Braille Display Support#

VoiceOver works seamlessly with refreshable braille displays, providing tactile output alongside speech. This chapter covers connecting, configuring, and using braille displays with your Mac.

Supported Displays#

VoiceOver supports dozens of braille displays from manufacturers including:

• Humanware (Brailliant series)
• Freedom Scientific (Focus series)
• Baum
• HIMS
• Optelec
• APH (Orbit Reader)
• And many others

Check Apple’s support documentation for the current list of supported displays.

Connecting a Braille Display#

USB Connection#

1. Connect the display via USB
2. VoiceOver automatically detects it
3. You’ll hear a confirmation

Bluetooth Connection#

1. Put the display in pairing mode (check display documentation)
2. Open System Settings > Bluetooth
3. Find and pair the display
4. VoiceOver should recognize it automatically

Or use VoiceOver Utility:

1. Go to Braille > Displays
2. Click + to add a new display
3. Follow pairing instructions

Braille Display Basics#

What Appears on the Display#

The braille display shows:

• The item at the VoiceOver cursor
• Text being read
• System messages and notifications

Status Cells#

Most displays have status cells (usually on the left) showing:

• Cursor position
• Current mode
• Other contextual information

Panning#

When content is longer than your display:

• Use pan left/right buttons to see more
• VoiceOver automatically pans as you navigate

Braille Commands#

Most displays have navigation buttons that VoiceOver recognizes:

Common Default Commands#

Display-Specific Commands#

Each display model has different buttons. VoiceOver assigns logical defaults, but you can customize them.

Configuring Braille in VoiceOver Utility#

Translation Settings#

Braille > Translation tab:

• Braille grade: Uncontracted (Grade 1) or Contracted (Grade 2)
• Braille table: Choose your language’s braille code
• Eight-dot braille: Enable for more information per cell

Layout Settings#

Braille > Layout tab:

• Show line numbers: Display position in text
• Word wrap: How to handle long words
• Multiple items: Show several items on display at once

Status Cells#

Braille > Status tab:

• Configure what appears in status cells
• Position (left or right)
• Content options

Display-Specific Settings#

Braille > Displays tab:

• List of connected displays
• Per-display settings
• Command assignments

Customizing Braille Commands#

1. Open VoiceOver Utility > Braille > Displays
2. Select your display
3. Click “Assign Commands”
4. Navigate to a key/button
5. Assign a VoiceOver command

Memorizing Keys#

Some displays allow chord inputs:

1. In VoiceOver Utility, select “Memorize Key”
2. Press the button combination on your display
3. VoiceOver learns the input
4. Assign a command to it

Braille Input#

Many displays have Perkins-style keyboards for typing:

Eight-Dot Input#

• Dots 1-6: Standard braille letters
• Dot 7: Backspace or function
• Dot 8: Enter or function

Typing with Braille Keyboard#

When in a text field:

1. Focus the field
2. Type on the braille keyboard
3. VoiceOver translates braille to text

Contracted Braille Input#

If you type contracted braille, VoiceOver expands it:

• Type “gd” → VoiceOver enters “good”

Enable/disable in Braille settings.

Braille Panel (Visual)#

VoiceOver can show a visual braille panel on screen:

The panel shows:

• Braille cells as they would appear on a display
• Text translation below the braille

This is useful for:

• Sighted users learning braille
• Collaboration with sighted colleagues
• Testing without a physical display

Braille Verbosity#

Separate from speech verbosity, you can control braille detail:

1. Open VoiceOver Utility > Verbosity > Braille
2. Adjust how much information appears
3. Higher verbosity = more context
4. Lower verbosity = focus on content

Tips for Braille Users#

Tip 1: Learn Your Display’s Buttons#

Spend time with your display’s documentation. Know every button before customizing.

Tip 2: Use Routing Buttons#

Routing buttons (above each cell) are powerful:

• Press to move cursor to that character
• In lists, press to select items
• In text, press to position for editing

Tip 3: Customize for Your Workflow#

Assign frequently used commands to easy-to-reach buttons.

Tip 4: Consider Eight-Dot Braille#

Eight-dot braille shows more information per cell, including case and formatting. Try it if you find six-dot limiting.

Tip 5: Combine Braille and Speech#

Use speech for overview, braille for details. Many users prefer to read text in braille while using speech for navigation feedback.

Troubleshooting Braille#

Display Not Recognized#

1. Check USB connection or Bluetooth pairing
2. Try disconnecting and reconnecting
3. Restart VoiceOver
4. Check display is on supported list

Wrong Braille Translation#

1. Verify correct braille table is selected
2. Check language settings
3. Update macOS for latest tables

Commands Not Working#

1. Check command assignments in VoiceOver Utility
2. Verify you’re pressing the correct buttons
3. Some commands only work in certain contexts

Summary#

Braille display support in VoiceOver is comprehensive:

• Connect via USB or Bluetooth
• Configure in VoiceOver Utility > Braille
• Customize translation, layout, and commands
• Use routing buttons for quick cursor positioning
• Input text using braille keyboard
• Visual Braille Panel available for on-screen display

For braille users, a refreshable display combined with VoiceOver provides a complete, tactile Mac experience.