Keystroke: r from Document menu
There are a number of approved braille teaching courses available. These courses are designed to teach braille in easy stages, adding wordsigns, contractions, punctuation, etc., over a number of lessons.
This feature is in no way a substitute for these courses, but it allows you to produce additional braille material for students to help them become more familiar with what has been introduced at each stage.
DBT currently includes 7 courses - BANA (2), BAUK (3) and UEB (2).
Details of each course can be seen by clicking on the appropriate link below:
1 - NLS I.B.B.T. (BANA)
2 - TSVBI Clusters (BANA)
3 - Braille in Easy Steps (BAUK/UKAAF)
4 - Fingerprint (BAUK/UKAAF)
5 - Take off Series (BAUK/UKAAF)
6 - RNZFB STAR (UEB New Zealand)
7 - S.A. Syllabus Level (UEB South Africa)
The first series of "select contractions" steps is based upon the "Instruction Manual for Braille Transcribers," (Fourth Edition, 2000) published by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress. The lesson numbers associated with the steps correspond to that document; the contractions are introduced as follows:
Lesson 4.2: but, can, do, every, from, go, have, just, knowledge, like, more, not, people, quite, rather, so, that, us, very, will, it, you, as
Lesson 4.3: and, for, of, the, with
Lesson 5: ch, sh, th, wh, ou, st, child, shall, this, which, out, still
Lesson 6: ar, ed, er, gh, ow, ble, ing
Lesson 7.2: his, was, were, be, in, enough, en
Lesson 7.5: con, dis
Lesson 7.6: com
Lesson 7.10: good, letter, little, paid, quick, said
Lesson 8.1: to, into, by
Lesson 8.2: bb, cc, dd, ff, gg, ea
Lesson 8.3: about, above, because, below, children, first, great
Lesson 9.1: day, ever, father, here, know, lord, mother, name, one, part, question, right, some, time, under, work, young, character, through, where, ought, there, upon, word, those, whose, these, cannot, had, many, spirit, world, their
Lesson 9.7: according, always, braille, o'clock, perhaps
Lesson 10.1: ound, ance, sion, less, ount, ence, ong, ful, tion, ness, ment, ity, ation, ally
Lesson 10.2: across, almost, also, immediate, must, necessary
Lesson 11 of the Instruction Manual introduces the final group, namely the short-form words: after, afternoon, afterward, again, against, already, although, altogether, before, behind, beneath, beside, between, beyond, blind, friend, together, could, should, would, either, neither, much, such, today, to-day, tonight, to-night, tomorrow, him, himself, its, itself, your, yourself, yourselves, herself, myself, oneself, ourselves, themselves, thyself, declare, declaring, rejoice, rejoicing, conceive, conceiving, deceive, deceiving, perceive, perceiving, receive, receiving
This last level is not in the "Select Contractions" list, because inclusion of the short-form words amounts to full grade 2, which is selected simply by choosing "English/American (Literary)" without "Select Contractions".
The second graduated contractions series is based upon the "Clusters" defined and used by the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
The complete TSBVI "Clusters" sequence is listed below. Note that Cluster 1 is equivalent to grade 1, and Clusters 54 and above are equivalent to grade 2. Those clusters that are omitted in the menu are marked with an asterisk (*). Apart from Cluster 54, the reason that the others are omitted is that they introduce no new contractions nor the letter sign:
1: a, t, m
*2: b, g, i
3: a, that, more, but, go
*4: capital, period, I
*5: r, f, n
*6: x, l, s
7: rather, from, not
8: it, like, so
9: d, do, p, people, k, knowledge
10: y, you, c, can
11: h, have, o, question mark
12: q, quite, u, us, comma
13: w, will, e, every
14: v, very, z, as
15: j, just, and
*16: (Reading exercises)
17: mother, father, right, time, exclamation point
18: lord, some, day, part, name
19: know, young, here, one
20: question, under, work, ever, apostrophe
*21: number sign, numerals
22: hyphen, numeric dates, letter sign
*23: comma in large numbers
24: the, there, braille, ing, him
25: about, according, after, also, afternoon, afterward
26: th, this, although, through, across, already
*27: (Reading exercises)
28: almost, always, blind, either, neither, ed
29: of, by, myself, himself, itself, oneself, yourself
30: had, quick, its, these, cannot, open quote, closed quote
31: sh, shall, should, would, could, good, paid
32: tion, er, herself, perhaps
33: o'clock, was, con, cc, colon
34: ou, out, ought, today, tonight, tomorrow
35: for, ch, child, children, character, such, much
36: ar, ound, above, en, enough
*37: (Reading exercises)
38: great, together, little, ow, ance
39: be, bb, semicolon, spirit
40: because, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond
41: sion, ble, his, your, friend, letter
42: less, their, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
43: with, st, still, first, must, again, against
44: ount, dollar sign, decimal, cent, many
45: percent, fraction bar, ity
46: ence, altogether, immediate, com
*47: (Reading exercises)
48: wh, which, where, world, ea
49: to, ff, in, into, those, said, ong
50: word, were, gg, parentheses
51: ness, ment, necessary, ally
52: dis, dd, gh, ation, ful
53: upon, whose, thyself
*54: conceive, conceiving, deceive, deceiving, declare, declaring, perceive, perceiving, receive, receiving, rejoice, rejoicing
*55: dash, ellipsis, asterisk, italics or underline
*56: double dash, brackets, inner quotes, accent sign, termination sign, degrees
by John Lorimer (revised by Claire Wilson, 2007)
Duxbury Levels
Because three letters are not introduced until Book 7 (j, q, z), but all other letters have been learned by the end of Book 4, this would have to be the first Duxbury level, with the three missing letters taught specially if they occur. So, the Duxbury levels would look like this:
(note: letters j, q and z may occur which are not formally taught until Book 7)
Pre-braille and tracking skills
The alphabet (j, q and z not formally introduced, but may crop up)
Wordsigns: but, can, do, every, from, go, have, knowledge, like, more, not, people, rather, so, that, us, very, will, it, you, and, of, the, in, into, was, in
Contractions: and, of, the, ed, in
Punctuation: full stop, question mark, exclamation mark, comma
Other signs: capital letter sign (dot 6)
Contractions: er, ing
Shortforms: could, good, would
Punctuation: apostrophe
Contractions: st, ar, en, ea
Wordsigns: still, enough
Composite signs: one, time, there, had
Shortforms: about, after, again
Punctuation: Ellipsis
Letters: j, q, z
Wordsigns: which, his, just, quite, as, were
Contractions: wh, ow
5. after Book 8
Wordsign: shall
Contractions: gh, sh
Shortforms: him, said
Punctuation: quotation (speech) marks, hyphen
Wordsigns: out, this
Contractions: ou, th
Composite signs: mother, father, some
Shortforms: across, perhaps
Wordsigns: child, for, with, be
Contractions: ch, com, for, with, be, ble
Composite signs: day, where, -ound, -less
Shortforms: against, quick
Other signs: numeral sign, decimal point (dot 2), mathematical comma (dot 3), pound sign (dots 1-2-3)
Contractions: bb, cc, dd, ff, gg, dis
Composite signs: their, word, these, -ong, -ally, -ful, -ment
Shortforms: although
Punctuation: dash
Wordsigns: by
Contraction: con,
Composite signs: here, know, ought, right, ever, through, work
Shortforms: friend, must, your, today, tomorrow, tonight, afternoon, much, such, herself, himself, myself, yourself, above, before, below, beneath, should
Other signs: italic sign, double italic sign, italic closure sign
Composite signs: -ance, part, name, young, -tion, -ness, -ount
Shortforms: because, behind, beside, between, beyond, children, great, its, little, afterwards, almost, always, first, together
Punctuation: brackets
By the end of Book 14, the cmplete contracted braille code should be familiar (see exceptions below - which would have to be explained if context did not make the meanings apparent)
Composite signs: many, world, those, -ation, question, under, upon, -ence, -ity, -sion
Shortforms: also, already, blind, braille, letter, paid, receive, receiving, themselves, either, neither, immediate, necessary
Other signs: braille letter sign (dots 5-6)
The following rarely used signs have not been taught in Braille in Easy Steps. The pupil is warned at the end of Book 14 that they may encounter some of these unfamiliar signs in their braille reading, and a list is given.
Composite signs: lord, character, cannot, spirit, whose
Shortforms: according, altogether, conceive, conceiving, deceive, deceiving, declare, declaring, itself, o'clock, oneself, ourselves, perceive, perceiving, rejoice, rejoicing, thyself, yourselves
Punctuation: slash, square brackets, inner quotes
Mathematical signs: plus, minus, multiplication sign, division sign, equals, per centage sign, fractions in braille, separation sign
Other signs: bullet point sign (dots 4-5-6, dots 2-5-6), asterisk (dots 3-5 twice), ampersand (dot 4, 1-2-3-4-6), accented letter sign (dot 4), Euro sign (dot 4, e)
The "select contractions" step series is based upon the "Fingerprint" course originally developed in 1993 by the late Nigel Berry, Lecturer in Braille at the Royal National College for the Blind, Hereford, UK, and now published by the RNIB. The contractions are introduced in the following units:
Unit 1: (equivalent to grade 1)
Unit 4: as, but, can, do, every, from, go, have, it, just, knowledge, like, more, not, people, quite, rather, so, that, us, very, will, you
Unit 5: about, above, according, across, and, after, afterward, afternoon, again, against, st, still
Unit 6: almost, already, also, although, altogether, always, th, this, was
Unit 7: be, because, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, were
Unit 8: ch, child, children, could, either, first, friend, good, great, him, neither, sh, shall, should, would
Unit 9: ar, er, immediate, its, letter, little, much, must, necessary, o'clock, paid, perhaps, said, such
Unit 10: blind, braille, ing, quick, the, today, to-day, together, tomorrow, tonight, to-night, your
Unit 11: ble, gh, of, wh, which, with
Unit 12: ed, for, ou, out, ow
Unit 13: by, enough, his, in (as word sign only), into, to
Unit 14: cannot, had, many, spirit, their, these, those, upon, whose, word, world
Unit 15: bb, cc, com, con, dd, dis, ea, en, ff, gg, in (general use)
Unit 16: character, day, ever, father, here, know, lord, mother, name, one, ought, part, question, right, some, there, through, time, under, where, work, young
Unit 17: ally, ance, ation, ence, ful, ity, less, ment, ness, ong, ound, ount, sion, tion
Unit 18 (full grade 2 EXCEPT that the letter sign is not used): conceive, conceiving, deceive, deceiving, declare, declaring, herself, himself, itself, myself, oneself, ourselves, perceive, perceiving, receive, receiving, rejoice, rejoicing, themselves, thyself, yourself, yourselves
Take Off is divided into 12 levels, and a group of grade 2 braille signs is taught at each level. It is assumed that the following braille signs are already known when a pupil starts using Take Off:
The alphabet
All alphabetic wordsigns (excluding k for knowledge)
Upper contractions: and, the
Shortforms: good, little
A small number of grade 2 braille signs are not taught at all in Take Off. These are:
Afterward (afw)
Braille (brl)
conceive (CONcv)
conceiving (CONcvg)
deceiving (dcvg)
lord (dot 5 l)
oneself (dot 5 of)
perceive (pERcv)
perceiving (pERcvg)
rejoice (rjc)
rejoicing (rjcg)
thyself (Thyf)
The Italics signs and rules are also not covered.
Take Off
Series 1
Upper contractions: for, of, ou, ing
Wordsigns: out
Lower contractions: in
Upper contractions: with, ed, st, ar
Wordsigns: still
Lower contractions: to
Shortforms: him
Upper contractions: sh, th, er, ow
Wordsigns: this
Lower contractions: en
Composite contractions: day
Upper contractions: ch
Wordsigns: child
Lower contractions: was, into
Composite contractions: one, some, time, there
Shortforms: children
Upper contractions: wh
Wordsigns: which
Lower contractions: ea, his, were
Composite contractions: under, where
Lower contractions: by
Composite contractions: name, work
Final groupsigns: ation
Shortforms: friend, letter, again, about, your
Upper contractions: gh, ble
Lower contractions: bb, cc, dd, ff, gg, enough
Composite contractions: father, mother, know
Final groupsigns: sion
Shortforms: great, together, said, himself, herself, myself, yourself, perhaps, also, its
Wordsigns: shall
Lower contractions: be, com, dis
Composite contractions: cannot
Final groupsigns: ong, ound, ence
Shortforms: could, would, today, much, such, afternoon, tomorrow, tonight
Composite contractions: right, here
Final groupsigns: ance
Shortforms: because, behind, should, always, o'clock, after
Lower contractions: con
Composite contractions: ever, part, through, many, their
Final groupsigns: ount, ment, tion
Shortforms: almost, first, above, quick, across, already, paid, before, beneath, beside
Alphabetic wordsign: knowledge
Composite contractions: question, ought, character, spirit, world
Final groupsigns: less, ness, ful, ity, ally
Shortforms: declare, deceive, against, immediate, receive, receiving, below, between, beyond
Composite contractions: young, upon, word, these, those, whose
Shortforms: according, themselves, must, neither, necessary, ourselves, either, yourselves, although, blind, altogether, itself, afterwards
The "RNZFB STAR" series is based upon the document entitled "STAR -- Order of introduction of braille signs," prepared by the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind. The contractions are introduced in the following order:
Level 1.1 Alphabet letter wordsigns: like, can, but, knowledge, it, people, every
Level 1.3 Alphabet letter wordsigns: very, go, more, us, you
Level 1.5 Alphabet letter wordsigns: have, rather, do, that, so
Level 1.7 Alphabet letter wordsigns: from, just, quite, will, not, as
Level 1.8 Shortforms: about, above, according, also, again, almost, blind, little, either, immediate
Level 1.9 Shortforms: across, already, altogether, braille, could, deceive, deceiving, declare, declaring, good, great, him, its, letter, paid, said, receive, receiving, today, together, tomorrow, tonight, your, yourselves
Level 1.10 Shortforms: after, afternoon, afterward, always, friend, himself, myself, necessary, neither, quick, rejoice, rejoicing, would, yourself, itself
Level 2.1 Contractions: and, for, of
Level 2.2 Contractions: the, with
Level 2.3 Contractions: st, ar, ing, still
Level 2.4 Contractions: ed, er
Level 2.5 Contractions: ou, ow, out
Level 2.6 Contractions: ch, gh, sh, child, shall
Level 2.7 Contractions:: th, wh, this, which
Level 2.9 Shortforms: themselves, herself, against, first, must, perceive, perceiving, perhaps
Level 2.10 Shortforms: children, much, such, should, although, ourselves, thyself
Level 3.1 Contractions: en, in (groupsign)
Level 3.2 Contractions: be (wordsign) were, his, was
Level 3.3 Contractions: enough, in (wordsign)
Level 3.4 Contractions: be (groupsign) con, dis
Level 3.7 Shortforms: before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, because, conceive, conceiving
Level 3.8 Contraction: ea
Level 3.9 Contractions: bb, cc, ff, gg
Level 4.1 Contractions (dot 5): day, ever, father, here, know, lord, mother
Level 4.2 Contractions (dot 5): name, one, part, question, right
Level 4.3 Contractions (dot 5): some, time, under, work, young
Level 4.4 Shortform: oneself
Level 4.5 Contractions (dot 5): there, where, ought
Level 4.6 Contractions (dot 5): character, through
Level 4.7 Contractions (dots 45): upon, word, these
Level 4.8 Contractions (dots 45): those, whose
Level 4.9 Contractions (dots 456): cannot, had, many
Level 4.10 Contractions (dots 456): spirit, world, their
Level 5.1 Contractions (dots 46): ound, ance, ount
Level 5.2 Contractions (dots 46): sion, less
Level 5.3 Contractions (dots 56): ence, ong, ful, ness
Level 5.4 Contractions (dots 56) (Fully contracted UEB): tion, ment, ity
The "S.A. Syllabus" series is based upon the document entitled "Syllabus -- Order in Which Braille Contractions Are Learnt", prepared by Reinette Popplestone for the University of Cape Town Disability Unit, for teaching English Braille to students in South Africa. The contractions are introduced in the following order:
Level 1.1 Alphabetic word signs: but, people, can, quite, do, rather, every, so, from, that, go, us, have, very, just, will, knowledge, it, like, you, more, as, not
Level 1.2 Five contractions: and, for, of, the, with
Level 1.3 Initial-letter contractions with dot 5: day, part, ever, question, father, right, here, some, know, time, lord, under, mother, work, name, young, one, there
Level 1.4 Two related contractions: these, their
Level 2.1 Short forms: about, good, above, great, according, him, across, immediate, after, little, afternoon, letter, afterward, necessary, again, neither, also, paid, almost, quick, already, said, altogether, today, always, together, blind, tomorrow, braille, tonight, could, would, either, its, friend, your
Level 2.2 Group signs: gh, ed, er, ow, ar, ing
Level 2.3 Group signs which also have a word meaning: ch, child, sh, shall, th, this, wh, which, ou, out, st, still
Level 2.4 Initial-letter contractions with dots 45 and 456: upon, cannot, word, had, those, many, whose, spirit, world
Level 2.5 Two lower contractions: en, in (as part-word only)
Level 3.1 Lower group signs: ea, be (as part-word only), bb, con, cc, dis, ff, gg
Level 3.2 Lower word signs: be, enough, were, his, in, was
Level 3.3 The remaining initial-letter contractions: character, through, where, ought
Level 3.4 The remaining short forms: against, itself, although, yourself, declare, yourselves, declaring, themselves, deceive, children, deceiving, should, first, thyself, himself, ourselves, herself, because, myself, before, must, behind, much, below, perhaps, beneath, perceive, beside, perceiving, between, receive, beyond, receiving, conceive, rejoice, conceiving, rejoicing, oneself, such
Level 3.5 Terminal group signs: ound, ence, ance, ong, sion, ful, ness, tion, ount, ment, ity, less
Level 4.1 Contractions from pre-unified code: o'clock, ble, com, dd, to, into, by, ation, ally
Note: Level 4.1 is, naturally, not relevant when Unified English Braille is the basis of the series as level 3.5 constitutes fully contracted UEB.