12/05/2025
Tags: Service
On November 20, 2025, the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) and Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE) proudly hosted a milestone graduation ceremony, honoring the first cohort of Adults in Custody (AICs) to complete Oregon's new braille transcription and certification program. Family and friends gathered to celebrate the remarkable achievements of their loved ones in this transformative vocational initiative.
The graduates, members of a group they've proudly named “The Braille Cell," were recognized for their dedication and progress in the Unified English Braille (UEB) Course, offered through the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind. After 16 months of rigorous study, six AICs were honored for their commitment to mastering braille. Of those, two have officially earned their UEB Literary Transcriber certification and are now nationally certified braille transcribers.
Speakers included Stasha Kellogg, OSP Program Supervisor, and Melanie Doolin, OCE Administrator. Guests were invited to explore embossed braille manuscripts created by the students, tangible proof of their skill, perseverance, and growth.
“As an AIC there are not many opportunities to have a positive impact on the community outside these walls. I feel that Braille has given me that opportunity, that what I am doing while incarcerated is not just a waste of time, but is making a difference in the world," shared Caleb Johnson, one of the graduates, reflecting on the deeper meaning behind their work.
Funded by a federal Bureau of Justice Assistance grant, the program operates at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) and Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF). Designed to roll out in phases, it equips participants with highly specialized, in-demand skills while addressing a critical national shortage of braille transcribers. Learning braille is no small feat, akin to mastering a new language and alphabet, making these accomplishments even more impressive.
“The Braille program here at OCE has provided a wonderful opportunity for an AIC's educational growth, and to be challenged while learning a skill most of us would never have thought about learning," said Richard Gustafson, another graduate, highlighting the program's impact on personal development and intellectual engagement.
To earn certification, students must complete 19 lessons, pass a reading test, and produce a braille manuscript, each reviewed by a nationally certified grader. While official certificates are still en route, two students have already completed all requirements and earned their UEB Literary certification. Two more have submitted their manuscripts and are awaiting grading, and five others have advanced to the next phase, the OCE Braille Software Course.
“The Braille Cell" was created not only to provide meaningful, rehabilitative training, but also to open doors to real employment opportunities post-release. Graduates receive nationally recognized certifications that qualify them to work as braille transcribers anywhere in the U.S. The program was also developed in partnership with the Oregon Textbook and Media Center (OTMC) to help meet the state's growing need for accessible educational materials for blind and visually impaired K–12 students.
With the first certifications now awarded, OCE is preparing to launch transcription services, an exciting next step that will support the program's long-term sustainability and allow participants to contribute directly to the community.
Speakers included Stasha Kellogg, OSP Program Supervisor, and Melanie Doolin, OCE Administrator. Guests were invited to explore embossed braille manuscripts created by the students, tangible proof of their skill, perseverance, and growth.
Funded by a federal Bureau of Justice Assistance grant, the program operates at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) and Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF). Designed to roll out in phases, it equips participants with highly specialized, in-demand skills while addressing a critical national shortage of braille transcribers. Learning braille is no small feat, akin to mastering a new language and alphabet, making these accomplishments even more impressive.
To earn certification, students must complete 19 lessons, pass a reading test, and produce a braille manuscript, each reviewed by a nationally certified grader. While official certificates are still en route, two students have already completed all requirements and earned their UEB Literary certification. Two more have submitted their manuscripts and are awaiting grading, and five others have advanced to the next phase, the OCE Braille Software Course.
With the first certifications now awarded, OCE is preparing to launch transcription services, an exciting next step that will support the program's long-term sustainability and allow participants to contribute directly to the community.
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