Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities!
Apple’s iOS (iPhone Operating System) 26 introduces Braille Access, built for Blind People and available beside any app. The article says it plainly: “Braille is the key to literacy and to opportunity.” Apple invests in Braille as literacy and rejects the pattern that left Blind People stuck with outdated notetakers. Braille is the key to literacy and to opportunity.
Education is central. Apple positions an iPad as a full notetaker that teachers already know. “Braille Notes” records dots instantly and syncs in iCloud. “BRF files” (Braille Ready Format) open fast, edit via the dot-7 Context Menu, and support bookmarks and find; they also appear in iCloud Drive on Windows. Free National Library Service (NLS) e-readers pair easily so students keep their work. BRF files
Apple confronts exclusion of DeafBlind people. “Live captions” routes meeting speech and audiobooks—and, in iOS 26.1, phone and FaceTime calls—to Braille. Full-cell for-signs show when you fall behind, and a routing key jumps to the current line. Type to Speak lets nonspeaking users reply with a personal voice. The calculator supports Nemeth Code and Unified English Braille (UEB) so teachers can review work. Live captions
Next steps require pressure and policy. Apple should add support for the eBraille standard and multiline Braille devices, and “accessibility nutrition labels” should become mandatory so developers are accountable. Community Builders can act now: require fast app launching, the Item Chooser, and stand-alone notetaking on paired Braille displays across classrooms and jobs.
Read the Full Article: iOS 26 and Braille Access: Apple’s Impressive Investment in Braille Literacy.
By: Jonathan Mosen
