EXPLORE OUR LIBRARY
Our Library for the Visually Impaired includes Braille Books, Audio Books, Digital Books, Computers, and more!
GET INVOLVED WITH BRAILLE INSTITUTE
Braille Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to positively transform the lives of those with vision loss. Braille Institute serves more than 37,000 people through a variety of free programs, classes and services at centers and community outreach locations throughout Southern California – from Santa Barbara to San Diego counties!
The beginning of June means it’s almost time for Braille Challenge Finals! While we celebrate and encourage braille literacy in youth, we also want to highlight the importance of braille for all ages. The 2022 Braille Works article “Why is Braille Literacy So Critical?” states that 90% of employed people with blindness know braille. But according to the 2009 report “The Braille Literacy Crisis in America” by the National Federation of the Blind, less than 10% of legally blind American adults can read and write braille. Braille literacy is a key factor for success—and we want to remind you that it’s never too late to learn.
Stay tuned this month for more information on our upcoming braille workshops. Tell us in the comments—why is braille literacy is important to you?
Image Description: Two smiling children wearing glasses use braille notetakers. Behind them is a blue bulletin board with large white braille dots.
The beginning of June means it’s almost time for Braille Challenge Finals! While we celebrate and encourage braille literacy in youth, we also want to highlight the importance of braille for all ages. The 2022 Braille Works article “Why is Braille Literacy So Critical?” states that 90% of employed people with blindness know braille. But according to the 2009 report “The Braille Literacy Crisis in America” by the National Federation of the Blind, less than 10% of legally blind American adults can read and write braille. Braille literacy is a key factor for success—and we want to remind you that it’s never too late to learn.
Stay tuned this month for more information on our upcoming braille workshops. Tell us in the comments—why is braille literacy is important to you?
Image Description: Two smiling children wearing glasses use braille notetakers. Behind them is a blue bulletin board with large white braille dots.
Braille Institute founder J. Robert Atkinson spent his early life as a Montana cowboy. When he abruptly lost his sight in an accident, he couldn’t imagine a way forward at first. But this video isn’t from Atkinson’s early life on the Montana range—this carefree horseback riding comes after losing his vision. Not only did Atkinson get back in the saddle himself, he also taught other people with visual impairments how to ride horses.
Just as Bob Atkinson and his horse Sandy show us, vision rehabilitation is a beginning, not an end—because losing your vision doesn’t mean losing yourself.
Video Description: Video footage from the 1920s of Braille Institute founder Bob Atkinson mounting his horse, Sandy, and going horseback riding with his wife Alberta. He and Sandy gallop fast enough through the fields to kick up clouds of dust. At the end of the video, Atkinson smiles and hugs Alberta from the side while they are both still on horseback, then they ride off into the distance. An end card states, “No boundaries in sight. Then and now.” and then the Braille Institute logo appears on screen.
#NoBoundariesInSight #Blind #LowVision #Blindness #VisualImpairment
Braille Institute founder J. Robert Atkinson spent his early life as a Montana cowboy. When he abruptly lost his sight in an accident, he couldn’t imagine a way forward at first. But this video isn’t from Atkinson’s early life on the Montana range—this carefree horseback riding comes after losing his vision. Not only did Atkinson get back in the saddle himself, he also taught other people with visual impairments how to ride horses.
Just as Bob Atkinson and his horse Sandy show us, vision rehabilitation is a beginning, not an end—because losing your vision doesn’t mean losing yourself.
Video Description: Video footage from the 1920s of Braille Institute founder Bob Atkinson mounting his horse, Sandy, and going horseback riding with his wife Alberta. He and Sandy gallop fast enough through the fields to kick up clouds of dust. At the end of the video, Atkinson smiles and hugs Alberta from the side while they are both still on horseback, then they ride off into the distance. An end card states, “No boundaries in sight. Then and now.” and then the Braille Institute logo appears on screen.
#NoBoundariesInSight #Blind #LowVision #Blindness #VisualImpairment
Leave the stress of coffee spills behind. With the help of a liquid level indicator, you can pour with ease again. You can find this item in our Vistas Store along with other useful low vision aids.
Is there any device you want us to demonstrate next? Let us know in the comments!
#LowVision #VisionLoss #LowVisionAids
Leave the stress of coffee spills behind. With the help of a liquid level indicator, you can pour with ease again. You can find this item in our Vistas Store along with other useful low vision aids.
Is there any device you want us to demonstrate next? Let us know in the comments!
#LowVision #VisionLoss #LowVisionAids
We are proud to announce our 2023 Teacher of the Year: April Makley of Grand Rapids, Michigan! April Makley has been a Teacher Consultant of the Visually Impaired (TCVI) for more than twenty years, working with students across grade levels who have visual impairments. She teaches braille from infant preliteracy through college level classes, helping students develop key braille literacy skills for success. Thank you, April, for your dedication to your students and excellence in braille instruction. We’re looking forward to honoring you at Braille Challenge Finals in June!
Read our full press release on our website with the link in our bio.
@kent_isd
Image Description: Inside a classroom, April Makley kneels next to a student wearing dark glasses with a braille eReader in her lap. They are both giving big smiles to the camera.
#Braille #BrailleChallenge #BrailleLiteracy #BrailleReader
We are proud to announce our 2023 Teacher of the Year: April Makley of Grand Rapids, Michigan! April Makley has been a Teacher Consultant of the Visually Impaired (TCVI) for more than twenty years, working with students across grade levels who have visual impairments. She teaches braille from infant preliteracy through college level classes, helping students develop key braille literacy skills for success. Thank you, April, for your dedication to your students and excellence in braille instruction. We’re looking forward to honoring you at Braille Challenge Finals in June!
Read our full press release on our website with the link in our bio.
@kent_isd
Image Description: Inside a classroom, April Makley kneels next to a student wearing dark glasses with a braille eReader in her lap. They are both giving big smiles to the camera.
#Braille #BrailleChallenge #BrailleLiteracy #BrailleReader
What is neurological vision loss, and what are its common causes? Next week’s eye doctor workshop will cover all these questions and more. Join us on May 23 at 10.30am for an educational workshop with Dr. Laura Bonnelli, MD, of the UCLA Stein Eye Institute to learn more about neurological vision loss and the role of neuro-ophthalmology in vision care.
@uclahealth
#VisionLoss #LowVision #Neuroophthalmology #EyeHealth
Image Description: In the top left corner of the image is the Braille Institute logo. In the top right corner is an almond box with ink blue text in the center that reads "Workshop Highlight." Beneath that, in the center of the image, is heading text that says "Neuro-Ophthalmology & Vision Loss with Dr. Laura Bonnelli, MD, of UCLA Stein Eye Institute." In smaller text are the workshop details: "May 23 10.30am - 11.30am (Pacific Time) Microsoft Teams." Beneath the text is an almond button with ink blue text in the center that says "Register Today." At the bottom of the image is an illustration of Braille Institute’s services personified in cartoon form, with almond accents. It features a magnifier, plants, a snake curled around an open book, cacti, an open laptop with a person surfing on waves coming out of the screen, glasses, and more.
What is neurological vision loss, and what are its common causes? Next week’s eye doctor workshop will cover all these questions and more. Join us on May 23 at 10.30am for an educational workshop with Dr. Laura Bonnelli, MD, of the UCLA Stein Eye Institute to learn more about neurological vision loss and the role of neuro-ophthalmology in vision care.
@uclahealth
#VisionLoss #LowVision #Neuroophthalmology #EyeHealth
Image Description: In the top left corner of the image is the Braille Institute logo. In the top right corner is an almond box with ink blue text in the center that reads "Workshop Highlight." Beneath that, in the center of the image, is heading text that says "Neuro-Ophthalmology & Vision Loss with Dr. Laura Bonnelli, MD, of UCLA Stein Eye Institute." In smaller text are the workshop details: "May 23 10.30am - 11.30am (Pacific Time) Microsoft Teams." Beneath the text is an almond button with ink blue text in the center that says "Register Today." At the bottom of the image is an illustration of Braille Institute’s services personified in cartoon form, with almond accents. It features a magnifier, plants, a snake curled around an open book, cacti, an open laptop with a person surfing on waves coming out of the screen, glasses, and more.
Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day—a worldwide call to action for better digital accessibility for all people. When Robert J. Atkinson founded the Braille Institute in 1919, the digital world might have been a far off concept, but the mission to make the world more accessible wasn’t. Today and every day, we encourage you to make accessibility a priority—on social media, websites, and beyond—to create a world with no boundaries in sight.
Our Connection Pointe assistive technology center provides free resources, classes, and workshops to help people with visual impairments leverage the digital world. Find out more and get started today by calling 1-800-BRAILLE (272-4553).
While our centers are in Southern California, we offer free online workshops that anyone can join. Check out the list of our upcoming workshops by clicking the link in our bio.
Image Description: A Braille Institute student sits with an assistive technology instructor, holding a phone. They are both laughing together. At the bottom of the image is an ink blue banner with white text that says, "It`s Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Let`s create a world with no boundaries in sight." The words "no boundaries in sight" are underlined. The Braille Institute logo is in the top left corner.
Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day—a worldwide call to action for better digital accessibility for all people. When Robert J. Atkinson founded the Braille Institute in 1919, the digital world might have been a far off concept, but the mission to make the world more accessible wasn’t. Today and every day, we encourage you to make accessibility a priority—on social media, websites, and beyond—to create a world with no boundaries in sight.
Our Connection Pointe assistive technology center provides free resources, classes, and workshops to help people with visual impairments leverage the digital world. Find out more and get started today by calling 1-800-BRAILLE (272-4553).
While our centers are in Southern California, we offer free online workshops that anyone can join. Check out the list of our upcoming workshops by clicking the link in our bio.
Image Description: A Braille Institute student sits with an assistive technology instructor, holding a phone. They are both laughing together. At the bottom of the image is an ink blue banner with white text that says, "It`s Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Let`s create a world with no boundaries in sight." The words "no boundaries in sight" are underlined. The Braille Institute logo is in the top left corner.
OUR STORIES
Braille Institute is a community of individuals who are sighted, blind or have low vision. Every day throughout the country, we work together to empower people who live with vision loss.
These are our stories.
Los Angeles Times Features Braille Institute Library’s New Sensory Wall
The following is an excerpt from the Los Angeles Times
Remembering Dr. Bill Takeshita—A Guiding Light
Dr. Bill Takeshita, OD, FAAO, FCOVF passed away on Friday,
InsightsCare Magazine Profiles Braille Institue
Positively Transforming the Lives of Those with Vision Loss
Braille Institute Of America Names James P. Kales As Chief Executive Officer
Braille Institute announced today that the Organization’s Board of Directors has named James P. Kales as Chief Executive Officer. He will assume day-to-day leadership of the organization as CEO on December 12, 2022. Kales, a leader in the non-profit sector, brings more than 25 years of experience working for organizations such as United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
BRAILLE INSTITUTE LOCATIONS
We offer programs and services in-person, by phone and remotely online. Appointments and/or student registration are required to visit a center. Center libraries are open to walk-ins during business hours. Los Angeles Vistas Store is open to walk-ins during business hours.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Braille Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to positively transform the lives of those with vision loss. Braille Institute serves more than 37,000 people through a variety of free programs, classes and services at centers and community outreach locations throughout Southern California – from Santa Barbara to San Diego counties.
Braille Institute admits students and clients of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, age, religion and sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students and clients of Braille Institute. We do not discriminate against the foregoing in the administration of any of our policies or programs.