World Braille Day

World Braille Day is celebrated on the 4th of January because it's the birthday of Louis Braille.
The first-ever World Braille Day was held in 2019.

What is Braille?

Braille is a tactile way of writing. It's used by people who have sight impairments. The special code is made from six raised dots on a grid. There are sixty-three combinations of these dots, which means Braille can be translated into different languages. Those who are visually impaired can read these dots using their fingertips to feel the patterns.

Why do we celebrate World Braille Day? 

World Braille Day is a chance to raise awareness of the issues impacting those who are visually impaired. The invention of Braille has transformed the lives of those with visual impairments, promoting equal opportunities. 

It's hoped that by highlighting World Braille Day, the world will make greater attempts to promote inclusion. 

It's important that the rights of visually impaired people are championed and that information is accessible to everyone.

What is the history of Braille?

Louis was born in France in 1809. He was blinded in a childhood accident, but he was determined to overcome this setback. He took inspiration from Charles Barbier's night reading system and went on to invent what we now know as Braille. What's more, he did it at the age of fifteen.

It wasn't until 1854 that the braille system became more widely used. It was initially introduced at the school where Louis studied, but it was quickly adopted by other French schools. 

Eventually, the system became used worldwide. Different countries have gone on to modify and formulate their own forms of Braille.

Celebrate World Braille Day in School

World Braille Day is all about inclusion and diversity. These are important topics for children to explore. Celebrating World Braille Day helps students think about important issues relating to additional needs, as well as expands their awareness about the wider world around them. 

Here are some ways you can celebrate World Braille Day:

• Learn the braille alphabet and send some secret braille messages to each other in class.

• Use modelling dough to create Braille as part of a sensory activity.

• Write your names in Braille and display them in your classroom, or wear them as name badges.

• Your students could create Braille using beads or buttons. Challenge them to find other items, too.

• Go on a listening walk and tune into the sounds that surround us. This will help children to realize how important our sense of sound is. 

• You could also ask your students to close their eyes and then offer them an object. Can they describe and then guess what it is using only their sense of touch?