PRESS RELEASE
October 7, 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 Fall Meeting
The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) will hold its fall meeting in Boston,
Massachusetts, from November 7-9, 2008. This meeting is being hosted by National Braille Press, 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.
Saturday, November 8, 2008, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon at the Carroll Center
BANA Open Forum: Where Braille Readers Give BANA Feedback
Location: Carroll Center
770 Centre Street, Newton, MA -2458
Phone: 617-969-6200
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 textbooks, representation of the
different types of emphasis, 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 Eileen Curran at
617-266-6160 ext. 17 or e-mail ecurran@nbp.org no later than Friday, October 31.
The fall meetings of the Braille Authority of North America will be held at National Braille Press.
BANA sessions begin at 9:00 AM on Friday, November 7, and end at noon on Sunday, November
9th.
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.
