Im in California. How is California Braille different from ADAAG Braille?
Actually, it’s not! All Braille, both according to ADAAG and to California code, must be contracted, or Grade 2 Braille, which means that it is a kind of shorthand. Letter combinations and even some words are represented by fewer cells than with Grade 1 Braille, which uses one cell for each letter in a word. For instance, a one cell contraction is used for the letter combination “en,” so “men” is spelled with only two cells, and “women” has four cells rather than five. There are no other rules for Braille in the federal guidelines. However, California does have rules about the space between dots and cells. They are somewhat greater than the spaces in the font used to publish books, so that signs will be easier to read. And, in California, the dot height is mandated. Dots must be 1/40th inch high. ANSI standards do have spacing rules, and they include the California rules. The “new ADAAG” will have those same spacing rules as well. California Braille spacing is legal throughout the Unit
