by Sharon Lovering
The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The ACB Braille Forum” cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to slovering@acb.org, or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering’s mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date.
New Version of the BrailleNote
HumanWare has recently launched its new BrailleNote evolve — a breakthrough in accessible technology and a new era of braille computing.
BrailleNote evolve is a braille-first, all-in-one companion computer, designed to grow with you. It is built on Windows 11 Proand powered by the trusted KeySoft experience, it brings together the simplicity of braille with the power and flexibility of a full computer.
Thanks to collaboration with Vispero, BrailleNote evolve can now be used with JAWS, offering users the option of a powerful, widely trusted screen reader for even greater flexibility and opportunity.
For more information, visit https://store.humanware.com/hus/braillenote-evolve-32.html, or call 1-800-722-3393.
Essentially Braille Now Offers Repairs
Essentially Braille has always been well known for their fair prices and transcription products. They now offer braille writer, braille display, and some limited embosser repairs. Repairman Benjamin Drew does fair work for a fair price.
Essentially Braille
7478 Sulphur Rd.
Sulphur, KY 40070
Office: (502) 706-5007
Benjamin Drew, Repairs@essentiallybraille.com
Also, to keep prices fair, we accept donations of old braille writers (working or not), braille displays (even if they don’t work), and certain embossers that are no longer in service. Send your items to the address above or contact us for more information. Receiving these items allow us to help others without having to charge for parts.
Introducing the Perkins Braille Bloom
Perkins School for the Blind recently announced the release of the Perkins Braille Bloom™, designed to connect the Perkins Brailler to the Internet. By clipping the Perkins Braille Bloom onto the bottom of a classic Perkins Brailler, a Perkins Brailler can be connected to the Internet via USB or Bluetooth and become a plug-and-play braille keyboard for any computer, tablet or mobile device.
Key features include:
- Powers braille literacy: Brings children's braille learning to life on any screen
- Classroom integration: Powers braille instruction for any teacher in real time
- Protects the warranty: The only official accessory to the Perkins Brailler
- Universal compatibility: Works with smartphones, tablets and computers
- Seamless setup: Connects via Bluetooth 5.0 or USB; no special apps or drivers required
For more information, visit Perkins.org/Bloom.
Why Not Me?
“Why Not Me?” follows Christopher as he comes out of a state of limbo: being half-alive and half-resting for a while longer than a man would like to remain asleep. Even though time had stopped for him, it did not for others. So, when the coma finally ended, nothing and no one seemed to be the same. Feeling like a foreigner in his own body, Christopher tried to make sense of his new reality. The life he once knew was nothing but a blurry memory now. Was he able to leave that life behind? Did he suffer at the hands of the people he loved so dearly? Did he ever return to a normal life after he opened his eyes? A memoir of a blind visionary, of how a broken man experiences a rebirth and struggles of having to overcome a physical disability and a visual impairment to fit in a world that sees him differently, this book is bittersweet and achingly realistic.
This book is available in hardback, paperback, and as a Kindle book, all on Amazon. Visit https://www.amazon.com/Why-Not-Me-Memoir-Visionary-ebook/dp/B0CLK3Q1SY for more details.
Searching for TSBVI Classmates
Ryan Swatsell of Austin, Tex., is looking to reconnect with his classmates from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. He attended the school from 1993 through 2003, and attended a mainstream school nearby from 1994 through 2002. You may contact him via phone or text at (512) 779-3103.
USA Goalball Men's National Team Competes at Berlin Nations Cup
The USA Goalball Men’s National Team delivered a competitive showing at the Berlin Nations Cup as part of their preparation for the Goalball World Championships, set for June 6–16, 2026 in Hangzhou, China. Team USA opened the tournament with a 5–3 victory over Denmark, led by Josh Welborne’s three goals, while Christian King and Jordan Maine each added one. The U.S. carried that momentum into their second match, earning a 10–6 win over South Korea behind another standout performance from Welborne, who recorded six goals, with additional contributions from King and Matt Simpson to secure a 2–0 start.
Advancing to the knockout stage, the Americans faced Sweden in a tightly contested quarterfinal, narrowly falling 4–3 in one of their most competitive matches of the tournament. In the consolation round, Team USA met South Korea for a rematch but was unable to replicate their earlier result, falling 14–7 to close out their tournament run.
Despite the final results, the team demonstrated strong offensive capabilities and gained valuable international experience that will be critical as they continue their build toward the World Championships this June.
New from National Braille Press
Now available is “The Book That Almost Rhymed,” by Omar Abed. It comes in contracted UEB for ages 3 to 8.
Another new title is “Love Found: 50 Classic Poems of Desire, Longing, and Devotion.” It comes in hard-copy braille (one volume) and as a BRF.
Over in the technology department, check out “3D Printing: What to Know and How Blind Users Can Make Their Own Objects,” by Judy Dixon. It’s available in braille (1 volume), BRF, or Word.
Another new book by Judy Dixon is “Braille Screen Input.” It comes in braille (1 small volume), BRF, or Word.
For more information, call toll-free (800) 548-7323 or (617) 266-6160 ext. 520, or visit shop.nbp.org.