Braille Center - News

Seminar "The Braille Book – Lines and Points in the Digital Age"

On 11 January 2019, as part of the celebrations of World Braille Day, the Seminar ‘The Braille Book – Lines and Points in the Digital Age’ was held at the University of Coimbra, promoted by the Braille and Complementary Means of Reading Centre (coordinated by the INR), in collaboration with the University of Coimbra, the University of Porto, Santander Universities and Pro-Inclusion – National Association of Special Education Teachers (Pin-ANDEE), which recognised and certified the event as a Short-Term Training Action, in accordance with Order No 5741/2015, as amended by Corrigendum No 470/2015 of 11 June 2015.

In the Digital Age, in addition to raising awareness of the growing importance of the reading and writing system that was created by Louis Braille, for use by people with visual impairment, with this Seminar, it was intended to focus on the debate and reflection on the specificities of the book in Braille and its similarities with the printed book in ink, also aiming to reflect on how to effectively transpose to the book Braille Polygraphism and iconic representation that have been invading the daily life of the printed book, in order to find aptic equivalents of visual aesthetics, together with those in the country and also in Spain, produce books in this format and have developed works in this field of knowledge and know-how.

The opening table included Susana Menezes, Regional Director of Culture of the Center (representing the governing area of Culture), Maria da Conceição Marques, Administrator of Social Action Services of the University of Coimbra and Humberto Santos, President of the Board of Directors of the INR.

O programme of the event It included two conferences, the first given by Ana Teresa Santa Clara, from the Coordinating Office of the School Libraries Network and the second by Ángel David Martín-Blas Cifuentes, Braille Production Technician at the Bibliographic Service of ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles), the latter moderated by Irina Francisco.

The three speakers’ panels were entitled ‘The transcription/production of braille books in English’ (Panel 1), ‘The potential of the braille book’ (Panel 2) and ‘Touching to know: creative experiences in the production of the Braille book” (Panel 3).

In Panel 1, Cristina Miguel, from the Directorate-General for Education, Carlos Ferreira, from the Reading Area for the Visually Impaired of the National Library, João Belchior, from the Professor Albuquerque e Castro Center of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto and Aires Alves, from the Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired of Portugal, with the moderation of Alice Ribeiro, spoke.

Panel 2 had as speakers Inês Marques and Patrícia Valério, from the National Association of Early Intervention, Margarida Loureiro, Pin-ANDEE, Celina Sol, from the Association Promoting the Teaching of the Blind, Célia Sousa, from the Resource Center for Digital Inclusion of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Luís Barata, from the Braille Production Center of Didactic Materials in alternative format, inserted in the Integration and Counseling Center of the Ocial Action Services of the University of Coimbra and was moderated by Augusto Deodato Guerreiro.

Panel 3 was attended by Rosa Neto, from the Cascais Cooperative for the Education and Rehabilitation of Unadapted Citizens, Bruno Brites, winner of the 2014 Jaime Filipe Prize for "The Message", Fernando Pessoa, in Braille, Maria Helena Oliveira, author of the adaptation of "The Little Prince" for visually impaired children, and was moderated by Patrícia Santos.

The conclusions of the Seminar were prepared and presented by Serafim Queirós and the Closing Session was in charge of the President of the Board of Directors of the INR.

In the outside area of the Auditorium where the event took place, there was also a show of books in braille belonging to the collection of the INR as well as other entities such as the CRID of the Polytechnic of Leiria, ONCE (National Association of the Blind of Spain), the Center for Early Intervention in Visual Disability of the National Association of Early Intervention, the Cooperative for the Education and Rehabilitation of Unadapted Citizens of Cascais and Master Bruno Brites, winner of the Eng.o Jaime Filipe Award 2014.

See here the Conclusions of the Seminar, elaborated by Master Serafim Queirós, Member of Braille Nucleus and Pedagogical responsible for the Training Action.