Project Inspire: Increasing STEM Braille Potential

08/28/2026

So many students have benefited from Dolly’s generosity! https://www.today.com/health/childrens-health/dolly-parton-imagination-library-braille-books-blind-low-vision-kids-rcna594713

“None of my son’s needs are special,” Jessica Caromile says of her 12-year-old, who is blind — and she believes the late country music legend understood this, too.

08/06/2026

A recording of the webinar, Unlocking Digital Math for VI Students with LaTeX, is now available on YouTube! https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/k8TgCJEkOMfgkLxxqiVf34hyx2Yy?domain=youtu.be Please feel free to watch and share. The webinar covers the importance of digital math equation reading and writing for blind students and demos Access Digi Math, https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/LYG5CKAlPNfZQxLL2UvhBoh5m2G1?domain=accessuci.ics.uci.edu/ a free website built with and for TVIs to learn about digital math access.

Also, I am actively recruiting for an interview study on this topic. If you are an educator of blind students, like a TVI, please fill out this form https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/rn6XCLAmQOfl0MLLRuPiDWhyNm3n?domain=forms.gleif you're interested in talking for one hour via Zoom about your thoughts on the Access Digi Math website and digital math in general! Study participants will also receive a gift card. I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks,
Isabela

Isabela Figueira
PhD Student, Informatics
University of California, Irvine
[email protected]

08/06/2026

A recording of the webinar, Unlocking Digital Math for VI Students with LaTeX, is now available on YouTube! https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/k8TgCJEkOMfgkLxxqiVf34hyx2Yy?domain=youtu.be Please feel free to watch and share. The webinar covers the importance of digital math equation reading and writing for blind students and demos Access Digi Math, https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/LYG5CKAlPNfZQxLL2UvhBoh5m2G1?domain=accessuci.ics.uci.edu/ a free website built with and for TVIs to learn about digital math access.

Also, I am actively recruiting for an interview study on this topic. If you are an educator of blind students, like a TVI, please fill out this form https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/rn6XCLAmQOfl0MLLRuPiDWhyNm3n?domain=forms.gleif you're interested in talking for one hour via Zoom about your thoughts on the Access Digi Math website and digital math in general! Study participants will also receive a gift card. I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks,
Isabela

Isabela Figueira
PhD Student, Informatics
University of California, Irvine
[email protected]

07/30/2026

Dr. Tina shared about Project INSPIRE at the AER conference. PD: Dr. Tina and Dr. Penny with a Project INSPIRE poster.

07/30/2026

We are very proud of Dr. L. Penny Rosenblum who received the Mary K. Bauman Award at the 2026 AER conference. This award recognizes her contributions to the field of education for children who are blind and have low vision. PD: Dr. Rosenblum delivering her acceptance speech.

07/29/2026

Dr. Tina, Dr. Penny, Ms. Susan and Mrs. Sara are in Louisville, Kentucky for the AER conference. Today they got a tour of the Dot Experience Museum at the American Printing House for the Blind. Descriptions with photos.

07/23/2026

We wanted to share a webinar that looks to be great!

Join us on July 29, 2026 at 12pm PT for an interactive webinar about accessible digital math!
TVIs play a critical role in equipping blind and visually impaired students for success in advanced math classes, which are a gateway to rewarding STEM careers. We will introduce a little-known digital code used for math textbooks called LaTeX. This code is easy to learn, accessible, and endorsed by blind STEM experts.
What You'll Learn:
• What is LaTeX?
• How does LaTeX math complement braille skills?
• Which students will benefit most from LaTeX math skills?
• How can you teach yourself and your students LaTeX math efficiently?
How You’ll Learn:
• Practical, hands-on activities
• Exploration of resources to support your teaching, including Access Digi Math, a free website built with and for TVIs
Date and Time: July 29, 2026 at 12pm PT

Registration: Register for the Webinar

Presenters:
Isabela Figueira
PhD student researcher at the University of California, Irvine

Leslie Thatcher
Director, Program Development and Strategy, Transition Center, Perkins

07/23/2026

We've been a little quiet, but that doesn't mean our team hasn't been working. Recently Dr. Tina, Dr. Penny, Ms. Susan, Ms. Sara, and Maylene Bird, a math teacher on our advisory board, all gathered to celebrate Ms. Susan's birthday. Dr. Tina had received a kit of materials from India. The materials are used to support geometry learning by individuals who are braille readers. We took time out to explore the materials and watch several YouTube videos in which they are demonstrated. PD: Dr. Penny, Ms. Sara, Dr. Tina, Ms. Maylene, and Ms. Susan each explore parts of a geometry kit that includes pieces that are 3D printed. A Happy 80th Birthday banner is hung behind them.

07/20/2026

The Braille Authority of North America has published a new document about transcribing math and science in UEB just in time for the 2026-2027 school year! This updated guidance document addresses recent UEB code changes and offers several great new examples! The document is available in both print and braille.

We hope you find the updated guidance document helpful!

The Rules of Unified English Braille - UEB Rulebook available on the UEB page of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) website.UEB Guidelines for Technical Materials - Guidelines available on the UEB page of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) website. Available for Pur...

06/01/2026

We received a picture of a Senior Mathlete wearing his Project INSPIRE mathlete t-shirt and his third place medal. The email from the family said, "Thank you so much for running this program!!" The photo shows this proud mathlete.