getting-started

In yaleBraille: Generate Braille-Enabled Graphics

knitr::opts_chunk$set(
  collapse = TRUE,
  comment = "#>"
)

The yaleBraille package renders graphics intended to support data visualization for low-vision and blind end-users. In particular, the _br functions print plots to .pdf files, utilizing syntax similar to R's base plotting functions.

library(yaleBraille)

The yaleSports dataset derives from a sandbox dataset utilized in the Yale School of Public Health (?yaleSports) for more information.

For a box plot, use boxplot_br in lieu of boxplot:

data("yaleSports", package = "yaleBraille")
boxplot_br(Height ~ Sport, data = yaleSports,
           over = "Box Plot",
           main = "Yale Athletics Dataset",
           xlab = "x-axis = Sport",
           ylab = "y-axis = Height (inches)",
           stem = "plotBox")

This will yield a two-page .pdf with the following images:

knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarBox_Braille.png")
knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarBox_Text.png")

For a scatter plot, use plot_br in lieu of plot:

data("yaleSports", package = "yaleBraille")
plot_br(Weight~Height,data=yaleSports,
              over="Scatter Plot",
              main="Yale Athletics Dataset",
              xlab="x-axis = Height (inches)",
              ylab="y-axis = Weight (pounds)",
              stem="plotScatter")

yielding

knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarScatter_Braille.png")
knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarScatter_Text.png")

For a line plot, use plot_br with type="l" or type="b":

data("yaleSports", package = "yaleBraille")
plot_br(sort(yaleSports$Weight[1:20]),
        over="Scatter Plot",
        main="Yale Athletics Dataset",
        xlab="Athlete (sorted)",
        ylab="y-axis = Weight (pounds)",
        type="b",
        stem="plotLine")

yielding

knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarLine_Braille.png")
knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarLine_Text.png")

For a pie chart, use pie_br in lieu of pie:

data("yaleSports", package = "yaleBraille")
tbl=table(yaleSports$Sport)
pie_br(tbl,
        over="Pie Chart",
        main="Yale Athletics Dataset",
        xlab=" ",
        ylab=" ",
        stem="plotPie")

yielding

knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarPie_Braille.png")
knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarPie_Text.png")

For a bar chart, use barplot_br in lieu of barplot:

data("yaleSports", package = "yaleBraille")
tbl=table(yaleSports$Sport)
barplot_br(tbl,
        over="Bar Chart",
        main="Yale Athletics Dataset",
        xlab="x-axis = Sport",
        ylab="y-axis = Count (n athletes)",
        stem="plotBar")

yielding

knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarBar_Braille.png")
knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarBar_Text.png")

For a histogram chart, use hist_br in lieu of hist:

data("yaleSports", package = "yaleBraille")
hist_br(yaleSports$Weight,
        over="Histogram",
        main="Yale Athletics Dataset",
        xlab="x-axis = Bodyweight (pounds)",
        ylab="y-axis = Count (n athletes)",
        stem="plotHist")

yielding

knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarHist_Braille.png")
knitr::include_graphics("images/exemplarHist_Text.png")

Notes

1. Figures may appear right-adjusted on page. This is to allow a 1-inch print margin at-right, and a wider allocation at-left for y-tick labels
2. Axis labels are moved to graphical top to allow maximum space to tick labels, and to provide maximum information "up-front"
3. In addition to the main-title, an over-title accommodates additional context, e.g. the type of graph being rendered
4. Graphics are intended for swell-printing: black ink (and only black ink) swells into raised surface for touch
5. Recommendation for bars/areas as black and edges as white, except for pie charts (area as white and edges as black)

yaleBraille documentation built on Oct. 2, 2026, 5:08 p.m.