The National Braille Association, Inc. (NBA) is a 503(c) non-profit organization headquartered in Rochester, New York, centered on a mission to provide continuing education to those who prepare braille, and to providing braille materials to persons who are visually impaired. It is a member of the Braille Authority of North America. As a member-supported professional association the organization provides training, education, and certification to braille transcribers, teachers of the visually impaired, and others who prepare print material for the blind and visually impaired. History The organization was founded in 1945 in New York City as the National Braille Club. At the time, there weren't many standards or direct guidelines for someone to follow while preparing braille. In an effort to standardize the process, the National Braille Club sought to provide training so that transcribers across the country were all providing similarly formatted materials. In 1946 the organization began publishing the Bulletin, a quarterly peer-reviewed journal of skills articles intended to provide technical instruction to those transcribing braille. In 1957 the National Braille Club began holding conferences where braille transcribers from around North America would collect in person and receive training. Since then the conferences have been adjusted slightly in format and frequency. In 2020 it was hosted using a virtual platform for the first time ever. In 1964 the National Braille Club was renamed to become the National Braille Association (NBA). Soon after, they would form the Braille Book Bank located in New Jersey. The book bank provided transcribed reading materials for readers all over the United States. Later in the early 2000s, the book bank and transcription service were discontinued, as there were many transcribing groups and braille publishing houses around the country, but few training organizations. Rather than attempt to manage both efforts, NBA chose to focus exclusively on training. Services Professional development Since 1957 the organization has been hosting in person conferences where braille transcribers attend trainings taught by experts from around North America. The frequency and format of the conferences has been adjusted over the years, but it has traditionally focused on providing classroom style training for transcribers on various topics. In recent decades, the conferences have primarily been either a three-day or two and a half day schedule, with workshop sessions in the mornings and afternoons. Historically, conference attendance was only open to members, as some of the meal functions also serve as membership meetings.