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Be All You Can UEB!
A Basic Introduction
Introduction to UEB
Nancy Sanders, Executive Director, Provincial Schools Branch
Contractions
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No new contractions have been introduced in Unified English Braille (UEB)
The following nine contractions in Standard English Braille (SEB) have not
been included in UEB:
ble com dd ally ation to into by o’clock
These were eliminated to ensure one braille symbol is assigned one
meaning. For example, the contraction “ble” could look like a number sign.
Some rules that apply to the remaining 180 contractions, word-signs and
short-forms have changed.
Parameters around when and when not to use contractions have changed,
and some contractions are used more often in UEB.
Spacing
• Spacing will follow the print.
• Do not join words that were previously joined in
SEB (and, for, of, with, a, the).
UEB Prefixes
• In UEB all braille characters are designated as
either a prefix or a root.
• There are eight prefixes: The numeric indicator
plus the braille characters formed from the dots
in the right column of the cell. The UEB
prefixes are:
• Examples of these prefixes will be shown on
the following pages.
Changed Punctuation and
Other Symbols
• The following are examples of punctuation and
symbols using a prefix and a root.
New Symbols
• Here are some examples of symbols that were
not available in SEB (note the prefix and root
formation of these symbols).
A dot is a dot is a dot!
• Wherever a dot that resembles a period
appears in print, dots 2-5-6 are used to
represent the dot.
Capitalization
• Single dot 6 means that the next letter is capitalized (same as
SEB)
Canada
• Double dot 6 means that the next word, or string of letters, is
capitalized (same as SEB)
CANADA
*New*
• Triple dot 6 means that the next passage (3 or more words)
is capitalized. To show the end of the passage, dot 6 dot 3, is
used; this is called a capitalization terminator.
CANADA, OUR HOME AND NATIVE LAND
Grade 1 Indicator
• In SEB, dot 5-6 is known as the letter sign.
• In UEB, dot 5-6 is called the Grade 1
Indicator, and is an integral part of the literary
and math code.
• A braille symbol may have an uncontracted,
contracted or numeric meaning. A grade 1
indicator is used to set grade 1 mode when the
grade 1 meaning of a symbol could be misread
as a contraction or a numeric meaning.
Grade 1 Indicator - Literacy
• A single Grade 1 indicator [dot 5-6] means that the next
symbol is in grade 1.
j
• A double Grade 1 indicator [dot 5-6, 5-6] means that the next
word is in grade 1.
g -g- g- go
• A triple Grade 1 indicator [dot 5-6, 5-6, 5-6] means that the
next passage (three or more words) is in grade 1. To show
the end of the passage, dot 5-6 dot 3, is used; this is called a
grade 1 terminator.
I w-ll l-ve y-u f-r-v-r!
A number is a number is a number!
• In the full adoption of UEB, Canada, similar to
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria
and the UK, have replaced Nemeth Code with
UEB
• All numbers will be represented by the
following:
Operation Signs
• The following are the basic operation signs for:
Grade 1 Indicator - Math
• Grade 1 indicators will not be needed for simple arithmetic
problems involving numbers, operation signs, numerical fractions
and mixed numbers.
3-2 = 1
• As previously stated, a braille symbol may have an uncontracted,
contracted or numeric meaning. A grade 1 indicator is used to set
grade 1 mode when the grade 1 meaning of a symbol could be
misread as a contraction.
• Simple algebraic equations which include letters may need grade 1
symbol indicators where letters stand alone or follow numbers.
y = x+4c
Reflections
• UEB implementation in other countries has
been a gradual process, but has occurred more
quickly than anticipated in most cases
• UEB outcomes for braille readers have been
positive with increased ease of reading and
less ambiguity
Access to UEB Materials
Where will UEB materials be obtained?
• Alternative Education Resources for Ontario
(AERO) has a pivotal role in the production of UEB
materials during the transition from SEB to UEB
• The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
announced that all new requests for braille material
will be produced in UEB as of April, 2013
Where Do You Fit In?
As professionals in the field of vision we
will all take a leadership role in the
implementation of UEB. This is an exciting
time of change and will be most exciting
for our students!
UEB In Action!
The following is a video clip of a grade 10 student
reading a UEB text passage for the first time.
Differences in the UEB code are acknowledged
and explained by the teacher throughout the
video clip. There are 13 differences in the UEB
passage as compared to the same passage in
SEB and yet, the student is able to read the
passage without difficulty. After being introduced
to new symbols once, she is able to decipher
them the second time without assistance.
UEB In Action!
UEB Trainers