Refreshable Braille Display

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An electronic device that provides access to written text on a computer screen. The braille display is attached to a computer sending the text information to the display and translating the information into braille.

  • Sensory
    • Print
    • Tactile
    • Vision
  • Academic
    • Access
    • Writing
  • Access
    • Electronic

High Tech

Considerations

Take the following considerations into account when selecting and implementing AT to ensure that the chosen tools are well-suited to the student’s needs, align with their goals, and seamlessly integrate into their educational journey. By embracing a collaborative approach and considering the specific skills, tasks, and implementation context, educators can provide students with the necessary support to thrive academically and functionally, promoting inclusivity and fostering their overall success.

Find potential contacts within your LEA and at your ESC for support.

Need Support

Find potential contacts within your LEA and at your ESC for support.

  • Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI): A TVI is a licensed teacher who has received specialized training and certification in meeting the educational needs of students who have visual impairments ages birth to 21 years. This role may involve adapting teaching methods and materials to accommodate the unique needs of students with varying degrees of vision loss. They are skilled in using and teaching students to use assistive technologies such as screen readers, braille displays, and audio books.

What skills or tasks will the student utilize this tool for? What areas, functional or academic, does this tool support?

Reading

In what activities, classes, or environments will the student utilize this tool?

A refreshable braille display, also known as a braille terminal or braille reader, is a device used by individuals who are blind or visually impaired to read text from a computer or other electronic device. It consists of a row of mechanical or electronic braille cells, typically ranging from 20 to 80 cells, where each cell can represent one braille character. 

These displays work by using either mechanical or electronic means to raise and lower pins or dots, corresponding to the braille characters, in each cell. When connected to a computer or mobile device, the display receives text output and converts it into braille characters that can be felt by the user's fingers. As the user navigates through the text, the display updates in real-time to show the current content. 

Refreshable braille displays are crucial tools for blind individuals in accessing digital information, allowing them to read electronic documents, browse the internet, and interact with various applications just like sighted users.

Resources and Training

CFR 300.324(a)(2)(v) requires the Admission Review and Dismissal (ARD) committee to consider whether a child needs assistive technology devices and services in the development, review, and revision of their IEP. This resource is intended to serve as a repository of the most commonly used AT resources to assist users with understanding the purpose of each AT tool, aspects of use for consideration within IEP development for students, and additional AT implementation resources.

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