Slide 1: This presentation provides an orientation to the Perkins brailler.

Slide 2: We will explore the parts of the brailler. To begin, place the brailler in front of you with the keys facing you.

Slide 3: There are the two levers protruding from the slots on the top of the brailler. These are the paper release levers.  You will notice that as you pull them toward you or push them away from you, they will move together. This is the mechanism you will use to lock and release the paper.

Slide 4: The paper feed knobs are located on either side of the brailler. These are used to roll the paper in or out of the brailler.

Slide 5: The embossing head is located in the top open slot of the brailler. This is the part of the brailler that produces the braille dots.  It will move from left to right as you braille.  The embossing head lever is located above the brailler keys in the front of the brailler. It is used to return the embossing head to the starting position at the left.  It is designed for the user to easily hook the index  finger into the bottom left cup and pull it across from right to left.  If you want to move the embossing head from left to the right, press down slightly on the right side of the lever as you move it to the right.

Slide 6: There are 9 keys on the front of the brailler. The six identical shaped keys for embossing braille

Slide 7: The remaining three keys are spacers.  The round key on the far left is the line spacer and the round key on the far right is the back spacer.  The large key in the center is the spacing key.

Slide 8: Now turn the brailler around and explore the back. The open slot in the back of the brailler contains two pinch levers. These are the margin stops.

Slide 9: Inside of the slot and out of sight is the warning bell. The warning bell sounds when you are nearing the end of a line, according to how the margins have been set.  You will also find a small knob near the top right as you face the back of the brailler. This is the paper stop. THis knob can be losened and moved slightly left or right to adjust for different paper sizes.

Slide 10: Now that you have explored the different parts of the brailler, you are ready to learn how to insert the paper.  Place the brailler on the table in front of you with the keys facing you.

Slide 11: Move the embosser head all the way to the left.

Slide 12: This is an important step in the process.  When paper misfeeds, it can be the result of failure to check the paper feed knobs before inserting the paper.

Roll the paper feed knob away from you until no further movement is possible. This is an important step in the process.  When paper misfeeds, it can be the result of failure to check the paper feed knobs before inserting the paper.

Slide 13: Now raise the paper release lever by pulling it toward the front of the brailler.
Slide 14: Place the paper in the brailler. Feed the paper under the embossing head until it stops and align it on the left against the paper stop.

Slide 15: Push the paper release lever toward the back of the brailler to lock the paper in place.

Slide 16: Now use the paper feed knobs to roll the paper into the brailler. Turn the knob toward the front of the brailler until it stops.

Slide 17: The paper should feed into the brailler. Approximately one inch of paper will be visible once the paper is completely fed into the brailler.

Slide 18: This is another important step.  Pressing the line spacer key sets the paper and advances it slightly, but not one complete line. Failure to press the line spacer key immediately after inserting paper will result in the first two lines of braille running into each other and they will be unreadable.

Press the line spacer key one time to set the paper. This is another important step.  Pressing the line spacer key sets the paper and advances it slightly, but does not move it one complete line. Failure to press the line spacer key immediately after inserting paper and before beginning to braille will result in improper spacing between first two lines of braille. There will not be enough space between these two lines for the braille to be readable.

Slide 19: You will use the three "strongest" fingers on each hand, index, middle and ring fingers.  Place all six fingers on the keys.  When you press down to emboss braille, your entire forearm should move up and down.  Do not flex your wrists to press on the keys.

Slide 20:  A short video clip demonstrating the action of bralling with the Perkins brailler can be seen at http://www.faculty.umb.edu/wendy_buckley/BrailleI/class01/handsvideo.html 

Slide 21: This presentation was created in association with SPE-G515 Braille I through the Northeast Regional Center for Vision Education at UMass Boston by Wendy Buckley, adjunct faculty