APH News & Press
National "Creative Use of Braille Award" presented for the invention of the first portable, computerized notetaking device for the blind
News Release: Louisville, Kentucky, October 15, 1998
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) presented the Creative Use of Braille Award to Fred Gissoni and Wayne Thompson for their invention of the Portabraille on Thursday evening, October 15, at 8:30pm in the Crystal Ballroom of The Brown Hotel. Established to recognize significant accomplishments in the development of products, ideas or promotional efforts that increase the availability of braille, this is only the second time that APH has presented this distinguished award.
The Portabraille represented a breakthrough in technology, allowing blind individuals to easily read, write and edit information in braille for the first time. The original prototypes of the Portabraille were built into plastic video cassette cases. Designed to interface with other electronic equipment, the Portabraille offered a range of functions the blind had never before been able to access. With this increased capability to access and manipulate information, the educational process for blind people was advanced immeasurably, and myriad employment opportunities became available.
Wayne Thompson is an electrical engineer for the Kentucky Department for the Blind, currently working as chief engineer for the research and development branch. Fred Gissoni works at APH as the customer support specialist. Both men have extensive experience in the field of technology, and have dedicated their lives to creating and adapting devices to overcome the daily challenges faced by blind people. Their inventions have changed the lives of thousands of blind people, and will impact many generations to come.
The Creative Use of Braille award was presented during APH's annual meeting, to be held October 15 - 18 at The Brown Hotel in Louisville. The conference theme this year was "Reasons to Celebrate" in recognition of APH's 140 years of incorporation. Approximately 300 individuals from across the U.S. attended the conference.
Contact Roberta Williams, Public Relations Specialist, for more information. Telephone: 1 -800-223-1839 or (502) 895-2405; e-mail: rwilliams@aph.org