Slate & Stylus

How to Use a Braille Slate and Stylus

A Braille slate and stylus is a portable tool used to write Braille by hand. Unlike print writing, Braille is written right to left so that it can be read correctly from left to right when the paper is turned over.

Slate & Stylus Tools

Slate

  • A hinged frame with evenly spaced rectangular openings (cells).
  • Each cell holds one Braille character (6 dots: 2 columns × 3 rows).
  • The slate holds the paper in place.

Stylus

  • A small pen-like tool with a pointed metal tip.
  • Used to press dots into the paper.

1. Insert the Paper

  1. Open the slate.
  2. Place a sheet of Braille paper between the top and bottom sections.
  3. Align the paper evenly.
  4. Close and snap the slate shut to hold the paper firmly in place.

2. Writing Braille - You write from RIGHT to LEFT.

Because the dots are embossed (pushed through from the back), everything must be written in reverse order.

  • Start at the top right corner of the slate.
  • Move from right to left across the line.
  • When finished with a line, move down to the next line.
image showing the braille alphabet and how to write with a slate and stylus

3. Making the Dots

Each Braille cell has 6 dot positions:

Ìý Ìý 1 4
Ìý ÌýÌý2 5
Ìý ÌýÌý3 6

6. Finishing and Reading

  1. When finished writing, open the slate carefully.
  2. Remove the paper.
  3. Turn the paper over.
  4. Read from left to right, just like printed text.

Helpful Tips

  • Use firm, even pressure so dots are raised clearly.
  • Practice spacing between words.
  • Double-check orientation before writing.
  • Keep fingers relaxed when reading to feel dots clearly.
  • Practice the Braille alphabet separately for accuracy.