Braille Authority of North America (BANA)

The mission of the Braille Authority of North America is to assure literacy for tactile readers through the standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics.

The purpose of BANA is to promote and to facilitate the uses, teaching, and production of braille. Pursuant to this purpose, BANA will promulgate rules, make interpretations, and render opinions pertaining to braille codes and guidelines for the provisions of literary and technical materials and related forms and formats of embossed materials now in existence or to be developed in the future for the use of blind persons in North America. When appropriate, BANA shall accomplish these activities in international collaboration with countries using English braille. In exercising its function and authority, BANA shall consider the effects of its decisions on other existing braille codes and guidelines, forms and formats; ease of production by various methods; and acceptability to readers.

Our Mission

BANA's mission is to assure literacy for tactile readers through standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics.

Our Purpose

BANA's purpose is to promote and to facilitate the use, teaching, and production of braille. It publishes rules, interprets and renders opinions pertaining to braille in all existing and future 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.

Who We Are

The Braille Authority of North America is made up of the member organizations shown below. One representative of each member organization serves on the BANA Board.

Full Members:

• Alternate Text Production Center of the California Community Colleges (ATPC) - Dawn Gross, Representative

• American Council of the Blind - Sandy Ruconich, Representative

• American Foundation for the Blind - Frances Mary D'Andrea, Representative and Immediate Past BANA Board Chair

• American Printing House for the Blind - Mary Nelle McLennan, Representative

• Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind & Visually Impaired - Diane Wormsley, Representative

• Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Barbara Finkelstein, Representative

• Braille Institute of America - Nancy Niebrugge, Representative

• California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Tracy Gaines, Representative 

• Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Saul Garza, Representative

• CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) - Darleen Bogart, Representative

• Council of Schools and Services for the Blind (COSB) - Stuart Wittenstein, Representative

• Hadley School for the Blind - Ruth Rozen, Representative and Secretary

• Horizons for the Blind - Maryann Bartkowski, Representative

• National Braille Association - Diane Spence, Representative 

• National Braille Press, Inc. - Jackie Sheridan, Representative and Treasurer

• National Federation of the Blind - Jennifer Dunnam, Representative and BANA Board Chair

• National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped - Judy Dixon, Representative

• Perkins School for the Blind - Kim Charlson, Representative

Associate Members:

• Braille Authority of New Zealand Aotearoa Trust - Maria Stevens, Representative

• Crawford Technologies - Jen Goulden, Representative

• T-Base Communications - Sue Acosta, Representative

How We Serve

BANA works largely through committees composed of transcribers, braille readers, education and rehabilitation professionals, and Board Members. These committees are charged with updating the braille codes, formats, and techniques as well as the on-going business of BANA. Changes to the braille codes may be suggested by readers, transcribers, and producers. Before changes are made, the committees carefully study possible impact on readability and usability of braille as well as the benefit the change would provide. Proposed changes or revisions are submitted to all other technical committees to avoid conflict with existing braille codes. The BANA Board issues final approval for adoption and dissemination.

BANA committees are:

• Braille Formats Technical Committee

• Computer Braille Technical Committee

• Crafts and Hobbies Technical Committee

• Literary Braille Technical Committee

• Mathematics Braille Technical Committee

• Music Braille Technical Committee

• Publications Committee

• Refreshable Braille Technical Committee

• Tactile Graphics Technical Committee

• Ad Hoc Committee on Braille Research

• Ad Hoc Committee on Early Literacy Materials Production

• Ad Hoc Committee on English Braille, American Edition

• Ad Hoc Committee on Signage and Labeling

• Ad Hoc Committee on Foreign Language Materials

• Ad Hoc Committee on Standardized Tests

• Ad Hoc Committee on Uncontracted Braille