World Braille Day Jan 04
International Observance - 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵
𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
World Braille Day on January 4 is celebrated to honor the birth of Braille’s inventor, Louis Braille. Braille’s gift to the world has brightened the lives of millions of people around the world who are blind or visually impaired, and they benefit from his work every day. The day also acknowledges that those with visual impairments deserve the same standard of human rights as everyone else.
𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬
The term ‘Braille’ was dubbed after its creator. Louis Braille was a Frenchman who lost his eyesight as a child when he accidentally stabbed himself in the eye with his father’s awl. From the age of 10, he spent time at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in France, where he formulated and perfected the system of raised dots that eventually became known as Braille.
Braille completed his work, developing a code based on cells with six dots, making it possible for a fingertip to feel the entire cell unit with one touch and moving quickly from one cell to the next. Eventually, Braille slowly came to be accepted throughout the world as the main form of written information for blind people. Unfortunately, Braille didn’t have the opportunity to see how useful his invention had become. He passed away in 1852, two years before the Royal Institute began teaching Braille.
Braille’s marvelous aid that opened up a world of accessibility to the blind and visually impaired was recognized by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In November 2018, January 4 was declared World Braille Day. The first-ever World Braille Day was commemorated the following year and it was celebrated as an international holiday.
The date for the event, as chosen by UNGA via a proclamation, marks Louis Braille’s birthday. We love to see people coming together to celebrate events and good causes, and World Braille Day on January 4 is one such event!
𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘
1824
A Job Well Done
Louis Braille successfully completes the Braille system.
1916
Let’s Adopt
In the U.S., schools for the blind adopt Braille officially.
2011
The Braille Box is Awarded
The Braille Box receives the internationally acclaimed Red Dot Design Award.
2019
The First Braille Day
The first World Braille Day is observed on January 4 and is celebrated around the world.
𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗜𝗧
What is Braille?
Braille is a tool that uses combinations of raised dots to spell numbers and letters. It is used by blind or partially sighted persons to help them read and write.
Do all blind people know Braille?
Many people learn the important Braille symbols to be able to read signs and labels. Sadly, it is believed that only one in 10 blind people can read it.
Can I use Braille for music?
Absolutely, blind musicians can benefit greatly from learning to read music in Braille. Braille music utilizes the usual six-dot cell, but it also features its own syntax and translations.
𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗦
𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
Spread the word! Not everyone is aware of the importance of Braille. Use your social media platforms to raise awareness.
𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲
Donate or give a partially sighted or blind person a gift in Braille. This gift could be a book, toys, or learning tools.
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲
Why not learn how to read Braille? It could be beneficial, as you could use your knowledge to instruct and help someone who really needs it.
𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗜𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗢 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗜𝗧
▪️It is a day to raise awareness
Braille, just like education, should be a legal right. Awareness of Braille’s importance cannot be overemphasized.
▪️We recognize the blind and visually impaired
We often take our sight for granted and don’t understand the unique challenges that those with little or no sight face daily. Those with visual impairments deserve not only our recognition but also respect.
▪️We remember Braille himself
Let's not forget to honor Louis Braille. The invaluable tool that he created has helped so many people over the years.
𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗨𝗡 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 - 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝟵𝟵𝟰𝟰𝟯𝟭𝟯𝟵𝟱𝟯 𝗪𝗔.
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗖 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝘀
