Braille Transcription Program Opens At Riverbend Maximum Security Institution

NASHVILLE - On Thursday, June 20, 2019, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) celebrated the Grand Opening of the Braille Transcription Program at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution.  This new program is the result of a partnership between TRICOR and the Tennessee School for the Blind.

TDOC Commissioner Tony Parker gave remarks at the opening saying, “I can promise you this as Commissioner of the Department of Correction; we will not take our foot off the gas in the direction moving forward at the rate we are going.”  He then goes on to say, “I want to thank everyone that worked so hard in a collaborative effort like this to make the state of Tennessee a safer place to live.”  Tennessee lawmakers, Representative Darren Jernigan and Senator Ed Jackson, attended today’s event.

Seventeen (17) people are currently in the program at RMSI with plans to expand in the works.

The Braille Transcription Program allows offenders the opportunity to work, learn braille and utilize tools to transcribe printed educational material into braille for students at the Tennessee School for the Blind.  By learning to transcribe braille, these offenders will not only be productive while serving their sentence but will also learn an employable skill that will assist them in successful reentry.