World Braille Day is observed on January 4 every year to spread awareness about the importance of Braille which serves as means of communication for blind and partially sighted people.

The day was created in 2019 by the United Nations General Assembly and acts as the commencement event for Braille Literacy Month. The event which is celebrated throughout January aims to raise awareness about the importance of Braille and Braille literacy.

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Here’s all you need to know about World Braille Day, its history, and significance.

History of World Braille Day

A French man named Louis Braille had invented the Braille system after being blinded in an accident at a very young age. Before this system existed, blind and partially visually impaired people used to read using the Haüy system. This involved Latin letters that were embossed on thick paper or leather.

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This method was not only complicated, it only allowed people to read and not write. The shortcomings of the system encouraged Braille to come up with the easier and less complicated Braille system.

It is a code consisting of symbols and is written in the form of raised dots. People use their sense of touch to figure out the Braille code and carry on with their study or communication.

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What is the significance of World Braille Day?

According to Jagran, World Braille Day was officially designated to raise awareness among people about the importance of braille as a means of communication for blind and partially sighted people.

The life under lockdown has posed several issues in terms of independence and isolation, especially for people who rely on the use of touch to communicate their needs and access information.

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The pandemic revealed how critically important it is to produce essential information in accessible formats, including in Braille and audible formats. Otherwise, many persons with disabilities could face a higher risk of contamination due to a lack of access to guidelines and precautions to protect and reduce the spreading of a pandemic.

Who was Louis Braille?

Times Now reported that Louis Braille was a French educator who invented braille. His system still remained the most widely used medium of reading for blind people around the world.

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Louis Braille was blinded in one eye at the age of three after an accident with a stitching awl in his father’s harness-making shop. 

Braille was trying to make holes in a piece of leather with an awl when he pressed down too hard to drive the sharp point in. As he was working with partially closed eyes, the awl went through the leather and stabbed in one of the eyes. This resulted in total blindness after an infection set in and spread to both eyes.