The Society for the Blind Sacramento is now assisting local businesses and organizations to provide their services and written materials in braille.
The nonprofit, which has existed in Sacramento for 72 years hopes to bridge a communication gap between establishments and blind and low vision residents. Shari Roeseler, the organization’s executive director, described the partnership as a “win-win situation.”
“It’s a way for folks to be more independent and not have to rely on somebody else to read the information to them,” Roeseler said.
Providing braille services gives restaurants and other establishments increased business, while those who are blind or low vision can access products, Roeseler said.
“People who are blind and low-vision in that community, they share with one another their experiences of going to certain places and ease of use,” Roeseler said “It makes the whole community, especially the businesses, much more inclusive of people with vision loss.”
In 2021, Roeseler said she was approached by the Board of Sacramento Braille Transcribers. Faced with a potential closure of their braille program, Roeseler partnered with them to communicate with organizations on expanding the board’s services.
“It was very clear that this was a service that folks really were hoping could continue,” Roeseler said.
A year later, the Society for the Blind Sacramento obtained transcriber services to “revive the whole program,” Roeseler said. Since then, the production program has created playbills with the Sacramento Theatre Company, textbooks, menus for restaurants and newsletters with the Braille and Talking Book Library.
The production team has 15 contract transcribers. To be a transcriber, an individual has to be certified in Unified English Braille and other braille codes. These documents can include information related to math, music, foreign languages and science, according to a news release from Society for the Blind Sacramento.
“Proofreading requires additional years of experience. Fortunately, our program has a full complement of skills and certifications to make this an easy process for our clients.” the news release stated.
The Society for the Blind Sacramento offers eye care as well as life and job training for those who are blind and with low-vision to provide “access to tools to maintain independence,” according to its news release. More than 5,000 residents participate in the Society for the Blind Sacramento’s services, its website stated.
To obtain braille services from the Society for the Blind Sacramento, Roeseler encourages businesses to visit the organization’s website or call 916-452-8271.
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Emma Hall covers Sacramento County for The Sacramento Bee. Hall graduated from Sacramento State and Diablo Valley College. She is Blackfeet and Cherokee.