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ICEB Resolutions 2020
Approved by the 7th General Assembly
of the International Council on English Braille
22 October 2020


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Resolution 1: UEB Support in Digital Braille Tools

Whereas, Unified English Braille (UEB) has been widely adopted by braille authorities across the English-speaking world for the better part of a decade, and is increasingly recognised as the default English braille code in countries where English is spoken as a second language;

Whereas, braille readers, students, teachers and supporting professionals are increasingly exposed to and reliant on braille content produced by automatic digital braille translation systems, including but not limited to, screen readers, refreshable braille displays, electronic braille library services, braille transcription tools and embedded braille translation engines; and

Whereas, many such systems used in popular products continue to exhibit UEB translation errors resulting in inaccurate braille input or output and ultimately a suboptimal braille experience.

This Seventh General Assembly of ICEB therefore resolves to:

Resolution 2: Availability of Braille during Times of National and International Crises

Whereas, braille is literacy, and for millions of persons who are blind, braille is equivalent to print for the sighted;

Whereas, access to accurate and timely information is vital to the safety, inclusion, and full participation of blind persons in all aspects of society, particularly during national or international crises;

Whereas, braille may also be the primary, if not the only, mode of communication available for persons who are deaf-blind; and

Whereas, it is imperative that member countries take all necessary steps to ensure that braille and tactile graphics are made available during national and international crises.

The Seventh General Assembly of ICEB therefore resolves that ICEB:

Resolution 3: Affirming the Importance of Braille for Adults and Older Adults with Acquired Visual Impairment

Whereas, there is a growing prevalence of adults and older adults with acquired visual impairment due to both population growth and aging;

Whereas, the most common reason for referral to vision rehabilitation services today are difficulties related to reading and access to information;

Whereas, access to information is critical to regaining or maintaining independence after acquired visual impairment;

Whereas, braille is an important method of reading and writing that is used with and without technology for both basic and more advanced communication needs;

Whereas, braille may also be the primary, if not the only, mode of communication available for persons who are deaf-blind;

Whereas, braille has been empirically demonstrated as being correlated with higher levels of education, stronger employment outcomes, and higher incomes among blind adults; and

Whereas, there is a long tradition of braille research and services for children, but not necessarily for adults or older adults.

This Seventh General Assembly of ICEB therefore resolves that ICEB:

Resolution 4: Preserving Music Braille Presently Available Only as Hardcopy

Noting with appreciation the past efforts of many people, organizations and countries;

Reminding all participants of both an historic and continuing legacy of music braille;

Considering criteria for undertaking and outcome of the preservation of music braille;

Recognizing the fact that considerable financial commitment is required;

This Seventh General Assembly of ICEB resolves to:

Resolution 5: Documenting Shorthand Braille Codes in an Online Resource

Whereas, braille has a rich history of development and coding over the past 200 years;

Whereas, braille and its founder, Louis Braille, should be celebrated for enabling blind people with the creation of a tactile reading and writing medium;

Whereas, a number of shorthand braille codes have been developed and used prior to the introduction of Unified English Braille; and

Whereas, Unified English Braille is officially endorsed and implemented as the official braille code in all ICEB member countries;

This Seventh General Assembly of ICEB therefore resolves to:

Resolution 6: Marrakesh Treaty

Whereas, the pre-eminence of braille for blind persons is equivalent to that of print for sighted persons;

Whereas, the Marrakesh Treaty established in 2013 provides an outstanding opportunity for braille readers to have vastly increased access to reading material in braille;

Whereas, more than 80 countries in more than 60 jurisdictions have joined the Marrakesh treaty; and

Whereas, the treaty is becoming operational in major markets such as the US, Australia, the EU, and many countries around the world.

This Seventh General Assembly of ICEB therefore resolves that:

Resolution 7: World Braille Council

Whereas, the World Blind Union (WBU) has established a World Braille Council as a focal point for the continued development of braille;

Whereas, ICEB has confirmed its support for the development of a global body, as expressed in Article 3.6 of the ICEB constitution, capable of raising the profile of braille throughout the world;

Whereas, in 2012, WBU made the World Braille Council a permanent committee; and

Whereas, since 2012, the World Braille Council has held only two meetings and has not set up any mechanism for ongoing electronic communication.

This Seventh General Assembly of ICEB therefore resolves to:

Resolution 8: New International Manual of Braille Music Notation

Whereas, braille music is the only universal braille code;

Whereas, there are some elements of music not yet represented in the braille music code;

This Seventh General Assembly of ICEB therefore resolves to:


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Page content last updated: October 24, 2020.