Perkins Braille Bloom™ Manual & FAQ

Manual & Quick Start Guide

Do I need to purchase a new Perkins Brailler or will the Perkins Braille Bloom connect to my old Perkins Brailler?

The Perkins Braille Bloom™ is specifically designed to fit the Perkins Classic Brailler, whether it was built in 1962 or 2025. However, it is important that your Perkins Brailler is in good working order. If it hasn’t been cleaned or serviced recently, it’s critical to do that before connecting your new Perkins Braille Bloom – a clean brailler will help to avoid transcription discrepancies.
Need help cleaning your brailler? Check out these detailed instructions, and if you need the tools, purchase our DIY Cleaning Kit.

How does the Perkins Braille Bloom connect to the Perkins Brailler?

To connect your Braille Bloom to your Perkins Brailler, refer to our Quick Start Guide for step by step instructions.

Do I need to use a special app or website in order for the Perkins Braille Bloom to work?

No, unlike our competitor, you can use your Perkins Brailler with an attached Perkins Braille Bloom™ any program on your connected device! You do not need to use a specific translation website.

Can I use any device I want with the Perkins Braille Bloom?

The Perkins Braille Bloom will connect with any Windows or MacOS device, Chromebooks, iPads, and is compatible with iOS and Android smart phones. Note: Variability in Android devices may cause discrepancies in supported symbols.

Will my Perkins Classic Brailler still produce tactile braille on paper when the Perkins Braille Bloom is connected?

Yes! With the Perkins Braille Bloom connected, the Perkins Brailler will continue to output dots while sending translated braille to the connected computer or smart device.

Can I use FSA dollars to purchase the Perkins Braille Bloom?

Expenses to support the special education inclusion of teaching braille to a visually impaired person are FSA/HSA eligible. You should reach out to your Insurance Plan Administrator directly to inquire about paying out-of-pocket and submitting a claim of reimbursement. Your provider may require a Letter of Medical Necessity.

What is the product warranty?

The Perkins Braille Bloom is the only accessory device for the Perkins Classic Brailler that will protect the warranty on your Perkins Classic Brailler. Modifications to the Perkins Brailler with any other device will nullify that warranty. There is a 1 year warranty on the Perkins Braille Bloom.

How long is the battery life of the Perkins Braille Bloom?

The Perkins Braille Bloom runs on a wireless battery and gets approximately 8 hours of continuous use per charge.

Does the Perkins Braille Bloom support UEB Braille?

The Perkins Braille Bloom supports both Grade 1 uncontracted UEB Braille and Grade 2 contracted UEB Braille. Simply toggle the switch on the left side of the Perkins Braille Bloom to select your preferred input setting.

Does the Perkins Braille Bloom support Nemeth Braille?

Does the Perkins Braille Bloom support non-English languages?

The Perkins Braille Bloom currently supports English translation, but will offer multi-language support in the near future.

How do I know if the Bloom is securely attached to my Brailler?

When the Braille Bloom is securely attached to a brailler, the bottom of the brailler will sit flush against spring clips and side guideposts and when the Brailler is picked up the Braille Bloom will stay securely attached.

What should I do if the module doesn't seem to sit flush against the bottom of my Brailler?

If the Braille Bloom doesn’t seem to sit flush against the bottom of your brailler try disconnecting the two and follow the connection instructions carefully. Ensuring that the Braille Bloom is aligned between the side guideposts and that the Brailler is resting on the rear clips first can help with alignment.

Why isn’t "PerkinsBB" showing up in my Bluetooth discovery list?

The Braille Bloom can only connect to one device at a time. If you turn the Braille Bloom off, then back on, and hear the “warble” bluetooth connected tone, that means the Braille Bloom is connected to a nearby device. Disconnect from that device first to be able to connect to another device.

My braille bloom is plugged in over USB but typing is not resulting in characters being sent to my device. How do I fix this?

If the Braille Bloom doesn’t seem to sit flush against the bottom of your brailler, try disconnecting. The Braille Bloom has two USB-C ports, the one towards the front of the device is to connect to a device over USB. Only the front port can be used for connecting the Braille Bloom to a computer.

The letters on my screen don't match what I’m typing in Braille. How do I fix this?

There are two main things to check to ensure your text outputs correctly:

Check your Operating System mode: Ensure that the operating system mode the Braille Bloom is in matches the operating system you are using. Each operating system works slightly differently and requires its own mode. To set your Braille Bloom’s operating system, a specific key should be held down while powering on the device. The following outlines which keys should be held down for each operating system:
- Windows: Hold down the dot 1 key
- MacOS/iOS/iPadOS: Hold down the dot 2 key
- Android/Chromebook: Hold down the dot 3 key
Check your device's keyboard layout: Because the Braille Bloom translates Unified English Braille (UEB), your connected computer or smart device must be set to a US English keyboard layout. If your device is set to a different language or keyboard layout, the characters will not map properly on your screen.

My Brailler is "double-striking" characters on the screen. How do I address this?

If each key press causes two letters to appear on the screen, then you are probably connected over both USB and Bluetooth. Disconnect one of the two and the Braille Bloom will begin behaving as expected.

I am typing into my Brailler and only spaces are being output on my computer. How do I address this?

This is a sign that your Brailler isn’t correctly seated on your Braille Bloom. Refer to the user manual and follow the instructions for ensuring that the Brailler is properly seated during installation.

The device won't power on. What are the first steps to troubleshoot?

When the power switch is turned on (pushed towards the rear of the device) you should hear several beeps and feel a haptic pulse. If these don’t happen, then the battery needs to be charged. Charge the Braille Bloom by plugging the rear USB port into a power supply.

Why is my device not charging?

The Braille Bloom has two USB ports on its right side. Only the rear port can be used for charging.