Have you ever wondered how important braille is to a blind or vision-impaired person? Think about how important print is to you, as a sighted person, and you have your answer.

Read on to find out more about this vital literacy tool including how you can get your information put into braille to share with blind and vision-impaired people.

It's a basic human right - everyone has the right to access information.

Those who do not provide information in an accessible format may be participating in a form of indirect discrimination. Besides, the information you wish to communicate is not reaching this important section of the population.

Braille Readers

Over the last four decades the number of braille readers has fallen. As blind, deafblind and vision-impaired students are integrated into state schools, resources to teach braille have been insufficient. When people lose their sight later in life, there is again a lack of resources to teach them braille. Also, the diminishing number of braille readers can be attributed to the increased access to synthetic speech computer software rather than using electronic 'refreshable braille' displays which can enhance computer use.

Increasing Braille Readership

The decline in the number of braille readers is causing concern at the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB). Initiatives to promote braille and braille literacy are currently being undertaken to increase braille production and the number of braille readers in New Zealand.

Help us by making more print into braille.

Producing your print information in braille not only allows current braille users access to more information, but it also gives other blind, deafblind or vision-impaired people another reason to learn braille.

Being able to read a restaurant menu, a label on their medication, or checking out their favourite bottle of wine, may be reason enough to motivate a blind or vision-impaired person to learn this vital code.

How did it all begin?

Louis Braille, who was blinded in an accident at the age of three, attended the first School for the Blind in Paris from 1819. He was taught to read using raised, enlarged print. He was very critical of the system and began to look for ways to improve it.

He came across the studies and surveys of Charles Barbier,a French army officer,who had devised a system of raised dots and dashes for men in the army to use for communicating by touch at night. This system was not a success, so Barbier offered it to the School for the Blind.

Louis Braille looked at Barbier's system but realised that the twelve dots on which it was based were unable to be read with the pad of one's finger. He simplified Barbier's system and developed his own form of communicating.

In 1824, at the age of 15, Louis Braille introduced his six dot code at the school. It met with considerable criticism from the sighted teachers, but the blind students and blind teachers adopted the new system immediately. They loved it.

For the first time they were able to write down their own thoughts! Although determined to obtain official status for it, it was not until 1854, two years after Louis' death, that they met with success.

What does the braille alphabet look like?

This is the braille alphabet. Can you work out Louis Braille's system? Take a look at the first 10 letters of the alphabet, letters a to j. If you then look at the next 10 letters of the alphabet, k to t, you'll see they are exactly the same but with an extra dot in the bottom left hand corner. The last six letters are the same as k to t, but this time there is also another dot on the bottom right hand side. All except for the letter "w"; can you think why?

There was no "w" in the French alphabet and it was not added in until later.

Braille has been adapted to almost every known language, from Albanian to Zulu. Every day, braille is used to read words, numbers and music by blind and vision-impaired people all around the world.

What sort of information is put into braille?

Menus, medication labels, timetables, signs, brochures, manuals, books, maths, letters, maps, music... Anything you read in print someone may want to read in braille.

How can I get print information put into braille?

You need to contact the Accessible Information Consultancy (AIC) at the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind.

Once AIC have received a copy of the print to be transcribed they will negotiate the cost and time frames with you.

Contact AIC during business hours on 0800 24 33 33 (option 3) or email them on aic@rnzfb.org.nz

How much will it cost?

AIC will discuss this with you. One full page of print translates to about three braille pages. Obligation-free estimates are provided before any work commences.

Who else can I talk to about braille?

Talk to the RNZFB's Braille Awareness Consultant who is passionate about braille and eager to put you in touch with the right information or person.

They can:

• give you advice on all braille signage matters;
• provide you with a list of resources to help you learn braille;
• give you a free colour poster of the braille alphabet or a set of frequently asked questions about braille;
• send you a recipe on how to make your very own braille biscuits (as seen below).

The RNZFB produces, teaches and promotes braille. The Braille Awareness Consultant will be able to help you with any questions you have about any of these services, just ask!

How do I get in touch with the Braille Awareness Consultant?

Braille Awareness Consultant Julie Woods with braille biscuits

Phone the Braille Awareness Consultant on 0800 24 33 33 or email braille

Remember - think braille, think RNZFB.

How can I make Louis Braille's legacy live on?

• Get your print information transcribed into braille. Contact the RNZFB's Accessible Information Consultancy now and allow blind, deafblind and vision-impaired people access to your printed word.
• Encourage and support anyone you know who is learning braille.
• Learn braille yourself, especially if you have a family member or friend who is blind. Wouldn't you love to be able to send them a birthday card in braille that they were able to read themselves?

Make a donation today! Call 0800 DONATE (366 283) or check out www.rnzfb.org.nz

The RNZFB is the primary provider of vision-related rehabilitation services to around 11,700 blind, deafblind and vision-impaired people. For more information:

phone: 0800 24 33 33website: www.rnzfb.org.nz

Related Links

All about braille
Learning to read braille
Reading and writing without sight