Braille House Services

No. In fact, braille is not printed at all! Braille is embossed. We are unable to emboss print on 80 GSM paper and instead, use a 150-180 GSM paper which is heavier, and thus, able to hold the raised dots.  We can also emboss on adhesive braille label, which is clear sticky sheet and can adhere to many surfaces.  Or you can have your business cards embossed up to 250 GSM, without gloss.

No. Braille is not like fonts. It doesn’t come in different sizes or shapes. There is one standard size. This is so it can be easily read under the fingertip.

MS Word documents are preferred. PDFs are also accepted, but typically require extra steps and therefore, incur additional charges. 

Transcription fees vary depending on the project.

Transcription costs can be influenced by:

• The number of pages
• the document’s complexity (e.g. just text, or inclusion of tables, graphs, forms, and/or images)
• text accessibility (e.g. provided in Word or PDF format)
• the type of braille required (i.e. grade 1 or grade 2 braille)
• whether or not the text is in braille alone, or twin vision (large print and braille)
• single or double-sided (interpoint) embossing
• any binding requirements, and cover selected

We will provide you with a competitive quote after consulting with you and determining your needs. 

Yes, we often produce twin vision documents that have large print and braille embossed line-by-line.

The main paper sizes we use are A4 (21 x 29.7cm), or 27.94 x 29.21cm paper. We can also emboss folded documents on A4 paper (creating A5 size brochures) or A3 (creating A4 size brochures). We are selective with the stock paper we use.

We can fold and bind up to five (5) pages of A4 or A3 pages using staples. Beyond five pages, we would need to use a spiral comb binding.

Each job is unique. Some jobs can be turned around within a few days if needed. We will work with you to produce your job according to your timeline.

Yes, digital braille ready format (brf) files, sometimes called eBraille.  Brf files are supported on electronic devices such as notetakers and braille displays. We can transcribe your documents into brf files. 

We’ve produced braille documents for restaurants, hotels, schools, libraries, all levels of government, nonprofits, insurance companies and many more. We are up to the challenge of working with new sectors and take pride in being able to make reading accessible regardless of vision impairment. Put your brand’s best message forward by making it inclusive and accessible, inviting everyone to read it!

Absolutely. We can package and ship your document(s) to you. Alternatively, you can pick up your order during regular business hours (8:30am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday).

Grade 1 braille is the most basic form of braille. It is often used for signage. Every letter is transcribed, making the document longer than a grade 2 version.

Grade 2 braille uses contractions, where combinations of letters present as a single character. Grade 2 braille is the most widely accepted form of braille and for experienced braille readers it is easier to use than grade 1 braille. Grade 2 braille takes up less space, making the document shorter than a grade 1 version of the same material.

We will work with you to determine the best option. Most signage (i.e. lift buttons and toilet direction signs) is in grade 1 braille to ensure vision impaired individuals with minimal braille proficiency can read them. 

Grade 2 contains contractions and makes the document shorter but may limit the audience that the document is accessible to.  For long documents and menus, we recommend grade 2 braille. 

If my document is bound using comb binding, what are the options for the cover?

Braille House offers two options for covers for comb bound books / booklets:

1. 1. Clear plastic on the front, and black card and clear plastic on the back
   2. Hard coloured plastic on the front and back

We perform our braille transcription, embossing and binding on location at Braille House’s facilities. This safeguards our final products meet our high standards of quality and accuracy.

1. Braille House receives, in Word or PDF format, documents to be transcribed
2. We review your document
3. If the document is provided as a PDF, we convert it (or type if necessary) to a Word document
4. Our transcribers import information into Duxbury and transcribe into braille
5. We perform a quality assurance check to ensure your document is accurate
6. The document is then embossed in-house on one of our braille embossers
7. We perform a second quality assurance check to ensure your document is finished to a high standard
8. If required, we bind your document
9. We package and ship your order.

Braille House is a peak body for braille and has over 125 years of experience in providing accessible, high-quality documents, resulting in a reputable track record.

Whether you need a one-time braille transcription and embossing or regular customer communications, Braille House is here to serve you.

Our braille transcription process meets or exceeds the guidelines set by the Australian Braille Authority (ABA). Our transcribers are ABA certified, and we adhere to the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) standards for Unified English Braille (UEB). 

Braille House has multiple braille embossers, and we can provide fast and accurate transcriptions for a wide variety of documents.

The Braille House Capacity Statement  provides further information on the organisation’s capability in servicing your needs.