History of NBA

 

In 1945, there were few standards for the preparation of braille, and few sources for help in this field. Transcribers had to solve transcription problems as best they could. The National Braille Club, later renamed the National Braille Association, has developed rich resources to help apply existing standards to particular transcription problems.

 

1945              National Braille Club (NBC) is founded in New York City.

 

1946              NBC begins publication of the Bulletin to serve as a communicating link for members.

 

1948               The Bulletin begins listing books transcribed by members in an effort to prevent re-transcription.

 

1957              NBC holds its first conference, providing volunteers an opportunity to meet face to face to discuss transcribing problems and to attend workshops explaining the new braille codes. For a time, conferences were held annually. Eventually, the meeting program evolved to its present form–regional meetings each year specifically tailored to meet needs within a region, and a biennial national conference in the spring of odd-numbered years.

 

1959              NBC membership approaches 1,000.

 

1960               NBC publishes its first aids for transcribers, An Alphabetical Index of Nemeth Code Symbols and Reference List of Signs for Arithmetic.

 

1961               NBC publishes the Foreign Languages Manual and the Training Manual for Arithmetic.

 

1963               The NBC Mathematics Committee establishes its Master File and Duplicating Service. The Master File lists transcriptions available anywhere in the U.S. and the Duplicating Service provides thermoform copies of masters which have been deposited with NBC. The Duplicating Service, NBC’s first direct service to the blind, will eventually become the Braille Book Bank. The NBC Mathematics Committee establishes a system of area representatives to provide guidance for math transcribers nearer to home. Tape Recording is added to the list of NBC standing committees.

 

1964               The National Braille Club becomes the National Braille Association (NBA).

 

1965               NBA adds Large Type to its standing committees and begins to conduct workshops for local groups on a limited basis. Membership passes the 2,000 mark.

 

1966               The NBA Braille Book Bank is established (in New Jersey) to provide thermoform copies of college level texts. NBA publishes the Plan for Foreign Language Workshops to be Conducted by Local Groups.

 

1968               NBA publishes Reference List of Mathematical Signs and Nemeth Code Symbols.

 

1969               The Braille Book Bank produces its one millionth page of duplicated braille.

 

1970               NBA publishes the revised Manual on Foreign Languages.

 

1971               NBA publishes the Tape Recording Manual. This is the first NBA manual to have its entire printing purchased by the Library of Congress for free distribution to volunteers.

 

1972               The NBA Braille Technical Tables Bank is established to provide thermoform copies of the tables in its collection and to provide assistance to transcribers in setting up tables for transcription. NBA Music Braille area representatives are appointed.

 

1973               A production unit of the Braille Book Bank is opened in Vermont. NBA publications include a revision of the Manual for Large Type Transcribing, the Tape Recording Lessons, General Reference List of Signs and Symbols of the 1972 Revision of the Nemeth Code and the Presentation and Outcomes of the Computer Notation and Nemeth Code workshops held at the San Francisco Conference. These detailed reports, including simulated braille of answers to questions presented at the workshops, were felt to be too lengthy for inclusion in the Conference Proceedings. The Mathematics Committee would continue to publish “P’s & O’s” and the Textbook Format Committee would subsequently follow suit. The Membership Committee establishes a system of regional membership chairs to provide close contact for NBA members and to place them in touch with one another. NBA becomes a sponsor of the Braille Authority.

 

1974               The Braille Book Bank adds braille music to its collection and publishes a music catalog.

 

1975               NBA publishes Guidelines for the Administration of Groups Producing Reading Materials for the Visually Handicapped. The Robert S. Bray Community Workshop Fund is established to provide single-subject workshops to groups in their home cities.

 

1976               Handbook for Braille Music Transcribers is published. NBA establishes the Reader-Transcriber Registry to provide a clearing house for braillists looking for transcription assignments and adult readers desiring non-textbook materials.

 

1977               The Braille Book Bank collections in Vermont and New Jersey are combined and moved to Rochester, New York. The Library of Congress introduces its lessons for mathematics transcribers at NBA’s conference prior to publication.

 

1978               The Braille Book Bank publishes its first General Interest Catalog which lists materials transcribed through the Reader-Transcriber Registry. NBA begins a field test of the Braille Textbook Assignment Service whose function is to put students in need of transcriptions of college texts in contact with transcribers able to fill their needs.

 

1979               The Braille Book Bank thermoforms its four millionth braille page. Tape Recording Manual, Third Edition, and Braille Technical Tables Bank Catalog are published.

 

1980               Toronto, Ontario, hosts the first NBA regional meeting outside the United States. NBA is co-sponsor of Helen Keller Centennial Congress in Boston, attended by 74 organizations from 17 countries. Following the establishment of the Library of Congress certification in math transcription, the first certificate is awared to NBA’s math chair. The Library of Congress places 100 music masters in the Braille Book Bank collection on permanent loan.

 

1981               NBA elects its first Canadian board member. The popular Tape Recording Manual is reprinted.

 

1982               NBA Braille Materials Production Committee is formed and a committee is appointed for the study of automation of the National Office. NBA is represented at the International Conference for the study of Grade 2 English braille in Washington, DC.

 

1983               Funds are contributed to permit automation of the National Office and the Braille Book Bank acquires its first computer and embosser. To centralize activities, the NBA National Office is moved to Rochester, New York. Braille Authority of North America approves Guidelines for Mathematical Diagrams and request NBA to handle production and distribution.

 

1984               NBA initiates a disk output service for embossing computer produced material. The Braille Book Bank duplicates its five millionth page of braille. Tape Recording Lessons, Second Edition is published.

 

1989               The Board of Directors appoints a salaried Executive Director. All direct service programs for members, transcribers, and braille readers now reside under one roof.

 

1990               The Board of Directors develops and monitors a five-year plan to serve as a guide for shaping NBA’s future. Continuing education for the transcriber remains a major and unique element of NBA’s programs. The evolution of technology includes the development of software programs for the electronic translation of print into braille increasing production and improving quality.

 

1995               NBA takes a leadership role in offering workshops and writing Bulletin articles to acquaint members with the rule changes published in Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription.  NBA celebrates its 50^th anniversary.

 

1999-2005     Recognizing a need and heeding the pleas of transcribers, the NBA Board develops the NBA Braille Formats Course. As a corollary, NBA produces the NBA Certification in Braille Textbook Transcribing. NBA partners with other organizations to offer training with publishers’ electronic files and to address the shortage of braille transcribers.  NBA celebrated its 60^th anniversary in 2005.

 

            

Past Presidents
1945 - 2007