FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2026
Free Open‑Source Braille Dictionary for U.S. Veterans - new edition available online
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A blind U.S. Army veteran has launched a completely free, open‑source Braille dictionary and guide designed specifically for veterans who are blind or have low vision. The resource, hosted at https://brailledictionary.org, provides a printable PDF and practice worksheets covering the full Braille alphabet, numbers, common contractions, punctuation, basic math symbols, currency identification, public‑space signage, and sighted‑guide techniques.
Created while undergoing rehabilitation at the Veterans Administration Blind Rehabilitation Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, the guide also includes a directory of all VA Blind Rehabilitation Centers with direct contact numbers.
Key features of the Braille Dictionary:
* **Complete Braille alphabet & numeric notation** – cell‑number system (A = 1 … Z = 1356).
* **Braille Practice Pages** - Designed for Low-Vision this allows someone to practice with printed Braille cells to gain confidence.
* **Braille Dictionary Pages** - An alphabetic UEB (Unified English Braille) listing of all of the Level 2 Braille (Concatenated Braille) making it easy to look up.
* **Punctuation** - Special symbols for characters in UEB. Symbols that are common are the ampersand &, At symbol that is used in email addresses @, and many more.
* **Numbers and Math Symbols** - The first is a List of numbers from 1 to 20. The page after that is Basic math symbols. Addition, subtraction and others.
* **Currency Symbols** - The first is a List of numbers from 1 to 20. The page after that is Basic math symbols. Addition, subtraction and others.
* **Braille Restroom Signs** - Some of the most common restroom signs and the Braille that goes along with them. These are all of the most common signs and they are all in UEB level 2.
* **Braille Elevator Buttons** - Some of the most common elevator buttons (open, close, alarm, etc). This gives a picture of the button and Braille, English Word, Braille, Cell numbers, and The Dot numbers.
* **Folding Money** - United States Currency is difficult for someone who is totally blind. It is the same shape and texture for all of the bills. Folding it is an easy Low-Tech solution to this problem. From $1 to $20 are shown.
* **Guiding the Blind** - Many people want to help but are unsure of how to do it properly. This is a good guide for a sighted helper, so they can help guide you safely and effectively. You can show this to a sighted person and they will learn how.
* **Agencies to Get Support** - There are many national agencies to get help and guidance. These are nation agencies in the US to help out.
* **List of VA Blind Rehabilitation Centers** - Where to get help. All of the VA Blind Rehabilitation Centers are included: Name of the facility, address, and phone numbers are included.
* **Apps for the Blind** - Apps for the Blind includes a list of various apps for IOS/I-Pad and Android phones. The App name and brief information so you can make the choices and see which will help you out the most.
* **Screen Reader Programs & Cheat Sheets** - Windows screen reader programs (Narrator, NVDA, and JAWS) along with basic cheat sheets are gone over. Linux Orca screen reader and cheat sheet is also included.
* **Translating Older Braille** - There are many books that are in the library system are in an older style of Braille called EBAE (English Braille American Edition) which as symbols that are not used in UEB, so a handy chart is included to help out.
The project is released under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑SA 4.0 license, allowing anyone to download, adapt (non‑commercially). The guide is intended for immediate distribution to veterans, VA staff, veteran service organizations, and community partners.
“Accessibility should never be a barrier to literacy,” said **Alan Dunbar**, a blind U.S. Army veteran and creator of the guide. “By making this resource free and openly editable, we empower veterans to learn Braille on their own terms and give VA staff a ready‑made tool for orientation‑and‑mobility programs.”
The creator welcomes collaboration with veteran service organizations, VA departments, and community groups to expand the guide’s reach and keep the content current.
**Media Contact**
Al Dunbar - info@brailledictionary.org
Blind U.S. Army Veteran
**About BrailleDictionary.org**
BrailleDictionary.org is a volunteer‑run initiative that provides free, high‑quality Braille learning resources for blind and low‑vision individuals. All content is open‑source and maintained by a global community of contributors committed to improving accessibility for veterans and the broader visually impaired community.