[Blindtlk] Fwd: [bana-announce] BANA Press Release

[Gary Wunder]

Isn't it strange we would debate whether there is value in knowing one 
symbol from another as in the case of open and close paren, and have a code 
which has two symbols where only one exists as in opening and closing 
quotes?


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; <napub at nfbnet.org>; <nabop at nfbnet.org>; 
<nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>; <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; <teachvib at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 8:20 PM
Subject: [Blindtlk] Fwd: [bana-announce] BANA Press Release



>
>PRESS RELEASE
>
>August 2007
>
>
>
>CONTACT: Judy Dixon, Chairperson
>
>Braille Authority of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = 
>"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />North America
>
>PHONE: 1-202-707-0722
>
>E-MAIL: <mailto:jdix at loc.gov>jdix at loc.gov
>
>
>
>
>
>The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) held its Spring 2007 meeting 
>in Louisville, Kentucky, from April 12-15, 2007. It was hosted by the 
>American Printing House for the Blind.
>
>An open forum was held at APH to discuss relevant braille topics, 
>including: Are centered and cell five headings the most useful format for 
>ease of locating information for the braille reader? What symbols should be 
>included on Special Symbols pages? Should Special Symbols pages be used on 
>high-stakes tests? Does the Literary Braille Code need directional 
>parentheses so the reader can tell if a single parenthesis is opening or 
>closing? Should a contraction be used whenever the combination of letters 
>appears, regardless of pronunciation? What is the most appropriate role for 
>uncontracted braille? Should braille transcribers correct errors in print 
>materials? And more. Lively discussions ensued, but no conclusions were 
>drawn. BANA will continue Open Forums at future meetings and conferences.
>
>
>
>The BANA Board is pleased to welcome Gary Mudd as the new representative 
>from the American Printing House for the Blind. Gary currently serves as 
>Vice President of Public Affairs for APH. His responsibilities include 
>communicating with members of the U.S. Congress regarding issues that 
>relate to The Act to Promote the Education of the Blind and the unique 
>educational needs of students who are blind or visually impaired. In 
>addition, Gary oversees APH public relations efforts, as well as the APH 
>Marie and Eugene Callahan Museum. Gary has been with APH since 1986. He is 
>a graduate of the Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB) and the University of 
>Louisville. A braille reader for over 40 years, Gary is an advocate for the 
>blind and visually impaired, providing educational programs to community 
>groups and professionals in a wide variety of fields. He is a graduate of 
>Leadership Louisville (1997), and was awarded the University of 
>Louisville's Disabled Alumni of the Year award in 1998. Gary currently 
>serves on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky School for the Blind 
>Charitable Foundation (KSBCF) and on the AT&T Consumer Advisory Panel.
>
>
>
>BANA accepted the application for membership and welcomes a new member 
>organization to its board. The Canadian Association of Educational Resource 
>Centers for Alternate Format Materials (CAER) is a consortium of provincial 
>educational service centers that provide alternate formats and technology 
>to Canadian students with print disabilities through a mandate from the 
>respective provincial ministries of education/advanced education. The 
>Mandate for CAER is to: promote the sharing of resources; encourage the use 
>of new technology, particularly in relation to alternate format production; 
>extend and share this knowledge with all CAER members; provide the 
>opportunity to discuss and study points of common interest, in particular 
>provincial, regional, Canadian and international issues; significant 
>developments in members' centers; information on policy, procedures, 
>statistical data etc.; discuss and adopt common procedures and practices in 
>such areas as production quality standards and interlibrary lending; advise 
>and provide input to educational ministries on evolving issues and trends; 
>establish and maintain linkages and to speak as a unified voice to such 
>association organizations as the Canadian Braille Authority, the Canadian 
>Braille Literacy Foundation, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, Canadian 
>National Institute for the Blind, the National Library of Canada and the 
>Library of Congress; communicate with publishers, vendors, suppliers and 
>individuals to develop positive relationships and to publicize members' 
>services; and to provide the opportunity for participation in learning 
>activities or professional development.
>
>
>
>The Fall meeting of the BANA Board is scheduled for November 14-16, 2007 in 
>Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Associated Services for the Blind will be the 
>host. An Open Forum is scheduled for Thursday evening, November 15th.

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