Agenda 
Alliance for Braille Literacy
3rd Annual Conference 
October 16-18, 2015, 
St. Louis, MO

Friday, October 16, 2015
7:00 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
Abraham Nemeth Birthday Dinner
Location: 	Favazza's Restaurant, 5201 Southwest Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139; 
			(314)772-4454; http://www.favazzas.com.
		Transportation provided in private attendants' cars to and from dinner 				location if requested. To make arrangements, contact Imke Durre at 				imke.durre@gmail.com no later than Sunday, October 11.
Menu: 		Large Group Dinner Menu: 										See http://favazzas.com/large_group_dinner_menu.php
Cost: 		Pay on your own based on your individual order.

7:00 P.M.	Welcome - Christopher Gray, ABL President.
7:05 P.M.	Brief introductions of all attendees - all.
7:15 P.M.	A Brief Biography and Personal Memories of Dr. Nemeth - Joyce Hull, 				Chris Gray, Robert Stepp.  
		Bring your own memories to share.
7:45 P.M.	Dinner and socializing.

Saturday, October 17, 2015
10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Day 1 of Conference
Location: 	Missouri Council of the Blind, 5453 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, MO 63109

10:00 A.M.	Call to Order - Christopher Gray, ABL President.
10:15 A.M.	Roll Call of the Board - Chris Gray, ABL President.
10:20 A.M.	Brief introductions of all attendees - all.
10:30 A.M.	Report on Current Use of Braille Codes in the United States: 						EBAE, UEB, Nemeth Code, NUBS - Christopher Gray, ABL President.
		Find out who is using which code at this time.

11:00 A.M.  	Break and Placement of Lunch Orders.

11:30 A.M.	NUBS Q&A - Joyce Hull, Velda Miller, Judie Murphy. 
		Ask the experts questions about NUBS.

12:30 P.M.	Lunch.

1:30 P.M.	Update on Producing NUBS with BRAILLE2000 - Robert Stepp, Author of BRL2000.
		Hear about the newest NUBS-related features in BRL2000.

2:00 P.M.	NUBS Basics for the Braille Reader - Joyce Hull.
		Find out what materials exist for braille readers to learn NUBS.
2:30 P.M.	About Refreshable Braille Devices - Imke Durre.
		Find out how braille is used on refreshable braille devices, 						what options users have regarding braille input and output 						on their devices, and how to choose the most appropriate option.

3:00 P.M.	Break.

3:15 P.M.	Exhibit of current and past refreshable braille devices.
Explore different braille devices, old and new. Bring your own for demonstration if you can. 
3:45 P.M.	Essentials of a Functional Braille Code: Lessons from Existing Codes - 				Robert Stepp.
		Learn what makes a braille code useful from someone who has analyzed 				several different codes.
4:15 P.M.	Essentials of a Functional Braille Code: Discussion - Invited Guest Panel 				and all conference participants.
		Hear and share other perspectives on what makes a braille code useful.

4:45 P.M.	Break.

5:00 P.M.	Membership Business Meeting - Christopher Gray, ABL President.
		Reports of President, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership Chair, 					Technology Chair; elections; vote on amendment to the Bylaws; 					discussion of priorities; establishment of committee for planning next 				annual meeting.

6:00 P.M.	Recess for the day.

Sunday, October 18, 2015
9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
Day 2 of Conference
Location: 	Missouri Council of the Blind, 5453 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, MO 63109

9:00 A.M.	Welcome to Day 2 - Christopher Gray, ABL President.
9:05 A.M.	Brief introductions of all attendees - all.
9:10 A.M.	Development of Specific Crowd Funding Plan - Michelle Michaels.
		Determination of project(s) to be funded, amount to be raised, site to use, 			steps required, assignment of responsibilities.

10:30 A.M.	Break and placement of lunch orders.

11:00 A.M.	Panel discussion: Educational Effectiveness of Mixing UEB and the 					Nemeth Code - TBD.
		Help ABL develop guidance for transcribers and teachers on how to 				handle the use of the Nemeth Code at this time.
12:00 P.M.	Roundtable Wrap-up: Finalizing ABL's Priorities for the next year - 					Christopher Gray.
		Review goals and action items for the coming year. 
12:45 P.M.	Closing Words - Christopher Gray, ABL President.

1:00 P.M.	Adjournment of conference.
	Lunch can be ordered in for those who wish 	to stay around to socialize.