Celebrating Louis Braille Day

On January 4 the Blind Foundation will recognise the anniversary of Louis Braille’s birthday.

Louis Braille invented braille in 1824 when he was just 15 years old. His simple system of raised dots read by touch is still used by blind people to read and write. Today, braille works with computers, tablets and smart phones to give blind people access to the same information as their sighted peers.

Blind Foundation Braille Awareness Consultant, Lisette Wesseling, says "Braille is a vital education and literacy tool for blind people that increases work opportunities. Overseas research indicates that of those blind people in fulltime employment, 80 per cent read braille.”

“Braille allows us to read the same things as everyone else. Through braille we can get an education, get a job and get our independence."

Braille training and transcription is one of the many essential services provided by the Blind Foundation for its 11,700 clients across New Zealand.

The Blind Foundation also lobbies to promote accessible information. Unlike the US, Australia and the UK, there is currently no law in New Zealand to make provision of braille and other accessible formats mandatory.

Worldwide, less than 10 per cent of information is available in formats that blind people can read.

ENDS

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