A black braille display with a row of grey control buttons and a directional pad above a long braille cell row.

Orbit Reader 40

by Orbit Research

$1,899.00, see price history

Price is what the vendor listed when last checked. Confirm it with the vendor before buying.

Professional guidance helps The device works on its own for reading and note-taking, but it is a significant purchase with many features. Getting real benefit means knowing braille, learning the controls, and pairing it with a phone or computer and a screen reader. Most people will do better with a professional's help choosing and setting it up, though it does not strictly require one.

What it is

Summary

AI-generated from vendor-published content · October 1, 2026

The Orbit Reader 40 is a refreshable braille device with 40 eight-dot braille cells. You can use it on its own to read books and documents in braille and to take notes, saving them as braille or text files. It also connects by USB or Bluetooth to a computer or smartphone, where it acts as a braille display for web browsing, email, and texting with a screen reader. It has braille input keys, cursor routing buttons, and rocker keys for moving through text. A clock and alarm, calendar, and calculator are built in, and files can be stored on an SD card. Learning the controls and pairing it with your other devices takes some practice, so a vision professional or braille teacher can help you get the most from it.

Getting it

Try before you buy

Devices like this are often available to borrow through your state's AT Act program — typically free or low-cost — so you can try it before buying or pursuing funding.

Find your state's lending program →

Where to get it

LS&S Visit
$1,899.00
Independent Living Aids Visit
$1,899.00

These are the vendors WhatCanHelp tracks for this product — it may also be available from other retailers or a local supplier, and prices vary.

How to fund this

These are common places to ask about paying for equipment like this. Each one decides its own eligibility and what it covers, so start by asking them.

All funding programs, state by state →

Details

Quick Facts Catalog facts · auto-generated
Type
Addresses
Platform
Age range
Complexity
Professional guidance helps
Price
$1,899.00
Funding
  • AT Act lending
  • Medicaid waiver
  • Out of pocket
  • School district
  • Vocational rehab

What setup looks like

  • Out of the box
    Charge the battery through the USB-C port, then turn it on to use the built-in reader, note-taker, clock, calendar, and calculator.
  • With a guide
    1. Pair it with your phone or computer by Bluetooth or USB, and make sure a screen reader is running on that device.
    2. Practice the braille input keys, cursor routing buttons, and panning rocker keys. Allow an hour or more to get comfortable.
  • With professional help
    A teacher of students with visual impairments, an assistive technology professional, or a braille instructor can help match it to the person's braille skills and to the devices and screen readers they use. This usually takes one or two sessions.

Sources & fine print

Vendor facts (name, price, platforms, vendor link) sourced from LS&S — view on vendor site (opens in a new tab); last checked November 4, 2026.

Classification & description AI-generated from vendor-published content on October 1, 2026 · confidence: high. Vendor specs may lag; verify before relying on details in a clinical or funding artifact.

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