Braille Day

NATIONAL BRAILLE LITERACY DAY

This month, we recognize and honor the legally blind and visually impaired for National Braille Literacy Month. The mission of this month is to raise awareness of the importance of Braille to the blind and visually impaired community. As audio technology progresses, the use of braille dwindles… But its significance remains, especially in the workplace and the classroom. This is a time to learn about and appreciate Braille and everything it’s done to help the visually impaired all over the world for more than a century. In case you don’t know much about Braille, here are a few fun facts to get you in the know.

Braille is not a language.  As a matter of fact, most languages have their own Braille system.

Louis Braille created this system of reading around age 12 after being blinded in a tragic accident at 3 years old. It became official in 1824.

6-dot Braille cells have 63 possible combinations. Each “cell” in Braille is arranged in a specific way with two dots across, and three dots down.

Braille exists for feet, too! Businesses actually have to meet standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and one of those standards is to have Braille on the ground to keep them out of dangerous areas. You know those big, bright, yellow strips you see at the ends of sidewalks and sometimes as you walk out of a store or restaurant? That’s Braille for your feet.

A majority of legally blind children in the U.S. don’t use Braille resources. Believe it or not, 34% of the more than 59 thousand legally blind American children are considered non-readers.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Use #NationalBrailleLiteracyMonth, #BrailleLiteracyMonth, or #BrailleLiteracy to post on social media about how you are taking part in National Braille Literacy Month. To celebrate National Braille Literacy Month, reach out to someone you know who is blind or visually impaired and have them show you how they read Braille… You’ll be amazed at the process! You can also help by getting connected with the American Foundation for the Blind.

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-braille-literacy-month-january/