Good braille formatting allows easy navigation. Whether print or braille you need to be able to easily find page numbers, chapters, headings, question numbers, answers, etc, etc. It is just as important to know how to format braille as knowing correct braille code. When I began transcribing in 1988, on the Perkins, I was taught a method of formatting which was based on the British system and assumed this was how everyone formatted. As I became involved with transcriber’s across Australia through the National Braille Music Camp and Round Table, I discovered that others formatted differently. Added to this was the development of computerised translation where an American style formatting was the default. The ABA developed a formatting guide in the 90s, but this quickly became outdated as its information was based on the original DOS version of DBT and it was very narrow in its scope. Slide 26 Finally, once UEB, its rules and training manuals were finalised, the ABA was able to spend the time developing a new document: The ABA Rules and Guidelines for formatting braille. This project took a couple of years to finalise and it was completed in May 2016. The main editor was Leona Holloway The working party consisted of: Christine Simpson, Josie Howse, Shirley Henderson and myself plus additional editorial assistance from Colleen Flood. The late Linda Triasmono was originally part of the team before her health precluded her involvement.
Good braille formatting allows easy navigation. Whether print or braille you need to be able to easily find page numbers, chapters, headings, question numbers, answers, etc, etc. It is just as important to know how to format braille as knowing correct braille code. When I began transcribing in 1988, on the Perkins, I was taught a method of formatting which was based on the British system and assumed this was how everyone formatted. As I became involved with transcriber’s across Australia through the National Braille Music Camp and Round Table, I discovered that others formatted differently. Added to this was the development of computerised translation where an American style formatting was the default. The ABA developed a formatting guide in the 90s, but this quickly became outdated as its information was based on the original DOS version of DBT and it was very narrow in its scope. Slide 26 Finally, once UEB, its rules and training manuals were finalised, the ABA was able to spend the time developing a new document: The ABA Rules and Guidelines for formatting braille. This project took a couple of years to finalise and it was completed in May 2016. The main editor was Leona Holloway The working party consisted of: Christine Simpson, Josie Howse, Shirley Henderson and myself plus additional editorial assistance from Colleen Flood. The late Linda Triasmono was originally part of the team before her health precluded her involvement.
ABA-presentation-to-SPEVI-2017.docx