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Background: The following specifications are in a living document. It may change at any time with the discovery of better or new practices. This document is meant to be used by transcribers working for the American Printing House for the Blind through the Accessible Textbooks Department.
The foundation for this document was created with the help from a focus group held at APH that consisted of transcribers, teachers, students, IMC representatives and a variety of APH staff.
If you have specifications that you or your organizations have created we would be interested in seeing them. It is the goal of the Accessible Textbooks Department to collaborate with transcribers around the country to develop the best testbook for blind and visually impaired students. Please send them to atic@aph.org.
Note: These specifications, created as a result of a focus group of VI teachers, transcriber's and those responsible for the ordering of Braille textbooks, must be followed for every textbook transcribed for the Accessible Textbooks Department. If you have questions or conflicts with these specifications please contact the the Accessible Textbooks Department Outsource Coordinator before signing the final contract for the job.
| 1. Braille Page Size: | · 30 cells by 25 lines (grade K-1 only). |
| · 40 cells by 25 lines (grade 2-12 all math). | |
| 2. Volume Size: | ·
Grades K-2 do not exceed 50 single-sided double-spaced braille pages. |
| · All other grades not to exceed 70 interpoint pages (pieces of paper). | |
| 3. Software: | · Label all disks with the ATIC catalog number, book title, volume number, translation software used, graphics software, file names, name of transcriber/organization, file extension. |
| · Use the same translation software and version for the entire book. | |
| · Save all the files in the same way and with the same name when using multiple transcribers on the same textbook. | |
| · Save files as indicated below when using the following types of software: | |
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| · Setup files for interpoint embossing. | |
| · Combine preliminary pages and text in the same file. | |
| · Save volumes separately. | |
| · Reflect all corrections in ALL files. | |
| 4. Formatting: | · All transcribers must adhere to the rules set forth in Braille Formats: Principles of Print to Braille Transcription. |
| · Indicate the lettered page number (example: c47) when a braille volume either begins and/or ends with a lettered continuation page. | |
| · Place a running head at the top of each page except for the title page and the first page of text in each volume. | |
| · Number preliminary pages in the lower right hand corner. | |
| · Insert the following on the Transcriber's Note page of all Nemeth translations: "This volume has been transcribed according to the rules set forth in THE NEMETH BRAILLE CODE FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE NOTATION, 1972 REV." | |
| · Insert the following on the Transcriber's Note page of all transcriptions containing computer notation: "This volume has been transcribed according to the rules set forth in the CODE FOR COMPUTER BRAILLE NOTATION, 1987." | |
| · Number odd braille pages only in lower right-hand corner. | |
| · Insert the complete title of the book on the first line(s) of the first page of text in each volume. | |
| · Name end matter volumes as Supplements when delivering work piecemeal. | |
| · Abbreviate the word continued-(cont.) when format rules require such indication. | |
| · Begin a picture description with -- Picture: | |
| · Begin a picture caption with -- Caption: | |
| · Begin a marginal note with -- Margin: | |
| · End each volume on an even page. (May require insertion of a blank page.) | |
| · End each volume with the words: END OF VOLUME # (Arabic number). (Center with a blank line above.) | |
| · End each book with the words: THE END (center with a blank line above). | |
| 5. Graphics: | · Edit all diagrams prior to transcription to ascertain necessity of multiple graphics or possible elimination of items. |
| · Draw graphics electronically when ever possible. | |
| · Consider the heat of thermoforming when choosing materials for collage graphics. Do not use materials that may melt or soften i.e. wicky sticks, puff paint, soft plastics, etc. | |
| · Insert blank pages within the body of the text for insertion of the tactile graphics, on the same print page that the ink print graphic appears. | |
| · Number graphics pages sequentially. | |
| · Consider all blank pages before a graphic as a numbered braille page but not a continuation of ink print page numbering. All pages containing a graphic contain an ink print and braille page number. | |
| · Add descriptive text for complex graphics. | |
| · Key maps on the same page when possible or on left facing page (even braille page number). | |
| · Submit graphic masters to the Accessible Textbooks Department when you submit transcription. | |
| · Include a completed Graphic Tally Sheet with each submission. | |
| · Graphics should be clean and readable. | |
| 5a. Maps: | · Follow these directives when 1 print map requires more than one tactile graphic:
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| 5b. Keys: | · Put the legend/key on the even-numbered page preceding each section of the map. |
| 6. Proofreading: | · All transcriptions MUST be proofread. |
| · Notify the Accessible Textbooks Department if a proofreader is not available. | |
| · Proofreading by the transcriber of the text is NOT acceptable. | |
| · Always use a braille reader and an ink print copy holder. | |
| 7. Ink Print Pages required: | Note: When the books are bound at APH all Braille preliminary pages will be inserted in ink print at the beginning of each volume. |
| · Save the content of all braille preliminary pages in ink print as a separate word-processing file or text file. | |
| · See enclosed sample ink print title page for format. | |
| · See enclosed sample ink print transcriber's note page for format and content. The content of this ink print page will be different from that of the braille transcriber's note page. This ink print page will contain the same information that appears in the braille text AND a listing, by page number, of all the transcriber's notes throughout the volume. | |
| 8. Workflow: | · Send no fewer than two volumes at a time, if delivering the text piecemeal. |
| 9. Payment: | · Submit an invoice with each piecemeal shipment or at the end of the project. Your bid should identify if you will ship the text piecemeal or complete. |
| 10. Summary of Content of each shipment: | · Disks |
| · Tactile Graphic Masters | |
| · Graphic Tally Sheet | |
| · Invoice | |
| · Packing Slip | |
