General Information
Braille Authority of North America
c/o National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore,
MD 21230
(612) 767 5658
kim.charlson@perkins.org
http://www.brailleauthority.org
Brief Description
The mission of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) is to assure literacy for tactile readers through standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics. BANA's purpose is to promote and to facilitate the use, teaching, and production of braille. It publishes rules, interprets and renders opinions pertaining to braille in all existing and future codes. It deals with codes now in existence or to be developed in the future, in collaboration with other countries using English braille. In exercising its function and authority, BANA considers the effects of its decisions on other existing braille codes and formats; the ease of production by various methods; and acceptability to readers.
Services Offered
- Braille and Reading Instruction
- Promotes braille literacy by encouraging standardization and organizing various committees of experts to address technical issues concerning braille.
- Consultation/Technical Program Assistance
- Develops and publishes books of braille codes and guidelines for free online. Most publications available for purchase in hard copy print and braille from the American Printing House for the Blind (available under federal quota funds). Promotes braille literacy by encouraging standardization and organizing various committees of experts to address technical issues concerning braille.