Handid Braille Services logo. Three lines of text. The top line is "handid" in braille dots, the middle line is "h&id" and the bottom line is "handid."

Handid Braille Services

Braille Transcription & Printing 

Specializing in braille for languages other than English, especially languages that do not use the Latin alphabet.
(We're really good at Unified English Braille too!)

Handid meets all requirements for HIPAA and GDPR security and privacy.

A 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation providing accessible media production and printing services to organizations in support of people who are blind and low vision.

Supporting People Who Are Blind and Low Vision, and The People Who Support Them!

Handid is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation with a mission to provide braille and other forms of accessible media to organizations with clients who are blind and low-vision, and individuals who read braille. We work with clients globally on six of the seven global continents. (The holdout is Antarctica.)

Handid specializes in braille for languages other than English, especially those that use symbol systems other than the Latin alphabet. (We do English too!)

Handid maintains technologies and processes that meet HIPAA and GDPR regulations for security and privacy.

At Handid, our vision is a world where accessible media is always available. Donations are tax-deductible in the USA, and are applied to reduce or remove costs to our individual clients.

Our current price sheet for ad-hoc braille transcription is located on the "Services" link at the top of this webpage. Large projects and ongoing work qualify for special pricing. Contact Handid for more information.

Click the "Contact Us" link at the top of this webpage, or send an E-mail to info@handid.org to ask about your project, or to request consultation over your and your patron's needs for braille and accessible media.

A young woman reading from a braille book.

What is Handid up to?

The Bolotin Award trophy. A 3" x 3" Cherry wood base with a brass plate on one side. In braille text on the plat reads "Handid Braille Services, July 2024". A circular medallion is mounted on the top of the base. The medallion has a bas relief of Dr. Bolotin's face, with the text "Dr. Jacob Bolotin, 1888-1924" is  the trophy with text "Dr. Jacob Bolotin, "1888-1924"text reads "Dr Jacob Bolotin" and then in braille, "Handid Braille Services July 2024"
The Bolotin Award trophy. A 3" x 3" Cherry wood base with a brass plate on the side opposite the braille plate. The brass plate is engraved with "Presented to Handid Braille Services by the National Federation of the Blind and the Santa Barbara Foundation, July 2024." The medallion mounted to the top of the base reads "The Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award, National Federation of the Blind, Celebrating Accomplishment, Creating Opportunity."
Two of six volumes of braille, transcribed from a print book on Arabic language instruction.

Two of six volumes of braille in Arabic and English, ready for shipment to Arabic language students at a major university in the U.S.A.!

Two women in Islamic clothing at a braille book. One holds the hand of the other as if to guide her in reading the braille book.
Man reading a tactile image of the human alimentary canal
Braille Slate and Stylus
Child being taught to read a tactile image
An activity board in a Boise, Idaho park. Handid produced the stainless steel plates with braille for each tile on the board. (Zoom in to see!)

An activity board in a Boise, Idaho city park. Handid produced the stainless steel braille plates installed at each tile in the board. (Zoom in to see!)

Why Is Braille Transcription Important?


According to the journal "Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science," in 2020, 49.1 million individuals globally are blind and 33.6 million experience severe visual difficulties [1]. The National Federation of the Blind reports that almost 7.7 million people in the U.S. population experience blindness or low-vision [2].


In the U.S.A., the unemployment rate for non-institutionalized individuals between 21 and 64 years of age who are blind is over 70%. However, braille readers experience a much lower unemployment rate of 44% and report more active participation in their communities [3]. Thus, there is substantial evidence that braille provides a person who is blind or low-vision with skills and opportunities that help them live lives more similar to sighted counterparts than possible for those who do not read braille. This is in part because braille enables an individual to actively study content in detail. This is absolutely essential in mathematics, science, and technology subjects, as it is in even reading the news! It also allows an individual to read at their own pace and to go back and review passages more easily -- all of these are things that print readers do without even thinking, but that can't be done easily using text-to-speech systems.


At Handid, we know rocket scientists, chemists, mathematicians, engineers, and successful and everyday people who are blind and want to be engaged individuals across society, and all of them are very clear that braille is an absolute necessity for their success.


In addition, the "Americans with Disabilities Act" (ADA) provides a legal requirement for certain materials to be produced in braille. These materials include way-finding signage in certain types of buildings, elevator control panels, essential documents, and more. Schools are required to provide braille when it is the "least restrictive" medium for learning.


But more than all of that, braille provides independence and privacy when reading everyday documentation like financial information from your bank, health care information, information from local and national government officials, and more. 


Altogether, braille is an essential medium that allows an individual to read all manner of things, including everyday documents like bank statements, insurance forms, medical prescription information, as well as content in guides to State and National Parks (did you know that the U.S. Government provides brochures in braille for all National Parks?), books, magazines, and more!


The National Federation of the Blind also promotes that braille helps individuals to live the lives they want!


[1] Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 

[2] National Federation of the Blind 

[3] Journal of Blindness Innovation & Research 


Badge denoting "Security Certified" by SecurityMetrics Corporation training and documentation for Compliance with HIPAA
QR Code you can use to jump to the PayPal website to donate using PayPal, a debit card or a credit card.

Use this QR Code to jump to Handid's PayPal website to donate with PayPal. You can also use the PayPal site to donate with a credit card or a debit card. 

Add your address on the last page of the donation process to subscribe to our newsletter so you keep up with the latest news from Handid Braille Services!

After you complete your donation you will automatically be presented with a printable "tax letter" verifying your contribution. Use this "tax letter" to take advantage of the tax-deductible status of all donations to Handid Braille Services.