Since its adoption in this country in 1932, braille has done its best to keep up with the times and has shifted and been modified and amplified to accommodate the growing emphasis on math and science in our culture. Also, braille has been severely challenged in keeping up with the changing world of print representation. Conveying such representation to a blind user is challenging but critical if the blind person is to compete effectively alongside their sighted peers.

Over time, these changes have led to a system of braille that is not unified in that certain disciplines use the same braille symbol to represent a unique meaning within that discipline. Learning and unlearning such symbols places a significant burden on braille readers and this burden is largely unnecessary were braille to be revised to accommodate these developments.

Since 1993, the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) has engaged in an effort to unify all braille codes. Unfortunately, this effort has fallen far short of what is necessary to accomplish the task. Dominated by political considerations and completely lacking in technical expertise in any of the STEM fields, BANA has only succeeded in bringing forward a code that meets the basic needs of the most general reader.

We know that for the blind student of today to compete in the real world, they must have a braille system that supports STEM materials and that helps them excel with these disciplines. BANA's proposed code adds as much as 50% mass to the braille symbols needed for the reading of STEM materials. This is too many dots and symbols and it is unnecessary and a significant detriment to learning.

As a compromise, BANA has proposed to adopt their new system but keep the old system, at least for a time, for the presentation of STEM material. This approach can neither be considered unified nor feasible to maintain in the long term. Further, this approach would put an even greater burden on students wishing to excel in STEM fields.

There is a better way! From the outset, BANA has refused to consider a method of braille unification that meets their own criteria far better than does the system they are now poised to adopt. It is well developed, takes the best of what is currently used, and is architected by one of the finest minds in the braille world of the United States today. BANA has steadfastly refused to give serious consideration to this system because it differs from their chosen approach.

A group of us has finally stood up and taken action in support of blind students of today and tomorrow. We believe in braille unification, but not at the price of the system BANA will almost certainly adopt this November. Please join us today in signing the petition of NO CONFIDENCE for BANA as long as they pursue their current collision course with history. Strength in STEM means the possibility of employment and the possibility of intellectual survival in the world of today and tomorrow for blind students and professionals. By signing this petition, you will help the blind achieve this end.