Celebrating Braille
On January 4 we doffed our hats in honour of Louis Braille, who would have been celebrating his 200th birthday! He is of course the inventor of a simple yet liberating system used by blind and visually impaired people across the world.
Born in a small town near Paris in 1809, shortly after his third birthday Louis blinded himself in one eye while playing with a sharp pointed tool in his father’s workshop. He soon lost the sight in his other eye when the infection spread.
Despite this Louis went on to become one of the most famous French citizens to have ever lived and his name lives on through his incredible invention.
Braille is key to Sightsavers’ work. Being able to read Braille allows blind children to learn alongside their sighted peers at school, and go on to get jobs. It allows people who lose their sight later on in life the chance to continue to read, learn and access information.
Braille is also often used as part of the package of new technology, for example software can now translate copy directly into Braille, which can be printed out. And for thousands of blind people without the means to access such technology the small raised dots remain a lifeline.
Former British home secretary David Blunkett says that Braille shaped his life by providing him with a window to the world.
What do you think?