, 5
and 6 from top to bottom and the dots in the
right column are numbered 1, 2 and 3 from top to
bottom.
4. The six dots of the braille cell are
configured in 46 possible combinations
(including space)
5. The purpose of UEB is to allow the
reader to understand without ambiguity
what symbols are being expressed by a
given braille text.
ANALYSIS
1. Are you open to changes on
Braille system for a more
convenient way of transcribing
print to braille and vice versa?
Why?
2. What will be the implications of
Unified English Braille to you?
Session Guide
A. DEFINITION OF BRAILLE
Braille is a tactile method of reading
and writing for blind people developed by
Louis Braille (1809–1852), a blind
Frenchman. The braille system uses six
raised dots in a systematic
arrangement with two columns of
three dots, known as a braille cell.
Session Guide
The dots in the left column are numbered
1, 2 and 3 from top to bottom and the dots
in the right column are numbered 4, 5 and
6 from top to bottom.
1 ●● 4

2 ●● 5

3 ●● 6
Session Guide
 The six dots of the braille cell are
configured in 64 possible combinations
(including the space which has no dots
present). The 63 braille characters with
dots are grouped in a table of seven lines.
This table is used to establish "braille
order" for listing braille signs.
Session Guide
Session Guide
MATERIALS USED IN BRAILLE WRITING
The slate and stylus are tools used to write braille
manually and can be compared to paper and pencil.
A slate is a metal or plastic guide that opens with
a hinge on one end and is available in many different
shapes and sizes.
The stylus is a small tool; only about 3 inches
long, with a metal pointer at one end and a wooden or
plastic knob/handle at the other end.
Session Guide
 READING vs WRITING
•A person writing Braille with the slate and
stylus begins at the right side of the paper
and ends the line on the left, since the dots
are being produced on the underside of the
paper.
•Of course, the Braille reader reads from left
to right, for the dots are then on the top
side of the paper. Session Guide
 THE ALPHABET AND
BRAILLE CHARACTER EQUIVALENTS
a= dot 1 n= dots 1, 3, 4, 5
b= dots 1 and 2 o= dots 1, 3, 5
c= dots 1 and 4 p= dots 1, 2, 3, 4
d= dots 1, 4, 5 q= dots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
e= dots 1 and 5 r= dots 1, 2, 3, 5
f= dots1,2, 4 s= dots 2, 3, 4
g= dots 1,2, 4, 5 t= dots 2, 3, 4, 5
h= dots 1, 2, 5 u= dots 1, 3, 6
i= dots 2 and 4 v= dots 1, 2, 3, 6
j= dots 2, 4, 5 w= dots 2, 4, 5, 6
k= dots 1 and 3 x= dots 1, 3, 4, 6
l= dots 1, 2, 3 y= dots 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
m= dots 1, 3, 4 z= dots 1, 3, 5, 6
Session Guide
Braille is used to represent all subject
matter, including literature, mathematics,
science and technology. Louis Braille
developed the system which is used
worldwide today for representing music.

Session Guide
Why is it Unified?
English Braille Code
Nemeth Code
US Computer Braille Code
UK Math and Science Code
UK Computer Braille Code
 TERMS TO REMEMBER
INDICATOR

 A braille sign that does not directly

represent a print symbol but indicates
how subsequent braille sign(s) are to
be interpreted
 Are previously known as composition
signs in pre-UEB code
 TERMS TO REMEMBER
SYMBOL INDICATOR

 Initiates a mode which extends over

the next symbol or character
 TERMS TO REMEMBER
MODE

 A condition initiated by an
indicator and describing the
effect of the indicator on
subsequent braille signs
 TERMS TO REMEMBER

WORD INDICATOR

 Initiates a mode which extends

over the next letters-sequence or
symbols-sequence
 TERMS TO REMEMBER

NESTING

 The practice of closing indicators in the

reverse order of opening
 Activity:

True or False

1. System of English Braille that represents

all subjects except math.

2. Allows the reader to understand

expressed symbols without ambiguity.
 Activity:
True or False

3. Word indicator - Initiates a mode

which extends over the next symbol or
character
4. Mode - A condition initiated by an
indicator and describing the effect of the
indicator on subsequent braille signs
 Activity:

True or False

5. Nesting - The practice of

closing indicators in the reverse
order of opening
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