This stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is the markup language used to structure text and multimedia documents and to set up hypertext links between documents, used extensively on the World Wide Web. Some translation software can import and accurately interpret such formatting code for preparation of braille.

(1880-1968) Helen Keller was a world-renowned, deaf-blind woman. When she was a toddler, a childhood disease left her blind and deaf virtually overnight. Her personal and public accomplishments have been the subject of many books, films and much study by the blind community and others.

These animals are reared from shortly after weaning age to be extremely attentive to specific sounds (knocking on the door, doorbells, ringing phones, etc.). They are trained not only to notify the deaf individual of the presence of a noise, but to alert him to the source and direction as well.

A legal term used in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that is essentially synonymous with disability as described in the ADA.

See also Seeing Eye Dog, Dog Guide, Service Animal, and Assistance Animal. This is a specially trained dog that helps people who are blind as they walk about. The dog wears a specially designed harness with a handle shaped like an upside down “U”, allowing the user to grasp the harness comfortably while walking. These […]

Graphics may include any pictorial representation such as charts, graphs, line drawings, photos and maps. These can be produced in alternate formats with knowledge, preparation and the right equipment. The object is to reproduce enough of the relevant information in a way that a person with a vision impairment can understand the meaning of the […]

Previous name for the type of braille that uses abbreviations and contractions to save space. See contracted braille.

Previous name for the type of braille that is spelled out letter by letter. See Non-contracted braille.

Any of a group of eye diseases characterized by abnormally high intraocular fluid pressure, damaged optic disk, hardening of the eyeball, and partial to complete loss of vision. (The American Heritage(r) Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

There are not specific nationally-accepted rules for preparation of large print forms. However, those rules used for braille give excellent guidance. Specific rules govern the reformatting of print forms into braille. Layout of the braille form should follow the principals of the print document layout (basic order and arrangement) wherever possible. If familiarity with the […]