World Braille Day 2024

World Braille Day will take place this year on Thursday 4th January.

History of Braille

Braille is a reading and writing system which is used by people who are living with sight loss. Braille was invented by Louis Braille who had lost his sight due to an accident when he was a child. Braille consists of 6 cells which in various combinations makes up the alphabet. Over the years Braille has  altered where contractions  have been introduced. Contractions are combinations which can make up either a whole word or groups of letters.
 
How do you read braille?

To read braille you use your fingers. Often it is your index fingers on both hands from left to right. To write braille you use a Perkins machine. Braille has developed as you can now have a braille display which can attach to your computer so you can read raised dots. Braille is equally important to learn as technology, having the ability to read and write is important and using the traditional method is similar to reading a book and  using a pen. There are only a small number of people who read braille compared to the number of people who are living with sight loss.

Published: 19/12/2023