Computerised Braille - 20 Years of 'Good News at Their Fingertips'
Compass Braille is a registered charity that has, by the Grace of God, been transcribing and producing Braille Bibles and related books for the past 2 decades. Produced in 42 languages and despatched to 120 destinations worldwide, our Braille is used by overseas groups in Churches, Schools, Training Programmes and Community Healthcare Projects. In collaboration with the United Bible Societies, who identify the needs, we produce around 8000 Braille Bible portions each year.
From inception, Compass Braille has had a unique approach to Braille production; being the first to use computer technology to both transcribe and produce Braille in various languages. Having been the first Braille producers to develop the pioneering work of computerised Braille transcription we have since developed our own in-house computer program designed to transcribe and format languages into Braille in the complex Bible layout.
In 2007, a climate controlled Micro Braille Unit was developed specifically for use in Chennai, India. This was to facilitate a local group with production of Braille Booklets written specifically for their outreach programmes. In 2008 the Press was relocated from Moretonhampstead, Devon to Ware, Hertfordshire. This was a critical time in the life of Compass Braille but relocation was vital in securing the future of the organisation.
From early beginnings, when the goal was to produce the Braille Bible in 11 Indian languages, to today, when the Bible and a catalogue of Books and Booklets have been produced in 42 languages, Compass Braille's work has been in a state of growth. This is surely good news for visually impaired people when Braille offers them:
Education, Job Opportunities, Integration, Self-confidence, Guidance and the Entitlement to simply enjoy reading for themselves.
To continue this work and develop more innovative overseas projects we need new prayer supporters and financial backers. The prospects are endless and we want other UK agencies to be part of this exciting and growing work among one of the world's poorest and most marginalised people groups.
