J. Robert Atkinson
Founder of Braille Institute
J. Robert Atkinson, a Missouri native who lost his own sight in a 1912 accident, worked with a mechanical engineer, to convert a standard printing press into a machine that could emboss the tactile image of braille. With a $25,000 grant from Mary and John Longyear to “advance the educational and literary achievements of the blind,” Atkinson founded the Universal Braille Press in 1919, which was later incorporated as Braille Institute of America, Inc.
Atkinson’s contributions to people who are blind and visually impaired were significant and numerous, including: special paper for braille; interpointing, which permits use of both sides of braille pages; publishing the periodical The Braille Mirror; a braille dictionary; and passage of California’s White Cane Law.
Bob Atkinson was elected as a founding trustee in 1921 of the newly formed American Foundation for the Blind. His legislative efforts influenced the passage of the Pratt-Smoot Act of 1931, which created the Division for the Blind of the Library of Congress, now known as the National Library Service (NLS). In 1939 he was elected as second vice president of AAWB, and he later served two terms as president. He was the recipient of the distinguished Shotwell Memorial Award for outstanding service to blind people in 1957. Read more.
There’s eyesight – and then there’s vision. A Montana cowpoke who lost the first, gained the second and founded the Braille Institute of America. Los Angeles Times, March 12, 2006
The Early Years
1912
An accidental gunshot wound leaves Montana cowboy J. Robert Atkinson blind and without direction. He learns to read braille and soon begins transcribing books for his personal library.
1917
In less than five years Atkinson has transcribed nearly one million words of ink print into braille.
1919
Impressed by Atkinson, philanthropist Mary Longyear and her husband John donate $25,000 to help him establish the Universal Braille Press. The fledgling organization occupies several rooms and the garage of his Los Angeles home until 1922.
Atkinson completes printing in revised braille the King James version of the Bible in 21 volumes and sent to 14 nations.
1926
First issue of The Braille Mirror published, a braille magazine for adults patterned after The Reader’s Digest format. The magazine is published continuously for 82 years.
1929
Atkinson’s lobbying efforts result in federal legislation to fund the printing and national distribution of raised-print materials through the Library of Congress Services for the Blind, known currently as the National Library Service (NLS). The Universal Braille Press incorporates as Braille Institute of America, Inc.
Atkinson moves his organization to 741 North Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles. The headquarters building is still there today and now takes up an entire city block.
Braille Institute joins the National Library Service (NLS) and becomes a Branch Library.
1936
Determined to get more blind people working, Atkinson successfully lobbies for a bill to provide rent-free space for blind vendors in federal office buildings.
1938
Braille Institute produces the first braille Webster’s dictionary in more than 100 years of braille printing.
1948
The first edition of a brailled children’s anthology, Expectations, was published as a free gift to blind children. Originally titled Christmas in Story and Verse, it was published continuously for 60 years.
1954
Visual Aids consultants begin demonstrating magnification devices that help people maximize their existing vision. Volunteers take on a bigger role, with many teaching home management skills in the Institute’s newly expanded facility.
1964
J. Robert Atkinson passes away at the age of 76.
1968
Title of annual children’s anthology changed to Expectations.
Growing the Mission
1971
Braille Institute expands by opening a center in Anaheim.
1972
The first Braille Institute Track and Field Olympics is held at the Youth Center. This recreational program still runs each year.
1973
A Rancho Mirage Center is opened in Palm Desert.
A new Santa Barbara Center is dedicated, stretching our services northward to the tri-county area.
Child Development services are established.
1990
Our new Rancho Mirage Center opens to meet the needs of people in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
A new Library and Conference Center is dedicated at the Los Angeles facility.
1993
A San Diego Center is established in leased space near La Jolla. With an eye on the future, Braille Institute acquires a 3.8-acre site to build a new San Diego facility.
1998
Braille Institute launches its first website at: brailleinstitute.org
1999
A new 28,000-square-foot San Diego Regional Center opens in the University Towne Centre area near La Jolla to meet the needs of people in San Diego and Imperial counties.
1999
Mobile Solutions— a traveling display of our programs and services — is launched, reaching out to people who are not able to come to one of our five regional centers.
2000
Sound Solutions, a free series of 14 educational audiotapes presenting practical information for people with vision loss, is released.
First Braille Challenge® is held, for Southern California youths. It is the only academic competition for blind and visually impaired youth in grades 1-12. It is expanding each year, now including more than 1,100 youth from across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
2001
The student shops get a facelift and a new name—Vistas.
The Braille Press becomes Braille Publishing, to develop and market our press capabilities to a wider client base.
2004
A new Santa Barbara Center is dedicated.
Braille Publishing now including recording services and digital formats.
2005
Our Braille Institute Library is named Network Library of the Year by the National Library Service.
2008
Braille Institute gets a rebranding facelift, with a new logo, mission statement and reorganization of several departments.
Capital Campaign begins for new Orange County Center.
2010
Braille Challenge® holds its 10th annual event, highlighting Braille Institute’s dedication to the awareness of braille literacy.
2014
Connection Pointe is launched in Los Angeles to assist students with utilizing technology.
2016
A center is opened in Laguna Hills.
2019
Braille Institute celebrates its centennial anniversary, a major milestone few non-profit organizations achieve.
Braille Institute launches a new rebranding campaign with a new visual identity that also includes a new typeface called Atkinson Hyperlegible to help with legibility and readability for people with low vision. The font is available for free, and can be downloaded here.
Braille Institute opens a new 14,000 square foot regional center in Anaheim and opens a center in Riverside.
Next Century of Positively Transforming Lives
2020
Braille Challenge celebrates its 20th anniversary of promoting the importance of braille literacy with youth. They host the first-ever remote Braille Challenge Finals due to the COVID-19 pandemic social-distancing mandates.
Braille Institute opens a center in Coachella Valley.
Braille Institute introduces “online learning” which enables students to participate in live instructor-led workshops and classes from home by phone or video conference call.
2021
The Council of Schools and Services for the Blind (COSB) bestows their highest honor, the Champion Award to Braille Institute in recognition of positive impact nationally with youth who are blind or visually impaired (BVI).
Braille Institute hires social work professionals with MSW degrees and LCSW certificates to help new students transition through both the practical and the emotional adjustments of vision loss
2022
Braille Institute Names James P. Kales as Chief Executive Officer succeeding Peter Mindnich after eight years as president.
2023
Braille Institute Los Angeles Multi-Year Initiative Unveiled a Reimagined Library for those Blind and Visually Impaired – Free and open to the public, guests can explore the new space that includes a Los Angeles cityscape sensory wall and mural, a recording room, and tech hub.
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