World Braille Day

World Braille Day History

World Braille Day serves as an international celebration of the utility and importance of Braille, a tactile writing system for people who are visually impaired or blind. The day aims to increase awareness about the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals and seeks to promote equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of vision capabilities. This observance holds significance as it emphasizes the right of each person to access written communication, information, and other forms of literature, thereby encouraging literacy, autonomy, and the integration of visually impaired individuals into society.

World Braille Day holds special relevance to Canadians as it commemorates Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille system, a tool that has been instrumental in the lives of the visually impaired in Canada. The history of braille use in Canada spans decades with a significant shift observed since the 19th century, improving the accessibility of information, promoting inclusivity and independence for those affected by visual impairment. The Canadians with visual impairment have particularly been able to benefit from the Braille system, enabling them to enhance their living standards, be educationally active, and contribute to society more effectively.

In Canada, World Braille Day is widely recognized and is usually observed by hosting various outreach programs, workshops, and campaigns that highlight the significance and need for Braille literacy. These initiatives focus on advocating for the rights of visually impaired individuals, raising awareness about Braille and celebrating the measurable difference it has made in many lives. Across the country, commitments are renewed to further enhance resources and accessibility for the visually impaired. Specifically, World Braille Day is observed annually on the 4th of January - the birth date of Louis Braille, paying tribute to his ingenious invention that has made literature accessible to all.

Facts about World Braille Day

• It is a myth that Braille is a language. It is actually a code that can be adapted to almost any alphabet-based orthography, or other system relating to writing.
• Canadian Braille literacy rates have experienced a decline in the past few decades, partly due to the increased availability of digital and audio formats for reading.
• Braille allows bilingual blind Canadians to read and write in both English and French, the country's two official languages. The CNIB provides Braille translations for all major government publications to ensure access to information for all Canadians.

In the News and Trending in Canada for World Braille Day

Top things to do in Canada for World Braille Day

• Explore Writing Peace, an informative manual that allows you to discover contemporary writings by introducing you to various languages. Braille is one of them featured in the manual. Learn more about its history and how it is used.