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FTCE Visually Impaired study materials
FTCE Visually Impaired study resources

FTCE Visually Impaired: Braille Literacy and Nemeth Code

FTCE Visually Impaired · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

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Braille Literacy and Nemeth Code

Braille Literacy and Nemeth Code

Items here test the structure of braille, the rules of contracted braille under Unified English Braille, and Nemeth Code conventions for mathematics. You also need to know how braille is produced and how tactile graphics are designed so they can be read.

Braille fundamentals

  • The braille cell has six dots numbered 1-2-3 down the left and 4-5-6 down the right; 8-dot cells add 7 and 8 for computer braille.
  • Six dots give 64 combinations including the space. Grade 1 (uncontracted) spells every word; Grade 2 (contracted) uses about 189 contractions, including 75 shortforms.
  • UEB was adopted by BANA and implemented in the United States in January 2016, unifying literary, math, and computer notation rules for literary text.
  • Key symbols: capital sign (dot 6), capital word indicator (6-6), letter sign (5-6), literary number sign (3-4-5-6).
  • Slate-and-stylus writing goes right to left so the embossed page reads left to right; a Perkins brailler has six keys plus space, backspace, and line-space keys.

Nemeth Code

  • Nemeth is used for mathematics and science. Numerals are the letters a through j (1 through 0) preceded by the numeric indicator (3-4-5-6).
  • A numeric indicator is required at the start of a number and again after a space or an operation sign.
  • Nemeth distinguishes linear expressions from spatial arrangements (stacked fractions, matrices, long division) and uses switch indicators to move between literary and Nemeth contexts.
  • The grade 1 indicator (5-6) cancels a literary contraction when a symbol sequence would otherwise be misread.

Tactile graphics

  • Follow BANA's Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics: simplify, use distinct textures, include a key, label in braille, and keep clutter low.
  • Production methods include embossers, swell paper, thermoform, and 3D printing. Always proofread by touch.

Worked example

Transcribe 3 + 4 = 7 into Nemeth. Reasoning: begin with the numeric indicator, then dots 1-4 (c) for 3. After the plus sign a new number begins, so the numeric indicator is required again before dots 1-4-5 (d) for 4. The equals sign follows, then another numeric indicator before dots 1-2-4-5 (g) for 7. Omitting the second and third indicators produces an ambiguous string even though the digits themselves are correct.

Traps that cost marks

Using the literary number sign inside Nemeth; omitting repeated numeric indicators; assuming uncontracted braille is always easier; cluttered graphics without keys; forgetting that UEB changed several symbols; writing braille left to right on a slate.