Louis Braille created a new dot alphabet for his blind classmates.

 

The story so far: Louis Braille created a new dot alphabet for his blind classmates.


When Louis returned from the Exhibition of Industry in Paris , he was sad that his invention wouldn’t be available to other blind people. In the last few years he had occasionally felt tired. He also sometimes had a bad cough and fever. He grew sicker. His doctor told him he had consumption, or what we today call tuberculosis. At that time the only remedy for this disease was fresh air and rest.

Louis taught less and spent time outside. He continued to improve the dot alphabet. He added the letter “w” so that his code could be used to write English. And he worked on creating math textbooks for blind students.

A new director came to the Royal Institute for Blind Youth and wouldn’t allow the students to continue using Louis’ new alphabet. The director was afraid that the students would become too independent and would no longer need the teachers who could see.

Louis was very disappointed. His health grew worse, and several times he went home to Coupvray to rest. He worked on writing books and music in his dot system. He died in Paris in 1852. Two years later, the French government approved the dot system. It was called “Braille” after Louis’ last name.

 In 1878, the World Congress for the Blind voted to make Braille the system of reading and writing for all blind people worldwide. With the help of the United Nations, Braille has been adapted to almost every known language.

Many books are available in Braille. Some are created by typing the words on a computer that translates them into Braille. They are then transferred onto paper or metal plates for use on a press.

Louis Braille’s house in Coupvray , France, is now a museum. On the wall a plaque says that Louis Braille was born in the house and that he invented the system of writing in raised dots for the blind. It also says, “He opened the doors of knowledge to all those who cannot see.”