Let January be a month where we spread braille awareness and promote braille literacy. Braille should be everywhere and it’s not just for the blind. Encourage sighted classmates and family members to be a part of the fun!
- Ask your library to display braille books, tactile books, and maybe even a braille machine.
- Have your local teacher of the visually impaired (TVI) come to your school to present about braille.
- If there are students in your school that are learning braille, ask them if you could learn too!
What is braille?
The Braille Cell
Braille is a system of reading and writing by touch. Braille is a tactile system. It can be read either on embossed paper or by using refreshable braille displays that connect to computers and smartphone devices. It consists of arrangements of dots which make up letters of the alphabet, numbers, and punctuation marks. The braille cell consists of six dots arranged in the formation of a rectangle, three dots high and two across.
Braille for Sighted Classmates and Family Members
To learn more about the braille code and to play games to learn braille go to APH Braille Bug.
Who invented braille?
Louis Braille is a Frenchman who lost his sight as a result of a childhood accident. In 1824, at the age of fifteen, he developed the braille code based on the French alphabet as an improvement on night writing.
Louis Braille was born on January 4th, 1809, therefore we now celebrate National World Braille Day on January 4th in honor of his legacy. We invite you to play the Louis Braille Timeline Game and sing the “Louis, Louis” song in celebration! Download the game and lyrics in print and braille to share with your students.
The 4-minute video below by Academy Adventure is designed to give children a brief introduction to the life of Louis Braille.
Resources
Click here for free worksheets to do in braille for the sighted to learn
Feel ‘n Peel Braille Braille Stickers available on APH
- Use braille stickers around the house and classrooms to encourage others to learn and have access to braille.
FREE braille posters and nemeth reference sheets
- These posters and nemeth reference sheets were created to help TVIs, support staff, and IEP team members, and for exposure with our sighted peers that can be shared by all for free thanks to Tara Ozehowski. (featured photo credit)
Make some braille in your print writing
- Use a free to use braille translator to put braille with your print writing. It is a fun way to put braille into the sighted world.
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