Texas Monarch Rollout

A braille display device that provides 10 lines of 32 refreshable braille cells (3,840 pins total), making it the first of its kind to render multiline braille text and tactile graphics simultaneously on a single surface. It functions as an all-in-one digital access platform, featuring a built-in graphing calculator, word processor, e-book reader, and compatibility with screen readers like JAWS and NVDA. It significantly improves access to education by allowing students to download digital textbooks and tactile graphics from APH’s Tactile Graphics Image Library (TGIL) instantly, reducing the time students wait for specialized materials.

Why was it named the Monarch?

When students are taught to read correctly on paper braille, the gestures their hands perform to track and meet in the middle are often regarded as the “butterfly” method of learning to read. This is how Monarch got its name.

The Monarch offers a revolutionary digital learning experience that addresses long-standing barriers for students with visual impairments, directly supporting equitable access to the curriculum.

• Improved Braille Literacy: Its 10-line, 32-cell display enables two-handed reading, improving reading speed, fluency, and spatial comprehension of document layouts, which was not possible on single-line devices.
• Integrated Tactile Graphics: The Monarch is the first device to render multiline braille text and complex tactile graphics simultaneously on the same surface. This is particularly critical for STEM subjects, as it enables students to instantly access and interact with charts, graphs, and diagrams.
• Real-Time Accessibility: It provides immediate access to digital textbooks and the APH Tactile Graphics Image Library (TGIL), eliminating the significant delays associated with receiving bulky, embossed materials.
• Enhanced Collaboration: An HDMI output allows the content on the Monarch to be mirrored onto a visual screen, enabling sighted teachers, peers, and families to follow the student’s work in real-time, which fosters an inclusive and collaborative learning environment.

Students identified as primary braille readers in the 2024 federal VI census will be provided with devices via the TSBVI Access Grant, beginning in January 2026.

The TSBVI Access Grant provides a complete Monarch braille display kit for Texas students registered as primary braille readers on the 2024 Federal Quota Census. The grant’s purpose is to ensure that these students receive a set of tools to assist in their access to the curriculum.

Each kit includes:

• The Monarch
• Monarch Standard Accessories:
  • A Monarch carrying case.
  • A pack of five protective membranes for the tactile display surface.
  • A USB-C charging brick, cable, and international power adapters.
  • Membrane screwdriver tool.
  • Quick Start Guide in print and braille.
• Supplemental Educational Equipment:
  • A portable monitor (connects via HDMI) to allow sighted teachers, peers, and parents to view the student’s work in real-time, fostering collaboration and inclusive instruction.
  • A Bluetooth keyboard to facilitate traditional input when preferred or required.
  • A durable rolling backpack to easily transport the Monarch device (comparable in size to a large laptop) and all its accessories.

Through the TSBVI Access Grant Program, the Monarch devices and all the package accessories are student-owned.

What does it mean that the TSBVI Access Grant Program Monarch is a student-owned device?

The statement that the Monarch braille display from the TSBVI Access Grant Program is student-owned means that the device is legally and permanently property of the individual student, rather than being school property on loan.

In the context of technology programs for students with disabilities in Texas, this policy is significant because it will provide:

• Permanent Possession: The student is allowed to keep the device permanently. They do not have to return it to the school or district when they graduate, transfer to another district, or withdraw from TSBVI.
• Contrast with Standard School Equipment: Normally, technological equipment purchased by a school, including instructional materials, remains the property of the school.
• Empowerment and Continuity: Student ownership ensures the individual has this critical tool for life after high school, providing continuity and support for post-secondary education, vocational training, or employment.

The Monarch braille display is a powerful, independent device suitable for use in the home environment. It functions not only as a tool for schoolwork but also as a hub for reading, communication, and recreation.

The device enhances the home environment through two key functionalities: Wi-Fi connectivity for accessing digital content and an external video output for sighted family collaboration.

Family Collaboration and Academic Support

The Monarch is designed to facilitate family involvement, even when parents or siblings do not read braille.

• Visual Co-Viewing: By connecting the Monarch to a standard television or the portable monitor provided in the grant package (via an HDMI cable), sighted family members can view a print version of the content simultaneously displayed on the braille device. This transparency enables parents to easily assist with homework and monitor their child’s progress.
• Collaborative Learning: This visual connection simplifies working together on assignments, particularly those involving graphics. A parent or sibling can view the visual chart or map while the student explores the tactile graph or image on the display, fostering a partnership in learning.
• Universal Input: The included Bluetooth keyboard enables text entry, allowing family members and friends to type content, questions, or instructions directly into the Monarch for the student. This enables accessible communication and collaborative document editing, even if users are unfamiliar with braille.
• Recreational Engagement: Sighted family members can participate in recreational activities, such as playing Monarch Chess (an available app), by watching the visual board on the connected screen while the student interacts with the braille display.

Accessing the Digital World (Wi-Fi)

The Monarch is a connected digital tablet that utilizes Wi-Fi to provide instant access to essential educational and recreational resources:

• Online Communication: The device includes a built-in Internet Browser and an Email application, allowing students to browse the web, stay connected with friend groups, and communicate with teachers using braille input.
• Instant Access to Books: Through Wi-Fi, the Monarch’s Victor Reader app connects directly to online libraries, such as Bookshare and NFB Newsline. This feature enables students to download digital audio and braille books, including novels and digital textbooks, directly onto their device, significantly increasing reading independence and supporting multi-line braille reading.
• Tactile Graphics Library: The Tactile Viewer app uses the Wi-Fi connection to search and display images from the APH’s Tactile Graphics Image Library (TGIL). Students can instantly call up and explore graphics, maps, charts, and diagrams without delays associated with physical production.

Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) Applications at Home

The Monarch naturally supports all nine essential life skills that are part of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC):

To ensure users can maximize the benefits of the Monarch braille display, a statewide support system is being developed, including digital training resources, collaborative clubs, and direct consultation hours.

Video trainings on a variety of topics from setup to use

A robust library of video training modules is being established and will grow as requests are received. The videos are on demand, covering a wide range of topics from initial setup to advanced application use. These tutorials are designed to guide users through fundamental actions, such as connecting the device to Wi-Fi and navigating the interface, as well as more specialized functions, including using the Keyword word processor or exploring the KeyMath graphing calculator. These resources allow users to learn at their own pace and revisit specific features as needed for ongoing mastery of the device. You can also utilize the Monarch Snapshot videos from APH.

Saturday Monarch Family Club

For collaborative learning and community building, the Saturday Monarch Family Club will provide periodic gatherings for students and their families. This club will offer a non-academic setting, focused on sharing best practices and engaging with the Monarch for social, recreational, and educational purposes. It serves as a valuable space where families can connect with one another, exchange tips, and discover new ways to integrate the device into their daily lives.

Saturday Monarch Family Club will be held on the last Saturday of each month, starting January 31, 2026.

Open office hours for TVIs, Teachers, and COMS

Direct and personalized assistance is offered through open office hours every other week on Thursday from 8:30–9:30 a.m. or 3:00–4:00 p.m. These scheduled sessions offer real-time consultation with product experts, support staff, and other professionals. Users can log in to ask specific questions, receive guidance on troubleshooting technical issues, and get personalized advice on utilizing the Monarch’s full range of capabilities for both schoolwork and personal enrichment.

The initial purchase cost of the Monarch braille display and the associated training are funded through the TSBVI Access Grant program. However, the responsibility for costs related to replacement parts and future repairs is shared or limited, as outlined by the program guidelines.

Initial Costs (Paid by the Grant):

Initial Purchase: The Monarch device is acquired using funds from the grant. The device is designated as a student-owned device, meaning that there is no cost to the family for the device itself, and the student retains ownership.

Package Items: The accompanying package items—which include the portable monitor, the Bluetooth keyboard, and the protective backpack—are also covered by the grant funding and are provided at no cost to the participant.

Training: All associated training, including the Video Training Modules, Saturday Monarch Family Club, and Open Office Hours, is covered by the grant program and is offered at no cost to the participant.

Ongoing Costs (Shared/Limited Responsibility):

Accessories and Replacements: Certain accessories, including chargers, membranes, and protective covers, will be available as replacements for as long as the grant program’s stock of these specific items lasts, if the originals are damaged or destroyed. The availability of these replacements is not guaranteed to be indefinite.

Repairs and Replacement of Damaged Devices:

Loaner Devices: If the student-owned Monarch device requires repair after distribution, a limited number of loaner devices will be available through the TSBVI Tech Loan Program. This ensures the student remains connected while their device is being serviced.

Future Costs: TSBVI and the Grant program will NOT be responsible for future repairs or replacement of damaged devices beyond the initial distribution and the availability of loaners.

In the context of the new Texas law, a Personal Electronic Device (or personal device) refers to electronic items such as cell phones or tablets that students might bring to school and use. The law aims to limit the use of these devices during instructional time to minimize distractions and promote student engagement in learning.

The Monarch braille display is explicitly exempt from the general restriction of the new Texas law because it functions as assistive technology and falls under the Exception for Students with Disabilities. Its application is governed by federal disability law.

The New Texas Law vs. Federal Exception

While the state law restricts personal device use, federal laws—specifically the ndividuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act—require schools to provide accommodations and supports that ensure students with disabilities have equal access to instruction.

Monarch’s Status as Assistive Technology

The Monarch is a specialized multiline braille display that provides essential braille access. When its use is formally specified in a student’s IEP (Individualized Education Program) as an academic accommodation or assistive technology, its use must be allowed. Braille displays are listed as an approved example of an exception under the law.

Compliance Requirement

Denying a student access to the Monarch, when its use is written into their IEP, would be considered non-compliance with the student’s legal rights under federal law. Teachers are required to permit its use when it is documented in the student’s official plan.

The responsibilities of a family once their student receives a Monarch braille display through a program like the TSBVI Access Grant are centered on device care, active use, and participation in the program’s feedback process.

Based on guidelines for similar grant programs, a family’s responsibilities could include:

• Device Care and Oversight
  • The family/guardian is responsible for ensuring the Monarch, a student-owned device, is handled with care, stored safely, and used in accordance with the provided guidelines.
• Active Engagement (Student)
  • The student is expected to use the Monarch regularly and actively explore its features to support their learning experience. The student must also follow guidelines for the safe and responsible use of the device.
• Support for Feedback
  • The family/guardian should assist in completing periodic questionnaires or surveys and encourage the student to share their honest experiences and feedback about the technology.
• Facilitate Communication
  • The family/guardian helps coordinate communication between the student, their educator, and the program team to ensure that feedback and updates are submitted on time. This collaborative effort enables the program team to gather valuable insights, improving the technology, its training materials, and its integration into the classroom.

The Monarch braille display is designed as an assistive technology (AT) tool that enables students to keep pace with their sighted peers across the entire educational curriculum, moving beyond the limitations of single-line refreshable braille displays and bulky embossed materials.

The Monarch is another tool for students’ toolboxes and not a one-and-done solution. It fits into a student’s programming as another powerful tool and will provide as much as the user puts into it. Particularly if their IEP (Individualized Education Program) includes instruction and integration of the device across the student’s day — examples of compensatory/school day functions:

Core Braille Literacy and Reading

The Monarch is fundamentally a tool to enhance braille reading fluency and comprehension.

• Multi-Line Reading: Its 10-line, 32-cell refreshable display allows a student to read text in a format that more closely resembles a half-page of print or a page from an embossed book. This encourages the use of both hands for reading, which is essential for improving reading speed and tracking skills.
• Accessible Textbooks: Access to digital textbooks and literary titles from libraries like Bookshare. This drastically reduces the time a student has to wait for materials to be adapted and delivered, ensuring they receive the same content as their peers instantly.

STEM Access (Math and Science)

The device directly addresses historical barriers in STEM subjects by integrating braille and dynamic graphics on a single surface.

• Tactile Graphics: Through the Tactile Viewer app, students can instantly access and explore complex raised graphics, charts, and diagrams. It connects to resources like the Tactile Graphics Image Library (TGIL), giving them immediate access to visual information.
• Advanced Math: The built-in KeyMath app, created in partnership with Desmos, acts as a graphing calculator that can render tactile functions on demand. The student can input math problems (using Nemeth or UEB Math code) and see the corresponding tactile graph in real-time.
• Word Processing Integration: The KeyWord processor app can translate math created in standard print formats (like Microsoft Word’s math editor) into the student’s preferred braille math code (Nemeth or UEB Math/Science), enabling seamless collaboration and reducing the TVI’s (Teacher of the Visually Impaired) material adaptation time.

Classroom Collaboration and Independence

The Monarch facilitates independence while improving collaboration between students and teachers.

• Real-Time Work Review: The device features a visual display capability that allows it to connect to an external monitor via HDMI. This screen shows a print version of exactly what the student sees on their braille display. This allows sighted teachers, peers, or family members to monitor, collaborate on, and provide assistance with the student’s work—including complex math equations—without needing to read braille.
• Assignment Flexibility: Teachers can share digital documents (such as Word files) via a thumb drive, allowing students to access and complete worksheets in braille immediately, even when lesson plans or materials change on short notice.

The content of the these FAQs is pulled from a collection of publicly available product questions and answers. The following are references for the document’s information:

• HumanWare Monarch Public FAQ
• American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Monarch Public FAQ