Braille Institute

Living in a home with unlabeled items, poor lighting, cluttered spaces, and a lack of safety equipment can impact independence and well-being, especially for individuals living with vision loss.

At Braille Institute, we provide in-home assessments and solutions to help make your living environment safer and more accessible if you can't make it down to our centers.

Our in-home services cover safety assessments, daily living aids and techniques, and assistive technology training.

Our specialists can also identify potential risks and recommend modifications tailored to your needs.

If you're able to come in, we teach you techniques like kitchen safety and item labeling to make your home safer for you.

We're committed to helping individuals with vision loss live an independent and fulfilling life.

Visit our website today to learn more about how you can utilize our services: https://brailleinstitute.org

As we continue to enjoy the warmth of the summer, the first day of school will be here again before we know it.

The transition can be challenging for children with visual impairment.

But with the right preparation, you can equip your child with the skills and confidence to make it an exciting milestone.

Here are 5 tips to help you start getting your child ready:

The start of school will be smoother sailing when your child knows what to expect.

If you need additional support, explore Braille Institute's Child Development Program (ages 0-6) for personalized services that build vital skills while letting kids just be kids.

Start here: https://brailleinstitute.org/child-development

Searching for work can feel daunting when you have to worry about being tech-savvy with assistive tools.

If you need help navigating job hunt technology as someone with vision loss, this virtual workshop is for you!

▪️Date: July 17th
▪️Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am PT
▪️Link to Event: https://brailleinstitute.org/bioa-event/tech-skills-for-job-seekers

You'll learn practical tips for using computer apps like Microsoft Office and Google Suites, as well as mastering screen readers for writing resumes.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain confidence with must-have tech for job seekers with visual impairments.

Spots are limited, so register today!

For most people living with vision loss, a white cane is more than just a tool—it's a symbol of independence, confidence, and the determination to embrace life on your own terms.

But finding the right cane for you requires careful consideration and expert guidance.

If you've been thinking about getting a cane, here's your sign to do it but do it right – our Orientation and Mobility specialists at Braille Institute can help.

Here are five essential tips to keep in mind:

Our team is dedicated to providing the resources and support you need to maintain your independence and live a fulfilling life.

Get in touch with our Orientation and Mobility specialists here: https://brailleinstitute.org

Your contribution to the 2024 Annual Fund campaign ensures we can continue offering life-changing classes and services to adults and children living with vision loss — all at no cost to them. Make a special gift today and help empower our students and patrons to live with no boundaries in sight https://bit.ly/3WeFQWl



Image Description: Image of a seated child using a Perkins brailler.

Providing a compassionate space to help our students urgently deal with the whirlwind of emotions that vision loss regularly puts them through is important to us at Braille Institute.

If you're grappling with a sudden bout of fear, anger, or sadness - it's all perfectly normal and valid.

Our doors are open to one-on-one counseling sessions, where you can speak openly with empathetic professionals about the complex emotions that come with vision loss. We provide a safe, judgment-free zone that allows you to voice your fears, anxieties, and frustrations while receiving personalized guidance and coping strategies.

Whether you're looking for one-on-one counseling, a supportive group setting, or both, we're committed to providing the emotional resources you need to navigate this transition with courage and hope.

Reach out to us here today: https://brailleinstitute.org/

Personal safety is a major concern for people living with vision loss.

Everyone will be out and about this summer so knowing how to protect yourself will always be an advantage to help you move through tasks and places confidently and securely.

Here are 4 vital safety tips to help you or your loved ones stay secure:

▪️ Heighten your other senses — listen for telling sounds and detect any unique smells to help you detect any potential danger and stay oriented, especially in unfamiliar places.

▪️ Carry a mobility device like a cane or guide dog that can work as a self-defense weapon if needed.

▪️It's never a bad idea to take customized self-defense from a certified instructor to boost your confidence in protecting yourself.

▪️Regularly check in with your family and friends especially when traveling or exploring new places.

Stay safe and enjoy the summer with confidence!

Learn more about our programs and resources at https://www.brailleinstitute.org

Have you ever heard of the ‘Silent Thief of Sight’?

Well, it's an eye condition called Glaucoma — where the optic nerve is damaged, often due to increased pressure in the eye, and which can silently steal your sight without any warning signs if left unchecked.

In this edition of our Understanding Vision Loss series, we'll be sharing key facts about Glaucoma.

Our free resources, classes taught by Low Vision Occupational Therapists, and support services are designed to help you adapt and continue living independently with quality life.

Explore our services here: https://brailleinstitute.org

We believe vision loss doesn't have to mean losing your independence or giving up the activities you love.

If you're struggling to read print materials or having challenges with everyday tasks like reading labels or recognizing faces, our Low Vision Rehabilitation Specialists can help.

You'll get a comprehensive assessment to understand your specific needs and capabilities and learn practical techniques for maximizing your remaining vision through ideal lighting, contrast, and glare control.

Access to our semester-long classes and ongoing workshops also connects you with a supportive community, helping you gain the confidence to live independently and continue pursuing your passions.

Schedule a FREE personal consultation via our website here: https://brailleinstitute.org/

Crafting effective alt text is important in making the digital world accessible to everyone, especially those with vision loss.

At Braille Institute, we believe in the power of inclusion and the importance of accessibility.

Here are five key tips to ensure your alt text provides meaningful information and enhances the online experience for visually impaired users:

That's why we're committed to upholding the highest standards of accessibility, ensuring that our digital platforms, resources, and services are inclusive and welcoming to all.

Reach out here to learn more: https://brailleinstitute.org

Getting truly accessible information and entertainment as someone with vision loss can be a hassle.

Our commitment to accessibility and independence means we're all about creating solutions that truly matter.

Our Telephone Reader Program (TRP) is one of those.

With our TRP, you can listen to a wide variety of content - from newspapers like USA Today and LA Times to grocery ads, magazines, radio shows, and more - all through a regular phone call or the TRP News app.

You can catch up on the latest headlines and weather, or browse the weekly sales at your favorite stores.

The best part is there are options for both English and Spanish speakers, so you can stay informed and entertained in the language you're most comfortable with.

Start with the Telephone Reader Program here: https://brailleinstitute.org/books-for-visually-impaired/telephone-reader-program

Living with vision loss brings its own unique challenges that can amplify stress and anxiety.

Stress can impact us in many ways, both physically and mentally with long-lasting effects.

Swipe to see some tips to help you deal with stress:

At Braille Institute, we're here to support you every step of the way.

Get started with us here: https://brailleinstitute.org/

We are proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Braille Challenge Finals. This year, the top 50 students were invited to Braille Challenge Finals from a pool of over 1,100 competitors from across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Congratulations to the winners and an incredible job well done to all of the finalists. Read the list of winners and full press release here: https://bit.ly/3xyp0Iw

Braille Institute Names Winners of the 2024 Braille Challenge | Braille Institute 50 Blind and Visually Impaired Children Participate in Unique Academic Competition   Los Angeles — June 25, 2024 — Braille Institute proudly announces the winners of the 2024 Braille Challenge competition, recognized at the Finals Award Ceremony held this past Saturday on the University of Sout...

We did it! 🎉 Thank you to our amazing Facebook community for helping us reach 10,000 followers! Your support and engagement inspire us every day to continue making a difference in the lives of those with vision loss. Here's to many more milestones together!

Image Description: A dark blue graphic of a circle with the text 'Thank you 10K followers' in the center.

Are you or a loved one navigating vision loss?

You don't have to do it alone.

Join our FREE, phone-based peer support program ‘Eye2Eye’ brought to you by our Anaheim Center.

Designed for visually impaired adults and their families, Eye2Eye offers a compassionate community where you can find understanding, emotional support, and genuine connection through the shared experience of vision loss.

▪️Date: June 26th
▪️Time: 1:00 - 2:30 pm PT
▪️Link to Register: https://brailleinstitute.org/bioa-event/eye2eye-workshop

Don't wait — registration closes at 4 pm tomorrow!

Let's turn the shared journey into a source of strength and solidarity.

Stay tuned for our Braille Challenge Finals 2024 Awards Ceremony! Live streaming begins tonight, Saturday, June 22, at 6:30pm Pacific Time. Hope you can join us as we award this year's winners! https://bit.ly/BCAwards24

The warm summer months bring plenty of opportunities to soak up the sunshine.

However, for those with visual impairments or low vision, extra care is needed to protect your eyes from potential harm.

Follow these five essential tips to keep your eyes healthy and safeguard your remaining vision during the summer season.

Our team is dedicated to providing the resources and support you need to protect your eye health and maintain your independence.

Learn more about our services and how we can assist you in navigating the summer months with confidence: https://brailleinstitute.org

We are thrilled to announce that Atkinson Hyperlegible Font — developed by Applied Design — has been officially added to the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Museum's permanent collection. This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting journey for Atkinson Hyperlegible, as we continue to work with Applied Design on our commitment to enhance accessibility for individuals with visual impairments. A heartfelt thank you to the Smithsonian for this incredible honor. Discover the font here: https://brailleinstitute.org/freefont

We’re proud to have Lime as a sponsor of the 2024 Braille Challenge. We applaud the company’s partnerships with Pacific Assistance Dogs (PADS) and the proactive moves it has taken to remind riders of the importance of sidewalk accessibility and the impact of blocked pathways on individuals with disabilities. We look forward to continuing to work with them to improve accessibility for all. Learn more at www.braillechallenge.org

Lime

If you or a loved one has diabetes, it's crucial to be aware of diabetic retinopathy – a condition that can potentially lead to vision loss or blindness.

Today, we'll be sharing some key facts to understand this eye disease and when to worry.

At Braille Institute, we understand the challenges that come with vision impairments like diabetic retinopathy.

Our free resources, classes taught by low vision specialists, and support services are designed to help you adapt and continue living independently with quality of life.

Explore our services here: https://brailleinstitute.org

Braille Institute greatly appreciates the support of Sensee and Vispero, bronze-level corporate sponsors of the 2024 Braille Challenge.

Both Sensee and Vispero are strong advocates for the blind and visually impaired through their technologies and products. Sensee has created a wide range of engaging educational products, braille books, and tactile books to serve the blind and visually impaired community. Assistive technology provider Vispero produces innovative products, including optical and video magnifiers, scanning and reading devices, software, and wearables that enable blind and low vision individuals to gain an education, obtain employment, succeed in their careers, and live independently.

Through their support of the 2024 Braille Challenge, Sensee and Vispero are helping blind and visually impaired students improve their braille skills, which will aid them in their educational and career paths. Learn more at https://brailleinstitute.org/braille-challenge/

Learning should be accessible, convenient, and tailored to your unique needs.

At Braille Institute, we offer a wide range of remote class options, allowing you to join our programs and service offerings from the comfort and safety of your own home.

Our online workshops and classes provide a dynamic and interactive learning experience, covering a variety of subjects on a group or one-on-one basis.

Whether you need assistance with low vision aids, orientation and mobility training, technology skills, or child development resources, our experts are just a call or video chat away.

The best part? It's completely free of charge, ensuring that cost is never a barrier to your growth and development.

Explore our online class offerings here, and don't hesitate to reach out today: https://brailleinstitute.org/remote-services

A big thank you to the Delta Gamma Foundation, Julia Stearns Dockweiler Charitable Foundation, and the Life Light Educational Foundation for supporting this year’s Braille Challenge.

Since 1936, Delta Gamma has been a strong advocate for people in the blind and visually impaired community. Besides founding five schools for children with visual impairments, Delta Gamma provides Service for Sight grants that support dozens of organizations across the U.S. and Canada. Delta Gamma has supported Braille Challenge since 2005!

The Julia Stearns Dockweiler Charitable Foundation has been supporting Braille Challenge for more than a decade! Among its philanthropic activities, it supports scholarships, educational programs, veterinary care for guide dogs, and other worthy endeavors.

The Life Light Educational Foundation has supported Braille Institute since 2013, including support for our library services and music programs. Life Light focuses on providing support for blind students in China. Through grants to three vocational high schools, the foundation has supported more than 3,000 blind Chinese youth, of which 200 are now enrolled in college or graduate programs.

Braille Institute is proud to have the support of these foundations, which have aided our work for many years. We greatly appreciate the help they have provided vision impaired youth so that they can improve their braille literacy skills, which are critical in their journeys toward college and successful careers. Learn more at www.braillechallenge.org

Delta Gamma Foundation Lifelight educational foundation

Taking care of your eye health is just as important as your overall body health, and eating eye-healthy foods is a great place to start.

Here are five practical tips to help you nourish your eyes with the best foods this season:

At Braille Institute, we believe that taking care of your vision should be a holistic endeavor, and healthy eating is a vital component of that journey.

Remember, your eyes are precious, and you should treat them as such.

And last, but not least! Meet 2024’s Varsity Braille Challenge finalists! We’re pleased to introduce Grace B. from Woking, UK, Nathan D. from Iowa, Makenzie L. from Ohio, Madeline M. from New Jersey, Christopher M. from Georgia, EmmaGrace O. from Texas, Brooke P. from Kansas, Luke P. from California, Margot W. from British Columbia, Canada, and Lynn W. from California. Congratulations Varsity!



Image Description: Each slide has a light blue finalist trading card with a photo of the finalist, their name and state, the Braille Challenge 2024 logo, and their grade category: "Finalist 2024 Varsity"

We’re proud to have the support of the financial sector in this year’s Braille Challenge. Shout out to City National Bank and Bank of America for sponsoring the 2024 Braille Challenge.

A silver-level sponsor, City National Bank has been supporting Braille Challenge since 2009 and has a long history of supporting non-profit organizations focused on literacy. Since 2021, it has invested approximately $16 million in education, supporting programs that provide youth with a strong educational foundation for future success.

Bank of America, supporting Braille Challenge for the first time this year, has a notable track record in the areas of disability inclusion and equality. For the seventh year in a row, the company received a top score on the 2023 Disability Equality Index, an annual listing of companies evaluated by Disability:IN that are leading the way in policies, practices, and programs that are inclusive of people with disabilities.

Bank of America City National Bank

It can be scary when you or your loved ones first start experiencing vision loss.

Having adequate information is key to understanding what it is, how to navigate and still live your best life.

That knowledge can have such a transformative impact during that transitional period.

Join us for our "Understanding Vision Loss" virtual workshop designed for those new to vision loss, along with their families and caregivers.

• Date: June 12th
• Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm (Pacific Time)

Our experienced professionals will provide insights into common eye diseases, available services/resources, and strategies for independent living.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain clarity, get empowered, and feel a sense of community.

Register here: https://brailleinstitute.org/bioa-event/understanding-vision-loss-2

We’re celebrating Braille Challenge Finals with a chance for you to win a $50 Amazon gift card! To enter, all you need to do is take a photo or video about your Braille Challenge experience. Upload your photo to Facebook or Instagram from now until June 25, 2024 and add the hashtag . Make sure your post is public. The post with the most likes by June 25 wins!

Image Description: Image of Braille Challenge contestant testing on a Perkins brailler. Text above the image reads ' Social Media Contest Enter for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card! Submit your post between June 11 and June 25' and below the image is a logo for Braille Challenge.

Meet 2024’s Junior Varsity Braille Challenge finalists! We’re pleased to introduce Caleigh C. from Georgia, Janna C. from Ontario, Canada, Caylen C. from Texas, Salome C. from Missouri, Leo D. from Texas, Keaton H. from Ontario, Canada, Miel M. from California, Ashton P. from Texas, May R. from Indiana, Randy V. from Texas. Congratulations Junior Varsity competitors!



Image Description: Each slide has a yellow finalist trading card with a photo of the finalist, their name and state, the Braille Challenge 2024 logo, and their grade category: "Finalist 2024 Junior Varsity"

Reading and writing remain fundamental skills that open doors to knowledge, communication, and opportunity.

For individuals who are blind or visually impaired, braille literacy is an essential tool that fosters independence, academic achievement, and career success.

We firmly believe that braille literacy is a vital component of a well-rounded education for those with visual impairment.

This tactile reading and writing system not only provides access to literature, textbooks, and other printed materials but also serves as a critical foundation for developing cognitive skills, language proficiency, and self-confidence.

At Braille Institute, we are committed to fostering braille literacy from an early age.

Our comprehensive programs and services include braille instruction for children and adults, access to braille materials and resources, and support for families and educators in promoting braille literacy.

For more information on our braille literacy programs and services, please visit our website here: https://brailleinstitute.org