World Braille Day: History, Significance & Innovation – CreativSoulz TV

Every year January 4 is observed as World Braille Day to raise the importance of Braille, which serves as a communication medium for blind and partially sighted people. Braille is a tactile writing system that is used by visually impaired people who are blind or deaf-blind or have low vision. It can be read on both embossed paper or by using refreshable braille that displays which connects to smartphone devices.

The United Nations General Assembly first initiated the day in 2019 and January acts as Braille Literacy month. The event is celebrated throughout the month to highlight the importance of Braille and Braille Literacy.

A French person named Louis Braille innovated the Braille system who was also blind, facing a car accident at a very young age. Before the existence of the system, the blind and visually impaired people used the Hauy system. The Hauy system was a Latin system designed on thick paper or leather.

But this method allowed people to read but not write. The lack of technicality and shortcomings led Braille to develop a user-friendly Braille system. Basically, the system was code consisting of symbols and is written in raised dots. People use it through their touch to recognize the Braille code to continue their communication.

Significance

This day plays a significant role in raising awareness amongst people who are visually impaired. The pandemic produces information in an accessible format, including Braille and audible formats.

Even World Health Organisation (WHO) reports suggesting that people who are visually impaired are experiencing higher poverty rates and end up with a lifetime of inequality.

How Braille came into effect

The day also marks the birth anniversary of Louis Braille who was the inventor of the Braille language, born on January 04, 1809, in France. He was a blind scholar who pursued his studies and got into France’s Royal Institute for Blind Youth.

The Hauy technique had some drawbacks which led to the creation of the amazing system named Braille system.

How to read in Braille

The Braille typewriter doesn’t have any bulged keys, rather it has six tactile keys that relate to each of the six dots in the braille cell, which consists of a space key, the enter button, and a backspace button.
People with impaired vision use the touch to find out the Braille code to relate to understanding the text and messages.
The invention used an awl-like stylus to punch marks on paper which can be sensed through touch by a blind person