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Certificate of Unified English Braille Competence
The Unified English Braille Certificate is a fully online program consisting of four (4) progressive levels of code instruction. Successful completion of each level will develop and expand a candidate's braille skills, allowing them to accurately read (visually read) and write (mechanically produce) the Unified English Braille code. Upon successful completion of all 4 levels, a candidate is eligible to receive a Certificate of Unified English Braille Competence.
For Braille equivalency please refer to the equivalency chart located in the Admission requirement tab in each level.
| Braille Fall Session register from Aug 09, 2018 to Sep 07, 2018 | Braille Winter Session register from Dec 01, 2018 to Jan 11, 2019 | |
|---|---|---|
| Unified English Braille -- Level 1 -- 20 hours | offered | offered |
| Unified English Braille -- Level 2 -- 30 hours | offered | offered |
| Unified English Braille -- Level 3 -- 30 hours | offered | offered |
| Unified English Braille -- Level 4 -- 30 hours | offered | offered |
Unified English Braille -- Level 1 -- 20 hours
Course Description
This first level is designed to gain mastery of the basic skills of visually reading and mechanically brailling alphabetic Unified English Braille using a Classic Perkins brailler. Topics covered include the use of the Perkins Classic Brailler, alphabetic braille and cardinal numbers, Capitals Mode, punctuation, Numeric Mode and basic mathematic concepts.
Successful completion of this level will prepare the learner to continue with Unified English Braille -- Level 2.
| Course Duration | Registration | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STARTS:
Sep 17, 2018 ENDS: Dec 07, 2018 | Closed | OPENS:
Aug 09, 2018 CLOSES: Sep 07, 2018 | register | |
| STARTS:
Jan 21, 2019 ENDS: Apr 12, 2019 | Closed | OPENS:
Dec 01, 2018 CLOSES: Jan 11, 2019 | register | |
Admission Requirements
There are no admission requirements for Level 1. Please see chart below for acceptable equivalency.
*Please note that admission to Western's UEB program does not guarantee a space in Teaching Students who are Blind AQ courses. Candidates who wish to enroll in the AQ must register HERE.
Acquired Braille Equivalency Skills
( ✓ = accepted for equivalency)
--all braille courses--| UWO Unified English Braille Code Program |
LEVEL -- 1 | LEVEL -- 2 | LEVEL -- 3 | LEVEL -- 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nipissing AQ Part 1 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Not accepted as equivalent |
| Nipissing AQ Part 2 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Conestoga College ( see Italics) |
✓ (Intro to UEB Code) |
✓ (Contractions I) |
✓ (Contractions II) |
✓ (Advanced Braille) |
|
CNIB Transcribers Course |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hadley School for the Blind -- all braille courses-- |
Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent |
| Mohawk College --all braille levels-- |
Please contact Western | Please contact Western | Please contact Western | Please contact Western |
Course Materials
- The Unified English Braille Instruction Manual, 2017 (online resource)
- The Brailled Drills Supplement, 2017
Note: The above course materials are included with registration fees for Level 1, and will be used for ALL subsequent Braille Levels. They will only be supplied with Level 1. If a copy of these course materials is requested, after Level 1, an additional fee will be applied. Please contact the Aspire Office.
- Brailled Stories for Practice Reading (Level 1)
Approximately 3 short stories will be mailed to the student. If they have not arrived one week prior to course start, please contact the Aspire Office. These stories must be returned to the instructor with the final exam.
Student will be responsible for providing the following required supplementary items at their own cost. These items will be used for ALL subsequent Braille Levels.
- Classic Perkins Brailler
- available from local school boards, special education division
- available for purchase from the American Printing House for the Blind or E-Bay
- occasionally available for loan at CNIB
- Braille Paper (26.5cm x 30.5cm, or as close as possible)
- available from local CNIB offices
- available from the local school board
Fees
Registration Fee: Non Credit $325 (Registration fee includes a non-refundable processing fee. This fee is applied to refunds issued for course withdrawals, including those for non-eligibility where a transfer to another level cannot be accommodated).
Registration acceptance is dependent upon payment and receipt of fees and fulfillment of eligibility requirements.
Payment: At this time payment by cheque or Money Order only, payable to The University of Western Ontario, must be received prior to the course start date.
Withdrawals and Refunds:
- For drop requests received a minimum of 10 calendar days prior to the start date of the course, a full refund will be given minus a $50 non-refundable fee.
- If the drop request is received 9 days prior and up to the start day of a course, a full refund will be given minus a $75 non-refundable fee.
- If the drop request is received after the course start date and before the 6th day of the scheduled online course, a full refund will be given minus a $75 non-refundable fee.
- No refunds are given after the 6th day of scheduled online course.
Unified English Braille -- Level 2 -- 30 hours
Course Description
In the second level, students continue their study of UEB by developing skills in reading and brailling (Please note: approximately one half of UEB's listed braille contractions, "contracted" braille will be covered in Level 3). Topics covered in Level 2 include the alphabetic wordsigns, the Standing Alone Rule, wordsigns and groupsigns for and, with, for, of, the, ch, sh, th, wh, ou, st, the groupsigns ar, ed, er, gh, ow, ing, the lower wordsigns for his, was, were, be, in, enough, and the groupsigns for in, en, be, con, and dis.
Successful completion of this level will prepare the learner to continue the study of contractions in Unified English Braille -- Level 3.
| Course Duration | Registration | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STARTS:
Sep 17, 2018 ENDS: Dec 07, 2018 | Closed | OPENS:
Aug 09, 2018 CLOSES: Sep 07, 2018 | register | |
| STARTS:
Jan 21, 2019 ENDS: Apr 12, 2019 | Closed | OPENS:
Dec 01, 2018 CLOSES: Jan 11, 2019 | register | |
Admission Requirements
Successful Completion of Braille Level 1.
*Please note that admission to Western's UEB program does not guarantee a space in Teaching Students who are Blind AQ courses. Candidates who wish to enroll in the AQ must register HERE.
Acquired Braille Equivalency Skills
( ✓ = accepted for equivalency)
| UWO Unified English Braille Code Program |
LEVEL -- 1 | LEVEL -- 2 | LEVEL -- 3 | LEVEL -- 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nipissing AQ Part 1 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Not accepted as equivalent |
| Nipissing AQ Part 2 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Conestoga College ( see Italics) |
✓ (Intro to UEB Code) |
✓ (Contractions I) |
✓ (Contractions II) |
✓ (Advanced Braille) |
|
CNIB Transcribers Course (If registered prior to December 31, 2017) |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hadley School for the Blind -- all braille courses- |
Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent |
| Mowhawk College | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent |
Course Materials
Course Materials below are supplied with Level 1 and will be used for all subsequent Braille Levels.
The Unified English Braille Instruction Manual, 2017 (online resource)
The Brailled Drills Supplement, 2017
Note: The above course materials are included with registration fees for Level 1, and will be used for ALL subsequent Braille Levels. They will only be supplied with Level 1. If a copy of these course materials is requested, after Level 1, an additional fee will be applied. Please contact the Aspire Office.
Student will be responsible for providing the following required supplementary items at their own cost. These items will also be used for ALL subsequent Braille Levels.
- Classic Perkins Brailler
- available from local school boards, special education division
- available for purchase from the American Printing House for the Blind or E-Bay
- occasionally available for loan at CNIB
- Braille Paper (26.5cm x 30.5cm, or as close as possible)
- available from local CNIB offices
- available from the local school board
Fees
Registration Fee: Non Credit $325 (Registration fee includes a non-refundable processing fee. This fee is applied to refunds issued for course withdrawals, including those for non-eligibility where a transfer to another level cannot be accommodated).
Registration acceptance is dependent upon payment and receipt of fees and fulfillment of eligibility requirements.
Payment: At this time payment by cheque or Money Order only, payable to The University of Western Ontario, must be received prior to the course start date.
Withdrawals and Refunds:
- For drop requests received a minimum of 10 calendar days prior to the start date of the course, a full refund will be given minus a $75 non-refundable fee.
- If the drop request is received 9 days prior and up to the start day of a course, a full refund will be given minus a $75 non-refundable fee.
- If the drop request is received after the course start date and before the 6th day of the scheduled online course, a full refund will be given minus a $75 non-refundable fee.
- No refunds are given after the 6th day of scheduled online course.
Unified English Braille -- Level 3 -- 30 hours
Course Description
Level 3, at the intermediate level of the program, completes the study of Unified English Braille contractions. The student will become proficient at reading and brailling contracted braille, and at employing the rules of Unified English Braille as they apply to these contractions and shortforms. Topics studied include lower groupsigns bb, cc, ff, gg, ea, initial-letter contractions, final-letter contractions, and shortforms.
Success completion of this course will prepare the learner to continue the study of Unified English Braille at the advanced level -- Level 4.
| Course Duration | Registration | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STARTS:
Sep 17, 2018 ENDS: Dec 07, 2018 | Closed | OPENS:
Aug 09, 2018 CLOSES: Sep 07, 2018 | register | |
| STARTS:
Jan 21, 2019 ENDS: Apr 12, 2019 | Closed | OPENS:
Dec 01, 2018 CLOSES: Jan 11, 2019 | register | |
Admission Requirements
Successful completion of Braille Level 2.
*Please note that admission to Western's UEB program does not guarantee a space in Teaching Students who are Blind AQ courses. Candidates who wish to enroll in the AQ must register HERE.
Acquired Braille Equivalency Skills
( ✓ = accepted for equivalency)
| UWO Unified English Braille Code Program |
LEVEL -- 1 | LEVEL -- 2 | LEVEL -- 3 | LEVEL -- 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nipissing AQ Part 1 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Not accepted as equivalent |
| Nipissing AQ Part 2 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Conestoga College ( see Italics) |
✓ (Intro to UEB Code) |
✓ (Contractions I) |
✓ (Contractions II) |
✓ (Advanced Braille) |
|
CNIB Transcribers Course (If registered prior to December 31, 2017) |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hadley School for the Blind -- all braille courses- |
Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent |
| Mowhawk College | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent |
Course Materials
Course Materials below are supplied with Level 1 and will be used for all subsequent Braille Levels.
The Unified English Braille Instruction Manual, 2017 (online resource)
The Brailled Drills Supplement, 2017
Note: The above course materials are included with registration fees for Level 1, and will be used for ALL subsequent Braille Levels. They will only be supplied with Level 1. If a copy of these course materials is requested, after Level 1, an additional fee will be applied. Please contact the Aspire Office.
Student will be responsible for providing the following required supplementary items at their own cost. These items will also be used for ALL subsequent Braille Levels.
- Classic Perkins Brailler
- available from local school boards, special education division
- available for purchase from the American Printing House for the Blind or E-Bay
- occasionally available for loan at CNIB
- Braille Paper (26.5cm x 30.5cm, or as close as possible)
- available from local CNIB offices
- available from the local school board
Fees
Registration Fee: Non Credit $325 (Registration fee includes a non-refundable processing fee. This fee is applied to refunds issued for course withdrawals, including those for non-eligibility where a transfer to another level cannot be accommodated).
Registration acceptance is dependent upon payment and receipt of fees and fulfillment of eligibility requirements.
Payment: At this time payment by cheque or Money Order only, payable to The University of Western Ontario, must be received prior to the course start date.
Withdrawals and Refunds:
- For drop requests received a minimum of 10 calendar days prior to the start date of the course, a full refund will be given minus a $75 non-refundable fee.
- If the drop request is received 9 days prior and up to the start day of a course, a full refund will be given minus a $75 non-refundable fee.
- If the drop request is received after the course start date and before the 6th day of the scheduled online course, a full refund will be given minus a $75 non-refundable fee.
- No refunds are given after the 6th day of scheduled online course.
Unified English Braille -- Level 4 -- 30 hours
Course Description
In the fourth and final level in the Unified English Braille program students learn advanced code techniques as it is applied to a variety of less common and irregular print forms, concepts, and formats encountered in braille reading and writing. Topics include the Grade 1 Mode, speech mannerisms, abbreviations, braille symbols, omitted letters, electronic addresses, typeform indicators, credit lines, foreign words, reference symbols, poetry, algebraic equations, sub/superscript math indicators, chemical formulas, square roots, radicals, and omission marks.
| Course Duration | Registration | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STARTS:
Sep 17, 2018 ENDS: Dec 07, 2018 | Closed | OPENS:
Aug 09, 2018 CLOSES: Sep 07, 2018 | register | |
| STARTS:
Jan 21, 2019 ENDS: Apr 12, 2019 | Closed | OPENS:
Dec 01, 2018 CLOSES: Jan 11, 2019 | register | |
Admission Requirements
Successful completion of Braille Level 3.
*Please note that admission to Western's UEB program does not guarantee a space in Teaching Students who are Blind AQ courses. Candidates who wish to enroll in the AQ must register HERE.
Acquired Braille Equivalency Skills
( ✓ = accepted for equivalency)
| UWO Unified English Braille Code Program |
LEVEL -- 1 | LEVEL -- 2 | LEVEL -- 3 | LEVEL -- 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nipissing AQ Part 1 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Not accepted as equivalent |
| Nipissing AQ Part 2 |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Conestoga College ( see Italics) |
✓ (Intro to UEB Code) |
✓ (Contractions I) |
✓ (Contractions II) |
✓ (Advanced Braille) |
|
CNIB Transcribers Course (If registered prior to December 31, 2017) |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hadley School for the Blind -- all braille courses- |
Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent |
| Mowhawk College | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent | Not accepted as equivalent |
Course Materials
- ***Contracted Braille for Reading Practice (Level 4)
- One sheet of contracted braille (single spaced and one-sided braille) will be mailed to you. If it has not arrived one week prior to course start, please contact the Aspire Office. This sheet must be returned to the instructor with the final exam.
Course Materials below are supplied with Level 1 and will be used for all subsequent Braille Levels.
- The Unified English Braille Instruction Manual, 2017 (online resource)
- The Brailled Drills Supplement, 2017
Note: The above course materials are included with registration fees for Level 1, and will be used for ALL subsequent Braille Levels. They will only be supplied with Level 1. If a copy of these course materials is requested, after Level 1, an additional fee will be applied. Please contact the Aspire Office.
Student will be responsible for providing the following required supplementary items at their own cost. These items will also be used for ALL subsequent Braille Levels.
- Classic Perkins Brailler
- available from local school boards, special education division
- available for purchase from the American Printing House for the Blind or E-Bay
- occasionally available for loan at CNIB
- Braille Paper (26.5cm x 30.5cm, or as close as possible)
- available from local CNIB offices
- available from the local school board
Fees
Registration Fee: Non Credit $325 (Registration fee includes a non-refundable processing fee. This fee is applied to refunds issued for course withdrawals, including those for non-eligibility where a transfer to another level cannot be accommodated).
Registration acceptance is dependant upon payment and receipt of fees and fulfillment of eligibility requirements.
Payment: At this time payment by cheque or Money Order only, payable to The University of Western Ontario, must be received prior to the course start date.
Withdrawals and Refunds:
- For drop requests received a minimum of 10 calendar days prior to the start date of the course, a full refund will be given minus a $75 non-refundable fee.
- If the drop request is received 9 days prior and up to the start day of a course, a full refund will be given minus a $75 non-refundable fee.
- If the drop request is received after the course start date and before the 6th day of the scheduled online course, a full refund will be given minus a $75 non-refundable fee.
- No refunds are given after the 6th day of scheduled online course.
