National Braille Press

Name

National Braille Press

Legal name

National Braille Press

Website

https://nbp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Braille Publishing and Accessibility Products

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Periodical Publishers (51312), Books Printing (323117)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Accessible & Alternative Format Materials (Braille, Large Print, Audio, Tactile Graphics) (EDAGAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF), Reading & Literacy Intervention Materials for Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia, Decoding, Comprehension) (EDAGAMAH), Personalized & Customized Book Print-on-Demand (Variable Data, One-to-One) (MPAJANAH), Children’s Book Print-on-Demand (Picture Books, Early Readers, YA) (MPAJANAC)

Keywords

• Braille publishing
• Assistive technology
• Tactile graphics
• Accessible education
• Braille literacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Braille Publications Sales: Sale of braille books, magazines, and publications including children's books, textbooks, cookbooks, and technology guides through the NBP bookstore and catalog.
2. Braille Business Services: Custom braille printing services for businesses including business cards, ADA braille signs, award plaques, and menus.
3. Children's Braille Book Club: Subscription-based book club providing regular braille book deliveries to children.
4. Our Special Magazine: Magazine written by and for blind women, published 6 times a year at $18.00 or eBraille download.
5. Syndicated Columnists Weekly: Weekly braille publication containing best editorials from diverse papers at $28 per year subscription.
6. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from organizations like Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association for equipment and machinery improvements.
7. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from supporters including planned giving, event fundraising like the annual golf tournament, and general contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

National Braille Press is a nonprofit braille publisher that produces and sells braille books, magazines, children's literacy materials, tactile graphics and maps, and custom business products such as braille business cards, ADA signage, and menus. Through its Center for Braille Innovation division, it also designs and commercializes affordable assistive braille technology devices including the B2G portable notetaker, Braille Me reader, and Tactile Caliper. Revenue is supplemented by charitable donations and foundation grants supporting braille literacy programs.

Product overview

National Braille Press (NBP) operates as a braille publishing house and technology innovator with a portfolio spanning physical braille products, assistive technology devices, educational programs, and publications. The core product portfolio includes the B2G portable braille notetaker and Tactile Caliper (developed through its Center for Braille Innovation division), along with refreshable braille devices like Braille Me. NBP also publishes braille books through programs like the Children's Braille Book Club, produces business accessibility solutions (braille business cards, ADA signs, menus, award plaques), and offers educational resources including TVI Braille Ignition Kits and technology guides for Apple and iOS devices. The organization publishes two magazines: Our Special for blind women and Syndicated Columnists Weekly. Through the Touch of Genius Prize (established 2007), NBP fosters innovation in braille and tactile literacy with $10,000 annual awards. The Center for Braille Innovation (CBI) serves as the R&D division collaborating with major technology companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• B2G Portable Braille Notetaker An affordable, portable braille notetaker developed by the Center for Braille Innovation featuring braille input and refreshable braille display, designed for blind and visually impaired users needing mobile braille note-taking.
• Tactile Caliper A braille ruler/caliper for the blind allowing accurate measurement to 1/16th of an inch, featuring a measuring slide with mechanical refreshable braille on the top surface for precise measurement output.
• Braille Me A refreshable braille reader from Innovision using magnetic force technology to power the braille display, featuring 20-cell, 6-dot refreshable braille output, braille keyboard, cursor routing buttons, panning keys, and a built-in grade 2 translator supporting multiple languages.
• Our Special Magazine A magazine written and edited especially for blind women, published six times a year in braille or eBraille download formats at $18.00 annually; covers career issues, fashion, parenting, cooking, dating, and health, including a pull-out Kitchen Corner recipe section.
• Syndicated Columnists Weekly A 36-page braille weekly containing the best editorials of the week from diverse and respected papers including The Washington Post, New York Times, and Chicago Tribune; available at $28 per year.
• Children's Braille Book Club A subscription program that delivers braille books to blind children monthly, promoting braille literacy from an early age as part of NBP's Kids' Programs portfolio.
• TVI Braille Ignition Kits Free kits that support Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs) with educational resources for teaching braille to blind and visually impaired students.
• Braille Textbooks Braille textbooks covering various subjects, sold through NBP's catalog to ensure blind students have access to the same educational content as sighted peers.
• Braille Business Solutions Custom braille printing for businesses, including braille business cards, ADA Braille Signs, Braille Award Plaques, and Braille Menus, ordered through a request-a-quote flow.
• Tactile Maps Tactile maps and diagrams including those from The Princeton Braillists, providing accessible geographic and spatial information for blind and visually impaired individuals.
• Print/Braille Picture Books Children's picture books featuring both print and braille text, designed so blind and sighted children can read together.
• Technology Guides Books and guides teaching blind users how to use consumer technology including Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and other devices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25 volunteers from around the world have contributed to CBI projects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ETS (Educational Testing Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on research involving test taking for students with visual impairments since 2006.
• ComcastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduced advertising campaign featuring NBP's mission to promote braille literacy in the blind and low vision community.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS, Library of Congress): NLS is the federal program that distributes braille and audio books free to eligible U.S. patrons. Directly comparable to NBP in braille publication and circulation, but operates at vastly larger scale as a government-backed incumbent, including electronic braille pioneered by former NBP staffer Judy Dixon.
• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): AFB is a major nonprofit advocating for blind and visually impaired Americans through research, publications, and resources. Comparable to NBP's advocacy and literacy-promotion work, though AFB's portfolio is broader (research, policy, employment) rather than focused on braille publishing.

Direct peers

• Seedlings Braille Books for Children: Seedlings is a nonprofit that provides free and low-cost braille books to blind children, directly overlapping with NBP's Children's Braille Book Club and ReadBooks! programs in serving the same primary customer segment.
• American Printing House for the Blind (APH): APH is the world's largest nonprofit producer of educational and daily living products for the blind, producing braille textbooks, instructional materials, and assistive technology. Directly comparable to NBP in braille publishing, educational materials for the visually impaired, and assistive device development.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Perkins is a leading nonprofit serving blind and visually impaired individuals through education and outreach, including publishing accessible educational materials and resources for teachers of the visually impaired (TVIs). Comparable to NBP's educational publishing and TVI toolkit offerings.
• Braille Institute of America: Braille Institute provides free classes, books, and resources to blind adults, including braille publications and assistive technology training. Comparable to NBP in offering braille literacy resources and serving adults with visual impairments, though delivered through in-person regional centers.

Emerging players

• ViewPlus Technologies: ViewPlus manufactures tactile graphics embossers and accessible braille printers used in educational and accessibility settings. Comparable to NBP's braille printing and tactile graphics production capability, though ViewPlus is commercial and focused on hardware sales.
• HumanWare: HumanWare is a commercial manufacturer of braille displays, notetakers, and assistive technology products. Directly comparable to NBP's B2G and Braille Me hardware efforts, but operates as a for-profit global competitor with broader product lines and market reach.

Others

• National Federation of the Blind (NFB): NFB is the largest U.S. advocacy organization for blind Americans, where NBP exhibits annually. While not a direct competitor in publishing, NFB is a key ecosystem partner in braille literacy promotion, member engagement, and channel for reaching NBP's customer base.
• American Council of the Blind (ACB): ACB is a national consumer advocacy organization for blind Americans that NBP engages with through conventions and programming. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem organization promoting braille literacy and accessibility, though not a direct publishing peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BraillePress
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NationalBraillePress
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalBraillePress
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalbraillepress

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Braille Press