Honoring the Legacy of Louis Braille.
The Inventor of the Braille touch reading system , Louis Braille was Born in 1809.
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Emphasize the importance of written language in fostering fundamental freedoms.
Over 2.2 billion people worldwide live with visual impairment or blindness . Over 1 billion are forced to live with preventable or treatable conditions, often because they cannot get the care they need. The United Nations General Assembly designated January 4th as World Braille Day to advance the human rights of visually impaired people and emphasize the importance of written language in fostering fundamental freedoms. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities , adopted in 2006, recognizes Braille as crucial for education, freedom of expression, access to information and social inclusion . The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development reaffirmed the commitment not to leave anyone behind. The COVID-19 pandemic underlined that information in accessible formats like Braille is essential in assuring public health and digital inclusion .
From Braille to Artificial Intelligence: Shaping a more accessible future.
UNRIC spoke with Lars Bosselmann, the Executive Director of the European Blind Union , about the role of technology in improving accessibility and efforts to secure the rights of visually impaired people . What is the estimated number of people who are blind or partially sighted in Europe? Could you explain the difference? It is estimated that over 30 million people are either blind or partially sighted in Europe, including countries outside the European Union. In general, blind people have no vision, while partially sighted people retain some vision, from light perception to the ability to see shapes, colours, or contrasts. The definitions of blindness and low vision vary across countries, which can impact these estimates. In your view, what are the biggest obstacles for visually impaired people in our society? Apart from the physical barriers, one of the most significant challenges is the accessibility of information and communication technologies. When technology is not inclusive, i...
Teaching Braille.
Teaching braille involves understanding the Unified English Braille (UEB) code , focusing on fine motor skills and early literacy concepts (language, touch, rhythm), Using multi-sensory games like LEGO Braille Bricks , and providing consistent, developmental practice, often starting with simple dot patterns before introducing contractions and advanced rules. Key tools include Perkins Braillers , apps , and online resources like Braille Brain or UEB Online , while consistency and making lessons fun (e.g., Braille clubs, songs) are crucial for student engagement and mastery. Foundational Steps Develop Fine Motor Skills : Activities like buttoning, cooking, and manipulating different textures build the dexterity needed for reading raised dots. Master the Braille Cell : Start with the 6-dot cell (dots 1-6), teaching the left column (1, 2, 3) before the right (4, 5, 6), and progress from symmetrical to asymmetrical patterns. Introduce Concepts Early : Focus on language, concept de...
The inventor of the braille system.
Today, the 4th of January is ‘ World Braille Day ’. A day to honor Louis Braille , the inventor of the braille system . Born in France in 180, Louis Braille lost his sight at the age of three after an accident. Despite his disability, he excelled in his education and went on to develop the braille system at the age of 15. He based the system on a system of raised dots that was already in use, but he simplified and improved upon it.
Developing effective braille literacy programs.
Whether through technological innovations or increased support for braille literacy programs , it is important that we continue to work towards a world where everyone has the tools and resources they need to achieve their full potentia l.
Allow people with Visual impairment to fully participate in society and has helped to break down many of the barriers that they face.
The braille system has been a crucial tool for people with vision loss to gain access to education, employment, and independence . It has allowed them to fully participate in society and has helped to break down many of the barriers that they face.
Drawing in Braille.
Drawing in Braille , often called Braille art , involves Arranging the raised dots of the Braille code to create tactile images instead of just text . These designs Allow individuals with visual impairments to explore pictures by touch and Provide a creative outlet that can be shared with both blind and sighted audiences. Common Methods for Creating Braille ArtPerkins Brailler : Many artists use a Braille writer (like the Perkins Brailler) to type specific patterns of cells row by row to form a shape, similar to "paint-by-numbers" but with tactile dots. Slate and Stylus : This portable manual tool allows for hand-embossing Braille dots on to paper. BrailleDoodle : A newer tactile tablet that uses a magnetic stylus to pull up metal balls into Braille cells, allowing for "free-hand" tactile drawing and instant erasing. ASCII Art Generators : Digital tools can convert standard images into Braille-based ASCII art , which can then be read on refreshable Braille di...
Focusing on the ongoing efforts to improve and expand access to braille for all who need it.
On World Braille Day , we honor The legacy of Louis Braille and showcase the impact that his invention has had on the lives of people with vision loss.
Proclamation of January 4th as World Braille Day,
The United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/73/161 established January 4th as World Braille Day , in December 2018 calls to raise awareness of Braille's importance for human rights, education, and inclusion for blind and visually impaired peopl e. It recognizes Braille as essential for freedom of expression, access to information, and full societal participation , honoring Louis Braille's birthday. The General Assembly, Recognizing that multilingualism, as a core value of the Organization, contributes to the achievement of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as set out in Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter of the United Nations, Recognizing also that the United Nations pursues multilingualism as a means of promoting, protecting and preserving diversity of languages and cultures globally, as well as of improving the efficiency, performance and transparency of the Organization, Reaffirming its Resolution 53/199 of 15 December 1998 and Resolution 61/...