A Braille transcriber converts printed materials into Braille, making them accessible to the blind and visually impaired. Braille is a tactile writing system that can be used people who are blind or visually impaired. Instead of reading with their eyes, people read Braille with their fingers. Other methods for making printed materials accessible to the blind include creating audio versions of the materials so that people can listen to the information.
Textbook transcription is one of the most common fields in which a Braille transcriber can work. Braille transcribers, on the other hand, can work with a variety of written and printed materials. The first task for the transcriber is to read the text and make notes about its structure and content. Any images in the text, for example, will need to be described, and any footnotes, sidebars, or other visual ways of presenting information in the text will need to be formatted for Braille users.
Simply converting text to Braille necessitates familiarity with the Braille alphabet as well as Braille style and formatting conventions. The Braille transcriber, on the other hand, must consider how to convey information that is presented visually. A picture or chart, for example, will need to be described so that a blind reader can understand what is on the page. Similarly, footnotes must be formatted so that blind users recognize them as such and can determine whether a text contains footnotes with a casual review, just as sighted users can.
The work must be proofread for errors and readability after the Braille transcriber is finished. In order to present printed material in a way that is easy to understand, absorb, and engage with, Braille transcribers must be able to think like visually impaired and blind readers. Readers can be irritated a faulty Braille transcriber’s work, just as sighted readers can be irritated books with poor formatting or difficult-to-read text.
Braille transcribers are trained and certified a number of organizations. These organizations provide people with the information they need to effectively and consistently transcribe Braille. Some Braille transcribers are volunteers who want to help make printed materials more accessible, while others may be paid for their services. The need for transcribers fluctuates, and it can be difficult to turn it into a paying job.