Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund

What Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund does

Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund (MBTF), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in 1962 that produces braille educational and informational materials for blind and visually impaired students and adults in the United States and abroad. The organization operates one of the largest braille production facilities of its kind in the nation from within the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility in Jackson, Michigan, employing a workforce that includes trained prisoner staff supervised by management, with all transcribers certified to U.S. Library of Congress standards and proofed by blind proofreaders. Its core production technology combines computer-assisted braille encoding — specifically Braille2000 software for embossing — with manual transcriber expertise and a specialized tactile graphics department recognized for reproducing maps, charts, graphs, and anatomical illustrations.

MBTF offers three primary revenue lines: (1) Transcription Services converting textbooks and printed materials into braille using UEB or EBAE coding, with per-page pricing ranging from $0.40-$0.60 for standard textbook transcription to $2.25-$4.00 for Quick Braille rush work; (2) Printing & Embossing Services including embossing at $0.10 per page, thermoforming at $0.20 per page, and Perkins Machine servicing; and (3) a Publication Catalog of pre-transcribed braille books from which it ships over 5,000,000 pages annually. Customers include K-12 schools, colleges and universities, federal/state/local government agencies, non-profits, commercial businesses, and healthcare providers. Distribution is via direct phone/fax/email sales, online quote request forms, and shipping through the U.S. Postal Service's "Free Matter for the Blind" program. The organization is governed by a board including representatives of founding partners Lions Clubs Districts 11-B1 and 11-C2, Jackson County Intermediate School District, and the Michigan Department of Corrections, with Cindy Olmstead serving as CEO/President.

Name

Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund

Legal name

Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund, Inc.

Website

https://www.mi-braille.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating one of the largest prison-based braille production facilities in the U.S., transcribing textbooks and printed materials into braille for blind and visually impaired students, government agencies, and businesses nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Braille Production and Accessibility Services

NAICS

Books Printing (323117), Printing and Related Support Activities (323)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Accessible Media Production (Alt Formats, Captioning, Audio Description) (EDALAGAC), Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF)

Keywords

• Braille transcription services
• Tactile graphics production
• Accessible publishing
• Embossing services
• Blind education materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Braille Transcription Services: MBTF transcribes textbooks and materials into braille for blind and visually impaired persons. Pricing varies by material type (music, foreign language, math/NEMETH, literary) and customer segment (education, government, commercial). Revenue is per-page based with additional charges for extra copies.
2. Printing & Embossing Services: Embossing service for already published braille materials at $0.10 per page. Thermoforming service for artwork preservation at $0.20 per page. Perkins Machine servicing at $35 base fee plus parts.
3. Publication Catalog Sales: Sale of completed braille books from the publication library. Ships over 5,000,000 braille pages annually. All volumes bound with 19-ring binders and heavy plastic covers unless unbound option requested.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund (MBTF) is a non-profit braille production facility that converts textbooks, printed materials, and graphics into braille (UEB or EBAE coding) for blind and visually impaired persons. The organization offers three core service lines: transcription services (including literary, math/NEMETH, music, and foreign language braille), printing and embossing services using Braille2000 files and thermoforming, and a publication catalog of pre-transcribed braille books. Operations are conducted within the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility, leveraging a prisoner workforce to produce materials at substantially below commercial rates.

Product overview

Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund (MBTF) is a nonprofit braille production facility offering three core service lines: Transcription Services (converting print materials to braille using UEB or EBAE coding), Printing & Embossing Services (embossing Braille2000 files and thermoforming), and a Publication Catalog (pre-transcribed braille books). The organization also operates community programs including free braille calendar distribution and a school library book club. Located within the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility, MBTF leverages prison-based labor to provide K-12 textbooks and other materials at reduced rates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transcription Services
• Printing and Embossing Services
• Publication Catalog
• Free Braille Calendars Program
• School Library Book Club

Quantifiable outcome

• Ships over 5,000,000 braille pages annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lions Clubs of Districts 11-B1 and 11-C2coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1962Founding partners who helped establish MBTF in 1962. Lions Clubs continue to support the organization through board representation (Michael Brown as Chairman, Jeffrey Routson as Secretary). Lions Clubs International members volunteer and raise awareness for blindness-related causes.
• Jackson County Intermediate School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1962Founding partner that collaborated with Lions Clubs to establish the braille transcription program in 1962. Early partnership enabled the expansion from Michigan-only service to national distribution.
• Michigan Department of CorrectionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1962MDOC provides the facility space within G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility. Provides prisoner workforce that enables low-cost production model. Two MDOC Wardens serve on the Board of Directors (Kimberly Cargor from Jackson Correctional Facility, Jeremy Howard).
• National Braille Association (NBA)minorOthersProfessional membership organization for braille transcribers and producers. MBTF maintains membership as part of industry standing and best practices alignment.
• Braille Authority of North America (BANA)minorOthersAuthoritative body setting braille standards in North America. MBTF maintains membership to ensure compliance with current braille codes (UEB and EBAE).
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB)minorOthersLargest organization of blind Americans. MBTF maintains membership and receives referrals of individuals and organizations needing braille materials.
• Jackson Chamber of CommerceminorOthersLocal business chamber membership supporting community engagement and local business connections for MBTF.
• American Printing House for the BlindminorOthersAll textbooks transcribed by MBTF are registered with the American Printing House for the Blind, the largest supplier of braille books and educational materials for visually impaired students.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• American Printing House for the Blind: APH is the largest U.S. supplier of braille books and educational materials for visually impaired students and is the registry body for all MBTF-transcribed textbooks. Directly comparable as a braille publisher/transcriber serving K-12 schools and agencies, with broader product breadth including assistive technology.
• Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired: Nonprofit operating a large-scale braille production facility and transcription services alongside rehabilitation programs. Direct peer in braille transcription, embossing, and accessible media production for educational and consumer customers.
• National Braille Press: Nonprofit braille publisher producing children's books, magazines, and adult titles in braille. Direct peer in braille publishing and accessible content production, with overlapping K-12 and consumer customer segments.
• Seedlings Braille Books for Children: Michigan-based nonprofit that provides free braille books to blind children. Direct peer in braille book production/distribution for the visually impaired, with overlapping K-12/early-reader customer base and similar cost-efficient nonprofit operating model.
• Braille Institute: Nonprofit serving blind/visually impaired individuals with braille production, library services, and education programs. Direct peer in braille transcription and accessible content delivery, particularly for consumer and library customers.
• T-Base Communications: Commercial provider of accessible communications including braille, large print, and audio production for banks, utilities, and government. Direct peer in accessible document production with a heavier commercial/government mix than MBTF.

Broad incumbents

• Learning Ally: Nonprofit providing accessible audiobooks and educational materials to students with print disabilities including blindness. Broader accessible-format incumbent with audio-first approach rather than embossed braille, but competing for the same education accessibility budgets.
• Bookshare (Benetech): Largest digital accessible library for people with print disabilities. Competes for the same institutional accessibility budget but delivers via digital/ePub formats rather than embossed braille — represents the digital alternative path.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Historic blindness services organization providing education, assistive technology, and braille resources. Overlaps with MBTF on braille literacy and educational support, though primarily a school/service provider rather than a high-volume production facility.

Others

• ViewPlus Technologies: Manufacturer of tactile graphics and braille embossers (including the Braille2000-compatible product family MBTF uses). Enabling technology supplier rather than direct competitor, but central to the production ecosystem in which MBTF operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mbtf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund