<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi all!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>January of 2015 has begun the official “transition” year for the changes to the braille code. In the United States, braille is moving from the English Braille American Edition (EBAE) rules to the Unified English Braille (UEB) rules. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What does this mean for you and your campus? It means that it would be good for staff members to refresh their skills so that your campus knows what to tell your students, how to explain the changes to them, and what questions to ask when you order braille for them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To aid colleges with the transition, I am offering five opportunities in California for sighted folks to learn to read braille. (I have a sixth training at the NBA conference in Texas in April. See the National Braille Association Web site for more information on that one: <a href="http://www.nationalbraille.org/Conference/">http://www.nationalbraille.org/Conference/</a> .) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am also offering special one-day trainings (two here in Cupertino, one in Santa Barbara, and others TBD) for braille readers who want to learn the changes to the code. The training for braille readers is for individuals who already read braille with either their fingers or their eyes. The expectation is that attendees for that training will be familiar with the current code and read at least fairly well. The one-day UEB for Braille Readers training is not for beginners. Please make sure that any braille readers on your staff are aware of this training.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Because it is so important for people to refresh their skills and become aware of the changes, we are offering a special opportunity for anyone in the CCCs who needs this training to take it at any of the California locations, and we will cover travel and lodging as we normally would for trainings here in Cupertino. (If you have questions, please contact Jasper Haze, 408-996-4636, <a href="mailto:jhaze@htctu.net">jhaze@htctu.net</a>.) <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In addition, we are partnering with the ATPC to offer the training in Camarillo in June.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All of the California trainings are free. We invite colleagues from other systems to attend on a space-available basis. Please register as soon as you can for these trainings so that I can gauge whether I need to add additional sections to meet the need.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Register for any of the trainings (other than NBA), through our Web site:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.htctutraining.net/">http://www.htctutraining.net/</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you have never attended one of our trainings before, please create a new account for yourself (see login/new account).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And, of course, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Gaeir (rhymes with "fire") Dietrich<br>Director<br>High Tech Center Training Unit of the<br>California Community Colleges<br>De Anza College, Cupertino, CA<br><a href="http://www.htctu.net/"><span style='color:blue'>www.htctu.net</span></a> <br>408-996-6047</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>If you would like to schedule a site visit, training, or phone consultation, please contact HTCTU Admin Assistant, Jasper Haze at <a href="mailto:jhaze@htctu.net"><span style='color:blue'>jhaze@htctu.net</span></a> or 408-996-4636; to ensure that priority e-mails are seen, please copy Jasper on important and time-sensitive matters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>