Braille: Transforming Literacy and Empowering Independence

Braille is more than just a writing system—it’s a powerful literacy tool, and a gateway to inclusion and independence for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. Created by Louis Braille in 1824, it has since been developed to be used in technology, music, books, and entertainment. We explore its history, its practical and playful applications, and its lasting impact on community and connections.

What is Braille?

Braille is a tactile writing system designed to be used by people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. It uses patterns of raised dots from a six dot cell to represent letters, numbers, and symbols. Readers use their fingertips to feel and interpret the dots. It appears in books, signs, and technology.

A Young Visionary: Louis Braille

Louis Braille, born in France in 1809, lost his vision at a young age due to an accident.

At age 12, he was inspired by a military note-taking system used by French soldiers to communicate silently in the dark. He simplified and refined the concept and by the time he was 15, he had completed the first version of the Braille system that we know today—a transformative tool for literacy and accessibility. Over time, it has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of accessibility in education, work, and daily life.

Technology

Did you know you can use Braille on different devices? It can be written using a Perkins Brailler, a device similar to a manual typewriter, or by using electronic Braille embossers to produce larger quantities of it directly from a computer, such as those used by our Accessible Formats team.

There are also electronic devices that can connect to your PC, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. These allow people to read and write information from and to their mainstream technology using Braille.

Each technology provides different benefits and is used for different purposes.

Lego Bricks

Lego’s Braille Bricks are revolutionising how children learn through touch. These tactile toys feature bumps corresponding to Braille letters and numbers.

Board Games

Popular games like Monopoly, Scrabble and UNO have been adapted for Braille, ensuring that players who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision can fully participate in these beloved activities. These versions of the games come with raised lettering and tactile features.

These games (and more) are available from the Vision Australia Store via the links below. Remember, if you are a client of Blind Low Vision NZ you can use the promo code PEARSON for 25% off all orders.

Monopoly Board Game from the Vision Australia Store.
Scrabble Board Game from the Vision Australia Store.
Braille UNO from the Vision Australia Store.

Music

Louis Braille’s innovations went beyond text. He also created a system for writing music in Braille as an alternative to traditional sheet music. In New Zealand, Braille music plays a vital role in the country’s commitment to accessible education, so that musicians who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision to learn, compose, and perform music. Using the same six-dot grid system, Braille music has its own notation system that represents notes, pitch, and musical symbols.

Books at the Blind Low Vision NZ Library

The BLVNZ Library offers a wide range of tactile books as well as other accessible formats. It has popular fiction and non-fiction titles, educational materials and resources. These collections help promote literacy, learning, and a love for reading, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the written word.

More information about joining the Library can be found here.

Building Connections

Julie Woods, a Dunedin local affectionately known as ‘That Blind Woman’, has found a profound connection to the world through Braille. After losing her sight in 1997, Julie initially felt disconnected due to the challenges of no longer being able to read print. Discovering Braille not only opened the door to literacy but also sparked a lifelong passion for this tactile system.
Julie invites New Zealanders to pause and notice the presence of Braille in everyday life, marvelling at how it transforms touch into information and connection.

Taking her enthusiasm even further, Julie is on a remarkable journey to write one million names in Braille, a mission that brings people together through shared moments of exploration and connection.

For more information on Julie’s mission, please visit the That Blind Woman website.

World Braille Day

Every year on 4 January, the world comes together to celebrate World Braille Day. It honours the life and legacy of Louis Braille. This day is not just a tribute to one of history’s great innovators, but also a chance to raise awareness about the importance of literacy for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision.

Why World Braille Day Matters

World Braille Day is a reminder of the importance of the tactile alphabet in education, employment, and daily life for millions of people around the globe. It is more than a literacy tool—it’s a means to independence and inclusion.

So, on 4 January, take a moment to celebrate the significant power of Braille and advocate for a more accessible world for all.

Braille in Aotearoa New Zealand

• New Zealand has a long history of Braille literacy. We have been teaching it in schools since 1890 and continue to teach it today.
• Here at Blind Low Vision NZ we have our own Accessible Formats Services Team which produces materials in New Zealand for education, work, and leisure.
• The creation of Braille Authority New Zealand Aotearoa Trust (BANZAT) was significant as an Authority on “all things Braille” in New Zealand.

Capital B for Braille

The Braille Authority of New Zealand Aotearoa Trust (BANZAT) conducted a nationwide survey. The results showed a clear majority of those in the user community said they wanted Braille to be written with a capital letter, whether or not it is being used as a proper noun. This gives Louis Braille the respect he deserves. It also demonstrates how important it is for the blind, deafblind, and low vision community.

Around the World

This tactile writing system has been adapted for many different languages and writing systems, making it useful for people around the world.

Braille for Different Languages

• Did you know that Braille includes symbols for macrons? Macrons are important for reading and writing in te reo Māori and other languages.
• Languages like Mandarin, which use pictorial characters, have unique adaptations. Mandarin includes tones to convey pronunciation and meaning.

How You Can Support Accessibility

• Support organisations like Blind Low Vision NZ that provide education and resources.
• Encourage the inclusion of Braille in public spaces, packaging, and technology.

Send a Message

Want to brighten someone’s day with a personalised message for a card or special event? Whether it’s for a friend, family member or whānau, our Accessible Formats Services Team can help. They can translate your text into Braille, create an embossed page, and send it to you or directly to your recipient. We only ask for a small donation to support us to continue our services.

Contact the Accessible Formats Team for help.

If You’d Like to Learn Braille

You can find out more about learning Braille here, or get in touch by calling 0800 24 33 33.

Together, we can ensure that it remains a vital tool for inclusion and empowerment for generations to come.