About the Blind Arduino Project

The Blind Arduino Project has been bringing blind and sighted makers together since 2015. What started as a small collection of tutorials and a blog has grown into a free-floating community of makers committed to one big idea: electronics and open-source hardware should be fully accessible to blind people, full stop.

Where We Came From

We stand on the shoulders of some amazing predecessors. Bob Gunderson’s Braille Technical Press in the 1950s documented accessible tools for blind ham radio operators. The Smith-Kettlewell Technical File, Bill Gerrey’s legendary newsletter from the 1980s and 90s, was a treasure trove of hands-on electronics techniques for blind people — including soldering instruction and accessible test equipment reviews. We like to think we’re carrying that tradition into the Arduino age.

The Blind Arduino Project launched its blog in 2015 and made its public debut at Maker Faire Bay Area in May 2016. In October 2016 we launched the Bay Area Blind Arduino Monthly Meetup (BABAMM), which gathered blind and sighted makers on the second Saturday of each month at the LightHouse San Francisco’s Innovation Lab.

Where We Are Now

Ten years in, a lot has changed — but the fundamentals haven’t. The Blind Arduino Project is no longer affiliated with Smith-Kettlewell or the SF LightHouse. We’re now a fully independent, community-run organization, coordinated by Joshua Miele with support from makers and contributors around the world.

We’re still doing what we’ve always done: exploring non-visual techniques for working with electronics, writing tutorials and project documentation, reviewing accessible tools and equipment, and fostering a community where blind and sighted makers can learn from each other.

What We’re About

  • Tutorials that assume you’re working by touch and by ear, not by sight
  • Project designs for useful devices you can build yourself
  • Equipment reviews for meters, tools, and components that work well for blind makers
  • Community connection through our email list and events

Whether you’re a seasoned maker or just picking up your first Arduino, you’re welcome here.