Unified English Braille in the United Kingdom: Part 2 – Examination by literary Braille users, Braille teachers, and transcribers

Abstract

To inform decision-making around the adoption of the Unified English Braille (UEB) code in the United Kingdom, a suite of research was carried out. This study involved a variety of braille stakeholders – student braille readers (in full time education), adult braille readers, braille teachers, and braille transcribers. Participants were sent samples of literary materials in UEB and asked to read them without training or reference to UEB symbols lists. A total of 27 participants gave feedback about their experiences of reading the UEB samples and discussed their views on UEB through focus groups. Overall, participants were able to read and understand the UEB samples and identified various advantages and disadvantages of the code. Opinions varied about the future of UEB in the United Kingdom, with some participants resisting the change and others in favour of adoption.