It has been brought to our attention that BANA, the Braille Authority of North America, has been pushing forward with the adoption of a unified code for braille. Currently in the United States, there are several Braille modes or codes: literary code, math code (a.k.a. Nemeth Code) and computer code. While we believe that the adoption of a unified system makes sense and is appropriate, we also believe that the current option being considered by BANA, Uniform English Braille (UEB) is not the best unified code for the United States to adopt.

One of the foremost reasons for our reluctance to support UEB is that it does not work well or efficiently for simple or complex math equations. For literary braille and for ordinary day to day applications, UEB will be useful for many people. Unfortunately though, UEB will complicate and confuse simple math and science equations. One way this will happen is through the misalignment of cells that occurs with its use. Another is through the extra braille cells (and consequently, extra braille paper) necessary to complete math equations when compared to the current Nemeth Code. The Nemeth Code was implemented over 40 years ago by Dr. Abraham Nemeth, a blind mathematician, in order to solve the notation issues related to both science and higher math equations. This code continues to be used today and continues to be an effective means for teaching and learning mathematics.  If the adoption of UEB occurs, we will, in effect, recreate a problem that has already been solved: the need for a code that supports math equations. In adopting UEB, the necessity that is created for a second braille code undermines the notion of a unified system.

Mathematics is inherently difficult for many students. This inherent difficulty is compounded for students who have visual impairments because of the ambiguity that arises with the communication of the constants, variables and other symbols that present throughout equations. Students who have visual impairments are already underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). One reason for this underrepresentation may be due to the difficulty in learning mathematics. Non-ambiguous communication between teachers and students is necessary for effective learning. The Nemeth Code was developed as a result of the written difficulties that Dr. Nemeth experienced during his studies. He has also developed a set of rules to aid in the speaking of these mathematics equations non-ambiguously. These rules, which which were developed in conjunction with Dr. Nemeth, have been proven to be easy to learn and to reduce ambiguity in spoken mathematics. With having less than 5 minutes of training on MathSpeak rules for radicals, fractions, superscripts, and absolute values almost a 100% accuracy in the interpretation of spoken renderings of mathematics resulted (http://www.gh-mathspeak.com/). Both the written adoption and the spoken adoption of the Nemeth Code methods for the non-visual teaching and learning of mathematics, further reinforce the need for a comprehensive unified code to be adopted in the United States.

The misalignment problems and other notation issues, as well as the higher cell requirements present logistical nightmares while using UEB in lower and higher levels of math subjects. This will not only discourage Braille users from choosing career paths within STEM fields of study, but will also discourage mainstream teachers from wanting to devote the extra time and resources necessary to help their student who is blind to succeed in these fields. This would be a tragic loss to our society! We need problem solvers who are good at what they do to enter into the STEM fields. Mathematics and science equations already have lengthy requirements for completion in braille, and in regard to understanding mathematics, ease of communication is important. Any unnecessary cognitive load that results from the means of the communication itself can impede the processing and understanding of mathematical concepts. In other words, adding more symbols to mathematics equations, as UEB does, will reduce the cognitive resources available for equation processing. Fewer symbols and changes in the current code equates to less cognitive load and more mental capacity that can be devoted to understanding and learning mathematics. Why would we want to make mathematical equations even longer or any more cognitively intensive for students by adopting UEB?

In line with the notion that a unified code should be comprehensive, Dr. Nemeth created the Nemeth Uniform Braille System (NUBS). This system will be able to address literary braille and day to day applications of braille usage, as well as be able to meet the needs of simple and complex math and science equations. With the adoption and implementation of NUBS into our culture and into our school systems, many more symbols will remain the same (when compared to the amount of UEB proposed symbol changes), while also maintaining the integrity of having a unified system within the United States. For those of you who are concerned with the translation and reverse translation of the code, current transcribers have stated that NUBS is much easier and more efficient to translate and reverse translate when compared to UEB. In addition to manual translation procedures, a computer program already exists that allows for the translation of Nemeth Code including NUBS (http://www.c-a-s.com/).

Implementing changes to the current braille code to form one unified code will inevitably incur costs. BANA is currently assessing these costs, but the time to act is now! We encourage as many superintendents, teachers, TVIs, students, administrators and other end users of the current Nemeth Code and anyone else who sees value in a unified system that is indeed unified, to sign this petition that will be presented to BANA in April. We encourage you to support the adoption of NUBS as the official braille code within the United States.

A word from Dr. Abraham Nemeth:  http://www.nfbcal.org/s_e/list/0033.html
Since the posting of this letter in 1995, Dr. Nemeth has chosen to remain detached from the situation. He does wish for braille users and teachers who work with braille users to see the shortcomings of UEB, in reference to Mathematics.

To read the thoughts and opinions of a National Braille Association (NBA) certified Braille Transcriptionist in a rtf file format, please follow the link below.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze18serd/id3.html

To read more about NUBS and UEB, follow the links below.

NUBS Info
http://www.braille2000.com/brl2000/nubs.htm

BANA Document addressing both NUBS and UEB
PDF versions
http://www.brailleauthority.org/article/evolution_of_braille-part1.pdf
http://www.brailleauthority.org/article/evolution_of_braille-part2.pdf
http://www.brailleauthority.org/article/evolution_of_braille-part3.pdf

RTF version
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze18serd/id3.html

Please contact representatives today to also voice your opinion!

American Council of the Blind, The Braille Revival League,
2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201-3354

tel: 800-424-8666 or 202-467-5081
fax: 202-467-5085

info@acb.org
www.acb.org

National Federation of the Blind, National Association for the Promotion of the Use of Braille, BANA Representative Jennifer Dunnam jennifer.dunnam1829@gmail.com

200 East Wells Street
Baltimore, MD 21230

tel: 410-659-9314
Fax: 410-685-5653
​pmaurer@nfb.org​
www.nfb.org

BANA Contact:  Judy Dixon
1805 North Oakland Street
Arlington, VA 22207
202-707-0722 (work)
202-707-0712 (fax)
jdix@loc.gov

The following is an excerpt from, a BANA Press Release February 2012

CONTACT: Frances Mary D’Andrea, Chair
Braille Authority of North America
Phone: 412-521--5797
Email: literacy2@mindspring.com

"BANA encourages everyone who is interested in the future of braille to read and consider the implications and the challenges presented in this article [referring to The Evolution of Braille]. We also invite your feedback and comments.

Follow BANA’s work via BANA-Announce, a one-way email list that shares news and information. To join this list, send a blank email to bana-announce-subscribe@brailleauthority.org and follow the directions in the confirmation email."