Wendy Benckhuysen is a braille transcriber who works for Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools, Alberta. Wetaskiwin district has partnered with Alberta Education to supply teacher resources to students in K-12. She believes in a solid training and braille knowledge of EAs working directly with visually impaired students. Offering accurate, high quality braille is so important for allowing students the equal opportunity for success as their sighted peers. Wendy is certified in Unified English Braille (UEB) and Nemeth (2011) codes, through the CNIB, Toronto, Ontario. She passed the CNIB Technical exam in 2019. Wendy first studied Literary braille at Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology, Brantford, Ontario, 2005. She was an NBA (National Braille Association) board member from 2013-2016 and has presented at several NBA conferences on UEB and Unified English Braille Guidelines for Technical Material. Wendy has travelled to give workshops to transcribers and TVIs in Houston TX, Charlotte NC and Tampa FL. She has written and presented several webinars for her provincial TVIs, EAs and transcribers. Wendy offers the CNIB course From Print to Braille with UEB, through correspondence and looks forward to offering The Unified English Braille Extension Course (UEB_TE).
Learning Opportunities
Unified English Braille Technical Extension Course (UBE_TE) for Alternate Format Transcribers.
Presented By
Wendy BenckhuysenSession Details
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| July 01, 2020 | Self Directed |
Location
Grade Levels
AllThe PRCVI UEB Technical Extension Course (UEB_TE) course is intended to expand upon the mathematical and technical content. UEB_TE is comprised of 13 lessons that cover the UEB math/technical code and formatting for content ranging from simple fractions to HTML coding.
Course Parameters
Please note that the scope of the UEB_TE Course is limited to instruction in the transcription of advanced mathematical and technical material into UEB. This course contains no content related to the methods and strategies for math/science instruction for students with visual impairments who read braille. Successful completion of the course and examination does not qualify candidates to provide instruction to students with visual impairments who read braille.
Course Registration
The UEB_TE course is intended for qualified braille transcribers who possess at minimum a certificate or letter of completion for a course in the Unified English Braille code. The applicant will be required to verify that they have completed the necessary coursework prior to the student being accepted into the course. UEB upgrading coursework is sufficient providing the student has successfully completed the course and this can be verified.
This course is open to any qualified braille transcriber with an interest in the UEB code for mathematical/technical materials. The course is especially relevant to braille transcribers who are producing materials for students who are, or will be, enrolled in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)-oriented courses at the secondary level.
Course Timeline
The expected timeline to completion for UEB_TE is 6 to 8 months. In order to ensure the maximum number of interested braille transcribers can complete UEB_TE, students are required to adhere to this timeline. We reserve the right to cancel the registration of students from the UEB_TE course without refunding the materials fee if the student does not complete the course within 8 months of the start date. Please contact Wendy Benckhuysen with any concerns regarding the timeline of course completion.
Submitting Lessons
All lessons will be produced and submitted electronically. There is no hard copy component for the UEB_TE course – use of a manual braillewriter is not required. Please download a six-key entry program (e.g., Perky Duck) to use to complete and correct each lesson.
Recommened resources: Unified English Braille: Guidelines for Technical Material will also be helpful in completion of the course. These guidelines are referred to often in course content
Target Audience
Qualified Braille transcribers who possess at minimum a certificate or letter of completion for a course in the Unified English Braille code.
Also Recommended For
Open to qualified braille transcribers with an interest in the UEB code for mathematical/technical materials. The course is especially relevant to braille transcribers who are producing materials for students who are, or will be, enrolled in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)-oriented courses at the secondary level.