Braille Transcription Training

The days of Braille transcription being a primarily volunteer activity are over. Because of the exploding demand for Braille textbooks and materials first documented by the American Federation for the Blind (AFB) in 2000, Braille transcription has blossomed into a legitimate career in which professionals can earn up to $50,000 plus benefits. Training is a prerequisite to receive certification from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), a division of the Library of Congress, for Braille transcription. Only a few institutions provide such training.

National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute began providing a Braille transcription training and certification program in 2007 under a grant by the NLS itself. Prospective transcribers can take the course through locally sponsored classes or by "correspondence from the Jernigan Institute," according to their website. The program culminates in a final exercise in which students transcribe a 35-page manuscript in a test that, if passed, leads directly to NLS certification. There's no tuition, and the NFB's website provides information on how to apply for the course.

Northwest Vista College

Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas, made history as the first institution to offer a college-level study program for Braille literary transcription, which was initiated under a partnership with the AFB in 2002. The program lasts three semesters and offers 36 credit hours. It leads to a certificate from the college and prepares students for certification from the NLS.

ExpertRating Online

ExpertRating provides two six-week-long online courses in Braille transcription, an introductory course and an intermediate course. The courses are taught by a certified teacher for the visually impaired, are inexpensive ($99 for each) and start every month. It should be noted that while ExpertRating is a reputable ISO 9001-2000 accredited company, its website makes no mention if students who complete the course are ready for NLS certification.

BRL: Braille Through Remote Learning

Would-be transcribers feeling particularly dedicated can try out the Braille Through Remote Learning (BRL) courses that are available entirely through their website at brl.org. The drawback is that these courses are unsupported--meaning there are no instructors and thus no chance for exercises to be graded or for feedback--because the BRL no longer receives the funding to support it. According to their website, the courses were developed with the U.S. Department of Education's Braille Literacy Program and should prepare students for NLS certification.

Continued Training

If you've already proven yourself, gotten certified, started a Braille transcriber career and are looking for even more challenges and opportunities, the NFB also provides courses for Braille math and music transcription as well as Braille proofreading. The NFB requires sighted applicants to have been NLS-certified in literary transcription for six months, but there's still no tuition and each course leads to another NLS certification in the chosen subject.

References

• National Federation of the Blind (NFB): Braille Certification Training Program
• Texas School for the Bind and Visually Impaired: New Career as a Braille Textbook Transcriber
• Alamo Colleges: Northwest Vista College Launches First
• ExpertRating: Online Braille Transcription Course
• BRL: Braille Through Remote Learning