On January 4 every year, the World Braille Day is observed. This is an international day that raises awareness of the significance of Braille and comprehension of the human rights of blind and visually impaired people. World Braille Day also commemorates the birth of Louis Braille, an inventor of the reading and writing system used by millions of blind and partially sighted people all over the globe. ALSO READ: Mass production of school textbooks in braille will promote inclusive education The invention of braille nearly 200 years ago has enabled blind people to have the ability to read and write. The system consists of raised dots that form letters and words which are read by touch. The day is not considered a public holiday in any country but provides a chance for teachers, charities, and non-government organisations to promote awareness about issues faced by the blind. World Braille Day also comes as a reminder to continue to produce works in Braille and provide the blind or those with a visual impairment with access to the same reading and learning opportunities as the sighted. “About 36 million people around the world are blind. By 2050, the number of people diagnosed with blindness is predicted to rise to 115 million. Those who are blind or who have severe vision impairments face many challenges in life. Some of these challenges include navigating new environments, using a computer, handling cash, and arranging clothes,” states the National Day Calendar — a website that showcases and promotes different national days, weeks, and months celebrated in the United States. The Braille code-writing system allows blind people to access culture, knowledge, and information. Research shows that learning Braille can expand opportunities for blind and partially sighted children, and accord them intellectual freedom, independence, and equal access to study and work. Braille is known to open doors for blind people to cultivate a wide range of skills, which help to fabricate the confidence needed to pursue their dreams and aspirations in life. The World Blind Union (WBU) strongly recommends that all blind and severely partially-sighted children be allowed to learn and develop proficiency in Braille reading and writing skills and that they receive instruction from those who are thoroughly trained and qualified to teach Braille. World Blind Union suggests that all blind persons ought to have access to a variety of books and publications in Braille that are up-to-date. “There is a real concern in the blind community that there is less support for teaching, using, and investing in Braille, particularly among educators and governments, due to the belief that technologies such as e-books, audiobooks, and screen readers can replace Braille. While advances in technology are welcome, we recommend that technology should be used to enhance the use of Braille, not to replace it,” WBU states. In September 2023, the Director-General of the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB), Nelson Mbarushimana, said they had initiated a project to translate all school textbooks into Braille format as a way of promoting inclusive education in the Rwandan learning ecosystem. To cater to the needs of visually impaired students, an Orbit Reader was introduced in 2022 as a digital tool, enhancing accessibility, and learning opportunities for them. Orbit Reader enables learners to read and communicate effectively. It consists of 50 devices distributed to schools. There are plans to procure more units, which will be distributed to other schools. The Bible Society of Rwanda (BSR), a Christian NGO, in partnership with Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) marked a major achievement on September 11 as they displayed 27 newly published Braille Bibles, improving their current range of audio Bible options. ALSO READ: “Braille Bible” launched to enhance accessibility for the visually impaired The organisation aims to launch a campaign to increase awareness among all Rwandans whose goal is to ensure that visually impaired individuals are not excluded and that their difficulties are understood. The move seeks to explain the difficulties that blind people encounter daily and prevent their continued exclusion, especially in religious communities.
