#brailledisplay — Public Fediverse posts

Braille Literacy Month is a great time to explore the Split Braille feature in JAWS. This feature allows Braille display users to split their display into two regions, making it easier to compare or track content from different locations at once.

Learn how it works and when to use it in our YouTube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk-npwu4WEBRsJMiElYC9cMmI7NtlNpIT&si=ZoZ2vP1Ys16YiuvU

#BrailleLiteracyMonth #Braille #BrailleLiteracy #BrailleDisplay #JAWS

This is a real long shot, but does anyone happen to have any documentation for the Papenmeier Notex 40P? I bought one because old gadgets are cool, but even Papenmeier don't have any documentation for it (I emailed them and everything).
Please boost for reach :)

#blind #assistiveTechnology #assistive_technology #braille #brailleDisplay #braileNoteTaker #Papenmeier #notex #madeInWestGermany #retro #vintage #fedihelp

@RaineyDay Hahaha I hear ya there friend. And for those who took notice of the #Monarch hashtag we're speaking of the multi-line #BrailleDisplay for the #Blind not the gloriously colored creatures.

I have finally become acquainted with my #MantisQ40 #BrailleDisplay and this week, I'll be adding it to my workflow. With multiple #ministry meetings a couple of rehearsals and private #music practice, it is sure to be put through its paces. After reassigning the thumb buttons, I was thrown for a loop when I first paired it with my MacBook Pro and realized that the button assignments were not as I had chosen them for the operation of the Mantis. A few adjustments to Braille in the Voiceover utility and my using the right buttons had everything working as it should. I have it paired with iPhone, iPad and Mac using Bluetooth, and have the USB connection for my Windows PC. The solid Bluetooth connection impresses me, and I appreciate having full control of my connected devices without one of them cutting in at an inopportune time. I'm not soaring yet, but definitely increasing altitude, and thoroughly enjoying the ride into another generation of electronic #Braille.

Today is bittersweet as it has become apparent that I am truly ready for a new #Brailledisplay. The old Active #Braille 2011, affectionately known as "Clink" from its little system noises, is developing a flakey bluetooth connection. It still works great as a standalone unit and with USB connected to the computers, but at the ripe, old age of 14 years, with no more firmware updates due to the 2021 model being released, it is definitely time to move forward.

I've opted for the Mantis Q-40 with a Turtleback case and have just placed the order today. The decision was not an easy one. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Handy Tech experience, but the price point of the Mantis won out. I didn't want a lot of extra bells and whistles, just a solid Braille display with usb ane Bluetooth connectivity and very basic standalone notetaker functionality. Honestly, if it weren't for the noisy display, I would have considered the Orbit line of products.

As I await my new Mantis, I just want to say a heartfelt thanks to all in our #Blind community who publish articles and reviews about these devices for those of us who do not readily have an opportunity to have hands-on experience with multiple Braille displays. I also want to thank everyone who manufactures and distributes Braille displays. It means so much to have such a wonderful variety of tech from which to choose.

Will keep y'all posted. Blessings from Charleston, South Carolina, and y'all stay cool.

🌟 Tech Toward Triumph: Help Me Access the World Through Braille 🌟

Hi all,

I’ve launched a Crowdfunder campaign to raise support for a Handy Tech Activator Braille display—a device that would make a huge difference in my life. My mom and I created this campaign together, and she wrote a timeline of my health journey and everything I’ve been through. It’s been a long road, and this technology would help me move forward with more independence and opportunity.

🔗 https://www.crowdfunder.com/p/techtowardi-triump

This Braille display would allow me to:

• Access digital content independently
• Continue my studies and creative work
• Stay connected and advocate for myself more effectively

If you can donate or share the campaign, it would mean the world to me. Every bit of support helps me take one more step toward triumph.

Thank you for reading, supporting, and believing in me. 💙

#BrailleDisplay #AccessibilityMatters #TechTowardTriumph #DisabilityAdvocacy #Crowdfunder #BlindTech #HandyTechActivator #Braille #blind #disability

Hi everyone! How’s your day going?

I’m really excited—my new iPhone 16 Pro Max is arriving tomorrow! 🎉📱

I got a refund from my university’s financial aid office, probably because I had to drop a course due to being sick. After talking it over with my mom, we agreed I needed something positive to look forward to after everything I’ve been through lately.

I’m still recovering from a severe reaction to a medication I was prescribed, and my rheumatoid arthritis has me mostly bedridden. My current phone, an iPhone 13 Mini, is showing its age and not running well. I’ve been using a Pixel 9 Pro through the Google Accessibility Trusted Testers program, but I’ve always preferred iPhones—so I used part of the refund to order a new one from Apple today. It’s scheduled to arrive tomorrow, and I can’t wait!

We’re also planning to launch a GoFundMe soon to help me upgrade my Braille display. The one I have is a few years old, and my dream device is the Handy Tech Activator. My mom really wants to help me get it, and I’m so grateful.

Tonight, I’m planning to reset my old Apple Watch to give to my mom. It’s not working well for me anymore—especially with the pain in my wrists and hands—and it’s too focused on fitness. I tried using it for health tracking, but it wasn’t a good fit for how I manage things now.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you’re all doing okay. 💜

#DisabilityLife #ChronicIllness #BlindTech #iPhone16ProMax #Accessibility #BrailleDisplay #RheumatoidArthritis #blind #AppleAccessibility #GoogleTrustedTester #GoFundMe #HealthJourney #disability #spoonie #ChronicIllness

I should have listened to others about writing on the Mac with VoiceOver and a Braille display. Microsoft Word is sluggish, adds random characters, and makes uni work a nightmare. IA Writer was the most stable of the alternatives but still sluggish, although it didn’t insert random characters. On macOS I couldn’t find a way to convert from Markdown to Word format like I can on iOS. Nisus Writer was also better than Word but still had quirks. I have to work in a document that contains all the questions, and IA Writer did a great job of converting it to Markdown. I’m now thinking of trading the Mac in for an iPad, which I know works well with Markdown and Word conversion. I love the Mac in other respects, but this one issue is a deal breaker. I’m also having problems browsing the web using Braille. I want to use the rotor like on iOS, but it won’t work at all. Even though I know there are headings on the page, I get a ding every time I try to use the rotor. #VoiceOver #BrailleDisplay #MacAccessibility #BlindTech #MacOS #MicrosoftWord #UniLife #iPadPro

BRLTTY problem on a fresh Raspbian OS in console mode: Uppon typing onto the command prompt, the cursor walks along the Braille display, but no character is displayed at all. When the monitor is disconnected, the Braille display shows whats written on the cmd line. Everything else is displayed correctly when navigating with the Braille display, as long as its a static text such as a system message. Any idea what this can cause? ... Update: After connecting a smaller monitor, also typed characters on the command prompt are displayed again. Seems, as BRLTTY doesn't like monitors larger 27 inches with this config. #help #linux #brltty #blind #BrailleDisplay

Ok @main @mastoblind give me your suggestions for must have #NVDA add-ons. I operate my PC completely with a #BrailleDisplay over bluetooth, and have the Braille Extender, Resource Monitor, and Windows Essentials add-ons that I remember. If an add-on is not in the store please include a link.

Thanks everyone for the great recommendations for MS Word alternatives! I’m now on the hunt for a good PDF reader that works well with JAWS on Windows 11. Or even something that can convert PDFs to text files so I can read them with my Braille display and add notes easily. Any suggestions?

#JAWS #BlindTech #PDF #Accessibility #Windows11 #ScreenReader #DisabilityTech #BrailleDisplay #AccessibleApps

@main @mastoblind Ok coming up on a month in and my #Beelink EQR6 #MiniPC has been great, best experience with a computer since I went #Blind. I have it set up as an always on headless device that I am operating with bluetooth headphones, my Bi40x #BrailleDisplay, and #NVDA.

Ok, @main @mastoblind so I have a quandary, I got a new PC, it works great, I have been using it ton with #NVDA and my #BrailleDisplay, and I have realized I have no clue what to do with a PC… I have Discord, Outlook, and Reddit open almost always, but that's all things I do on my phone as well.

@main @mastoblind Ok anyone know if there's a screen saver type add on for #NVDA that will update focus? Due to either something with NVDA itself, or just good old #Microsoft being stupid it appears that #BrailleDisplay connected over bluetooth cannot clear screen savers, or do really anything after being disconnected for any amount of time without first moving the focus via something like a Qwerty keyboard. All that's needed is something that would overlay a few objects after nothing has updated focus for a bit, and then just juggle it between them.

Ok so the #Beelink EQ14 is on its way back, the idea of running an always on headless device which I could just swap over to whenever with my #BrailleDisplay worked in theory, but the unit itself was an absolute mess from start to finish. I am going to look into a #MiniPC from a more well known brand, maybe a #Lenovo.

Meet the March Freedom Scientific Student of the Month! Toby is a senior in Pennsylvania who started using JAWS and the Focus 40 Braille display when he was 16. Toby enjoys coding. Projects he created include a web-based interface for playing chess and a text chat app. "JAWS and the Focus 40 allow me to code independently, which is something I did not have access to before." Read his story: https://blog.freedomscientific.com/march-2025-student-of-the-month/

#FreedomScientific #StudentOfTheMonth #JAWS #BrailleDisplay

Meet the March Freedom Scientific Student of the Month! Toby is a senior in Pennsylvania who started using JAWS and the Focus 40 Braille display when he was 16. Toby enjoys coding. Projects he created include a web-based interface for playing chess and a text chat app. "JAWS and the Focus 40 allow me to code independently, which is something I did not have access to before." Read his story: https://blog.freedomscientific.com/march-2025-student-of-the-month/

#FreedomScientific #StudentOfTheMonth #JAWS #BrailleDisplay

Ron Miller shares "6 Ways to Customize Your Focus Blue Braille Display" in this training video, check it out on our Freedom Scientific Training YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/lUPZKJ3n3Mk?si=e0DZxYkXwhpm7HHq

#FreedomScientificTraining #BrailleDisplay

Want to know how to turn Highlighting On/Off on the Focus Blue Braille Display? Check out this short video with Ron Miller.
#BrailleDisplay #BrailleLiteracyMonth #BrailleLiteracy

@gocu54 I like the Logitech MX Mechanicals but know others who love the regular Logitech MX's too. For me it's the best of all worlds. I get to have red mechanical switches that feel nice and are quieter and I can use it with Windows, Mac (when I had that) and iOS. I also use my #Mantis #BrailleDisplay which could also be considered a bluetooth keyboard too I suppose.

Meet the January Student of the Month! Brielle, a fourth grader from CA, began using JAWS and the Focus 40 Blue braille display six months ago. She loves using both products to complete assignments in and out of the classroom. “I like learning a lot of stuff. In math class, I use the Braille Math Editor and JAWS to complete math problems. I also use JAWS and the Focus to do assignments and take tests.”

Read her story: https://blog.freedomscientific.com/january-2025-student-of-the-month/

#StudentOfTheMonth #Braille #BrailleDisplay #JAWS

Meet the January Student of the Month! Brielle, a fourth grader from CA, began using JAWS and the Focus 40 Blue braille display six months ago. She loves using both products to complete assignments in and out of the classroom. “I like learning a lot of stuff. In math class, I use the Braille Math Editor and JAWS to complete math problems. I also use JAWS and the Focus to do assignments and take tests.”

Read her story: https://blog.freedomscientific.com/january-2025-student-of-the-month/

#StudentOfTheMonth #Braille #BrailleDisplay #JAWS

Tune into ACB Radio on 1/23 at 3 PM ET for the Vispero Presentation: Tips for Reading eBooks with Refreshable Braille. We’ll provide tips for accessing eBooks with your refreshable braille display. Request an invitation at [email protected]

#FreedomScientificTraining #Braille #BrailleDisplay

Turning Status Cells On and Off in your Focus Braille Display! January is Braille Literacy Month, and Ron Miller’s got you covered with some really helpful tips for the Focus Braille Display.

#Braille #BrailleLiteracyMonth #BrailleDisplay #JAWS #Blind #ScreenReader #Accessibility

Did you know our Freedom Scientific Training YouTube channel has a variety of short training videos for the Focus Braille Displays? Check out this video of Ron Miller demonstrating a feature of the Focus 40 Blue Refreshable Braille Display and JAWS called Braille Study Mode: https://youtu.be/n-Evy1j7Gt4?si=X4Q1b8JvkBQQQ8tY

#Braille #BrailleDisplay #BraillieLiteracy #BrailleLiteracyMonth

Re: Last boosted post I wonder if anyone has had occasion to put this Cadence #BrailleDisplay through its paces.

Celebrate Braille Literacy Month! Join us on Thursday, January 16 at Noon ET for the live webinar, Ten Power Tips for Using Braille with JAWS. We'll walk you through setting up your braille display, discuss important commands, and demonstrate valuable features designed to help you be more productive when using braille and JAWS.

Register today: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7ptmcJZxRry036pM2Oe7Hw#/registration

#JAWS #FreedomScientificTraining #Braille #BrailleDisplay #BrailleLiteracy

I may have had a bit of fun with #Gemini

https://g.co/gemini/share/13168acd4277

#braille #brailledisplay @mastoblind

Meet the November Freedom Scientific Student of the Month! Oscar, a sophomore from Missouri, began using JAWS in 2019 when he got his first computer. Oscar also uses a Focus 40 refreshable braille display. “I use JAWS and braille to complete classwork both in and out of the classroom,” he explains. Read his full story: https://blog.freedomscientific.com/november-2024-student-of-the-month/

#JAWS #BrailleDisplay #StudentOfTheMonth

Meet the November Freedom Scientific Student of the Month! Oscar, a sophomore from Missouri, began using JAWS in 2019 when he got his first computer. Oscar also uses a Focus 40 refreshable braille display. “I use JAWS and braille to complete classwork both in and out of the classroom,” he explains. Read his full story: https://blog.freedomscientific.com/november-2024-student-of-the-month/

#JAWS #BrailleDisplay #StudentOfTheMonth

As it has been a while and I could have done this better last time here’s my #introduction. I’m a #blind #parent, #braille user, and #musician. I have been blind for 5 years, learned braille over the last 3 years, and spend most of my time juggling being a stay at home dad, and staff for #OurBlind, mainly on our Discord and the r/blind subreddit. I also read a lot, mainly fantasy, mostly on my #kindle with the #voiceview #screenreader, though also read on a #Brailledisplay.

https://ourblind.com/

So I am getting a 40 cell #BrailleDisplay finally.

so, what am I missing! Can not connect this BI 40X to my computer via Bluetooth... It will connect to IOS, but WINDOWS 11 never sees it. Any ideas? #A11y #BrailleDisplay

Does anyone know of a way to more easily put books in to an SD Card? I want to download bookstore books to my BrailleXL, but its really hard to do because the Braille doesn’t have net capabilities, I have to download the books from Bookstore directly and put the files in to the display by extracting the folder and all that shit manually for each book to work. Any suggestions would be awesome. #Blind #BrailleDisplay #QBrailleXL #Bookshare #Books

We are celebrating Braille Literacy all month! Check out this news segment from KLTV featuring East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind: https://www.kltv.com/2024/01/07/east-texas-professional-explains-how-technology-has-changed-braille-reading/

#Braille #BrailleLiteracy #FocusBrailleDisplay #BrailleDisplay

Join Ron, Bill, and Shelly on Thursday, January 11 at Noon Eastern for the live webinar: Celebrate Braille Literacy with Focus. January is Braille Literacy Month and we will be highlighting the Focus braille displays, the importance of braille literacy, and much more! Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XoFHxDqWTQ6jkWuiWy-LVg#/registration

#Braille #BrailleLiteracy #BrailleLiteracyMonth #BrailleDisplay #FreedomScientificTraining

@miki #OrbitResearch already has easily replaceable batteries in all of their #BrailleDisplay and most of their other products as far as I know. However the #orbitreader20 and #orbitReader20Plus do not use USB-C which is another problem they would need to address.

So I am loving #talkback 14.0 which rolled out yesterday and is almost entirely focused on #braille, #BrailleScreenInput , and #BrailleDisplay support including additional editing functions for displays and editing, granular control, and additional gestures within braille input.

Edit: Link to changes. https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/13769260?hl=en&ref_topic=10601875

https://www.notey-project.com

The Notey, a hacked together low cost "#Braille Note Taker" solution made by a #blind citizen hacker with off the shelf #hardware and pretty minimal effort, is really an awesome idea. Anything that sticks it to the #AT manufacturers while providing a comparable solution to their often ridiculously limited and overpriced products is good in my book.

Unfortunately however, since it uses #JAWS scripts to work, it currently requires the use of JAWS, an expensive commercial #ScreenReader that costs $800 to $1200 USD to buy outright. Since only the U.S. and Canada currently have the $95 annual JAWS license option, I think it sadly still fails to bring the price down enough to be attainable for many people.

A very interesting space to watch though... If it can be made to work with #NVDA, a #FOSS Screen Reader solution, then it could be workable for people in allot more areas. I hope that the NVDA add-on community can lend some assistance here and maybe lighten the load on the creator, Drew Weber, @_IllegallyBlind on Twitter.
#accessibility
#A11Y
#Disability
#VisionImpairment
#VisuallyImpaired
#DeafBlind
#Tech
#AssistiveTechnology
#BrailleDisplay
#MiniPC
#Hacks

Looks like my Focus 40 Blue #BrailleDisplay has bit the dust after just 3 months of use. Unit arbitrarily turns off at random intervals. I've tracked down the likely culprit to a wiggly power switch which activates of its own accord. Exceedingly poor timing given I'm in the middle of the last 3 weeks of my semester, but not much I can do about it. Anyone else had this experience? #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #Braille #BlindMastodon #BlindTwitter