Braille Solutions
The LightHouse's Braille Solutions provides blind and visually impaired people access to the printed word and essential information conveyed graphically, as well as solutions for businesses that serve these individuals.
We do this by producing Braille, tactile graphics, audio, and other alternative formats such as DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) -compatible Digital Talking Books (DTB) and “screen reader friendly” electronic text-only versions. This includes information in narratives, forms, charts, graphs, tables and maps.
Cost and turnaround time is dependent upon 1) format, length and complexity of original document, 2) format output requested and 3) the number of copies required. Projects can range from simple meeting agendas to lengthy technical manuals. To receive an estimate for your alternative format needs contact, Access to Information Services (AIS) at 415-431-1481 or ais@lighthouse-sf.org.
Braille can be single-sided or interpoint (double-sided), and can include interline print (printed text adjacent to the braille) and tactile graphics. Standard sizes are 8.5x11” and 11x11.5”, available in plain (stapled if multiple sheets) or 19-hole punch (comb bound), white 90 lb stock. Some capacity exists to produce small runs of “magazine style” (folded and stapled on the spine) brochures measuring 8.5x11” or 5.5x8.5”. Interline print and tactile graphics are printed in black & white and limited to single-sided 8.5x11” and 11x11.5”, though printed full-color covers are available.
Audio is recorded by professional voice artists, either male or female. Graphic elements are given a descriptive narrative. Media for audio is either standard cassette tape in 30-, 60-, and 90-minute lengths; audio CD (limited to 80 minutes per CD); or MP3 (typically stored on CD). Audio recordings can become Digital Talking Books (DTB) with pages, headings and chapters, etc. indexed to be DAISY -compatible.
Navigable DAISY-compatible DTBs can also be generated directly from text and converted into synthesized speech, synthesized speech with text, or text only.
On occasion, we are asked to make a PDF accessible by simply turning it into an electronic plain text document that can be read with a screen reader. Unlike a DTB, these are not indexed with navigation points.
