World Braille Day: History, Theme, and Significance

World Braille Day is celebrated annually on January 4th to honor Louis Braille, the inventor of braille, a writing system used by people who are blind or visually impaired. The day is an opportunity to recognize the importance of braille in the lives of those who rely on it for communication and to raise awareness about the ongoing need for braille literacy.

What is Braille?

Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetical and numerical symbols using six dots for each letter and number, as well as musical, mathematical, and scientific symbols. Blind and partially sighted people use Braille (named after its inventor in 19th century France, Louis Braille) to read books and periodicals.

According to Article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Braille is essential for education, freedom of expression and opinion, as well as social inclusion.

History of World Braille Day

World Braille Day was first established in January 2002 by the World Blind Union (WBU) to honor Louis Braille, who was born on January 4, 1809. Braille is a writing system used by people who are blind or visually impaired that consists of a series of raised dots that can be read with the fingers. It allows people who are blind or visually impaired to access written information independently, and it has been a vital tool for improving literacy and education for people with visual impairments.

World Braille Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Louis Braille and the impact that his invention has had on the lives of people around the world. It is also a chance to raise awareness about the ongoing need for braille literacy and to promote the use of braille as a vital tool for communication and education for people who are blind or visually impaired.

What to do on World Braille Day

• Become familiar with Braille: Start Learning about Braille. It could be beneficial, as you could use your knowledge to instruct and help someone who really needs it.
• Send a Braille gift: You can donate or give a Braille gift to someone who is partially sighted or blind. Gifts such as books, toys, or learning tools can be given as gifts.
• Raise awareness about Braille Day: Let’s get the word out! Many people are unaware of the importance of Braille. Make use of your social media platforms to raise awareness.

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