PRESS RELEASE
MARCH 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Judith Dixon, Chairperson
Braille Authority of North America
PHONE: 1-202-707-0722
E-MAIL: jdix@loc.gov
BANA Sponsors Reader's Forum and Holds Spring Meeting
The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) will hold its spring meeting in Raleigh, North
Carolina, from May 13-15, 2008. This meeting is being hosted by the Association for Education
and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), a BANA member organization.
A highlight of the two and a half day meeting will be the Open Forum, which BANA holds during
each of its semiannual meetings.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 4:00-5:30 PM
BANA Open Forum -- Where Braille Users Give BANA Feedback
Location: Governor Morehead School
Lineberry Hall Auditorium
301 Ashe Avenue
Raleigh NC 27606
Phone: (1(919) 733-6381
Judith Dixon, BANA Chair, and the other members of the Braille Authority of North America are
extending an invitation to this forum because we want to hear from braille readers (of all ages) and
from educators, transcribers, proofreaders and parents regarding their thoughts about braille. There
will be plenty of opportunity for participants to learn more about the workings of BANA and to
provide feedback on such topics as ideas about formats for braille menus, representation of the
different types of print brackets, and several other topics on which input is being sought. Don't
miss this opportunity to give voice to your opinions on braille by attending this Open Forum. To
reserve your spot at the Forum and to help ensure accurate counts for handouts, contact Diane
Wormsley at 919-530-7693 or e-mail dwormsley@nccu.edu no later than Monday, May 5.
The spring meeting of the Braille Authority of North America will be held at North Carolina
Central University, and the Governor Morehead School. BANA sessions begin at 9:00 AM on
Tuesday, May 13, and end at 12:00 noon on Thursday, May 15th.
Guests are welcome to attend the BANA meetings and observe the deliberations. Space is limited,
so to reserve a seat, please contact BANA Chair Judith Dixon to register your desire to observe any
or all of the BANA sessions.
The mission and purpose of the Braille Authority of North America are to assure literacy for tactile
readers through the standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics. BANA promotes and
facilitates the use, teaching and production of braille. It publishes rules, interprets and renders
opinions pertaining to braille in all existing codes. It deals with codes now in existence or to be
developed in the future, in collaboration with other countries using English braille. In exercising its
function and authority, BANA considers the effects of its decisions on other existing braille codes
and formats; the ease of production by various methods; and acceptability to readers.
For additional resource information, visit www. brailleauthority.org.