[AERNet] Braille Transcribers? and more resources

KC Dignan kcd at tsbvi.edu
Tue Jan 9 09:26:28 EST 2007


Paula
This was from an email on a listserve.  I thought you might find it 
interesting.. not much, but a bit.  Someone posted a question on how 
to find braille transcribers.  I know that you might no longer be 
interested in getting info about this, but just in case, I thought 
I'd send it along.

kcd

January 6

Hello Tom and List,

There have been a number of good ideas shared on the list.   I would 
add that there is a key resource at APH called the AMP. The Assistive 
Media Producers list is a database at APH of braille transcribers.

And the college contacts Frances Mary  mentioned  who would know of 
additional candidates are leaders at Northwest Vista College's 
program in San Antonio, Texas.    Northwest Vista, AFB and the Texas 
Education Agency partnered to design and develop an extensive college 
series to train people to become a Braille Textbook 
Transcriber.  This was a joint project Frances Mary and I worked on 
together (smile).  You will find more contacts by emailing two key 
people involved with the current college series at Northwest 
Vista.  Contact Melanie Marchand from Northwest Vista College 
at  <mailto:mmarchan at accd.edu>mmarchan at accd.edu  or Vivian Seki 
from  ESC 20 at   <mailto:vivian.seki at esc20.net>vivian.seki at esc20.net

Encouraging districts, colleges and agencies  to focus upon the 
future and build a new path for professional development that 
includes braille transcribers is critically important, but is not 
always recognized as crucial to good programming.  Businesses, 
colleges, school districts, etc. all need to look ahead to find new 
opportunities to train people to become qualified braille 
transcribers.    AFB's work in literacy and education found through 
national research that there is a significant lag in recruitment 
skills and efforts to find qualified braille transcribers  and to 
build the "new base" of qualified people.   At the same time, states 
identified the need as crucial.     So, in 2005, AFB,  with  support 
from Verizon Communications, partnered once again with Northwest 
Vista and moved the series to an online focus.  Another important 
partner that supported this effort was NCLID at the University of 
Northern Colorado.   You can find more about AFB's national research 
in this area at 
<http://www.afb.org/education.asp>www.afb.org/education.asp go to AFB 
Solutions Forum section.

The Northwest College series is now provided online through three 
semesters.    AFB partnered with Northwest Vista and spearheaded the 
development of this new online career. This unique and rewarding 
curriculum is conducted entirely online through Northwest Vista 
College in San Antonio, Texas. Students are required to successfully 
complete three multi-disciplinary semesters to receive the Braille 
Textbook Transcriber Certificate.  The first cohort began in August 
2006 with a full enrollment of 20 people from six states.  The new 
cohort begins in August 2007.

Tom, this Braille Textbook Transcriber program  provides students 
with the necessary general education coursework, applicable workforce 
skills and transcribing experience to successfully perform tasks 
required in the basic braille transcription of K-12 textbooks. 
Graduates will be able to read and write braille; demonstrate 
proficiency in transcribing, braille formatting and proofreading; use 
basic tactile graphic production methods; possess knowledge of 
production technology; and use successful small business practices.

For more information about this career opportunity, visit Northwest 
Vista College at 
<http://www.accd.edu/nvc/areas/braille>http://www.accd.edu/nvc/areas/braille. 
The braille transcriber curriculum brochure is available at the 
college Web page above or at AFB's Web page at 
<outbind://89/www.afb.org/education.asp>www.afb.org/education.asp at 
the braille transcriber section. In addition, you will find a career 
recruitment video and materials to help you in recruiting people.

I commend your district for knowing there is a crucial need for 
qualified and certified braille transcribers as part of the district 
team to serve students with visual impairments.

Best regards,

Mary Ann

Mary Ann Siller, M.Ed.
Project Manager, Professional Development
American Foundation for the Blind
11030 Ables Lane
Dallas, Texas 75229
469-522-1803
FAX:  214-352-3214




----------
From: Frances Mary D'Andrea [mailto:literacy2 at mindspring.com]
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 9:19 AM
To: TomRWoodman at aol.com
Cc: aernet at lists.aerbvi.org
Subject: Re: [AERNet] Braille Transcribers?

Contact the National Braille Association, 
www.nationalbraille.org/  or call their office in Rochester: 585-427-8260.
Or contact CTEVH, California Transcribers & Educators for the 
Visually Handicapped, www.ctevh.org/  Or can leave a message at 323-666-2211.
You might also try sending an email to Mary Ann Siller at AFB, to see 
if she knows of anyone who has finished the transcriber courses at 
Northwest Vista in San Antonio and is looking for a job. Her email is 
<mailto:siller at afb.net>siller at afb.net.
Good Luck!
--FM


On Jan 5, 2007, at 8:20 AM, 
<mailto:TomRWoodman at aol.com>TomRWoodman at aol.com wrote:

>Our school is looking for a full time braille transcriber for the 
>07-08 school year and beyond.  Does anybody have any suggestions on 
>where to advertise or how to seek out such a person?  I just put an 
>ad on SPEDEX and would like to hear some suggestions.  I'm starting 
>on my search early because I know it coulod be tough to find the 
>right person.  Where do transcribers gather?
>Thanks, Tom

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