World Braille Day

The 4th January every year is World Braille Day, anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, who adapted the series of dots enabling sufferers of zero or impaired vision to 'read'.

Braille's code contained letters, numbers, maths and music 'characters' within the 63 variations of fingertip sized six dots.

Aged just 20, he published the book that introduced the world to 'Braille', entitled "Method of Writing Words, Music, and Plain Songs by Means of Dots, for Use by the Blind and Arranged for Them".

Interestingly Louis himself lost his sight because of an accident in his father’s workshop when he was just three years old.

It was one of his father's awls that punctured Louis Braille's eye after he tried to pierce a leather belt. The awl slipped and went straight into his eye. He later lost sight in his other eye too.

The system of raised dots invented by Louis Braille nearly 200 years ago has helped countless vision impaired people improve their quality of life. It is also used worldwide on safety signage, lifts, and many devices. A simple system as relevant today as it was in Louis’ day.