BrailleBlaster takes advantage of the rich markup contained in files like NIMAS (National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard), EPUB, and DOCX to automate translation and formatting. Designed primarily for editing textbooks that meet the specifications published by the Braille Authority of North America (BANA), the purpose of BrailleBlaster is to help braille producers ensure that every student has his or her braille textbooks on the first day of class. It can also be used to make every day braille materials like tests, worksheets, and other reading passages.
The development of http://liblouis.org/ BrailleBlaster and modifications to Liblouis are part of the REAL Plan (Resources with Enhanced Accessibility for Learning). The REAL Plan is an ongoing initiative of APH to improve the conversion and delivery of braille and other accessible formats to students who are blind.
System Requirements: Windows 10 or Newer Mac OS X or Newer Ubuntu Linux 20.04 or later 64-bit computer with 64-bit operating system installed. 4 GB RAM, 6 GB is recommended.
Privacy Note: BrailleBlaster collects no user data, including personal information, student data, device information, usage data, analytics, or advertising identifiers. No account, registration, or login is required to use the app.
Accessibility Assurance Report: Download the VPAT/ACR for BrailleBlaster from the Manuals & Downloads section below.
The BrailleBlaster editing tool offers braille transcribers a rapid means to:
Translate braille accurately in UEB or UEB with Nemeth codes
Opens DOCX, EPUB, HTML, and NIMAS XML, converting styles according to
Quickly prepare spatial math materials using a simple interface
Automatically converts MathML into your preferred braille code (UEB or Nemeth)
Style, Print, and Braille Views that allow the transcriber to see the print text and braille text simultaneously and operate styles, all at the click of a key
