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Honoring January 4th – World Braille Day
January 4th marks World Braille Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of Braille in ensuring access to education and information for blind and visually impaired individuals. Braille, a tactile writing system, has been instrumental in breaking barriers and allowing those who are blind to live independently.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2.2 billion people worldwide live with visual impairments, with around 39 million being blind. The highest prevalence of blindness is found in low-income countries, particularly in regions of Africa, Asia, and parts of Latin America. However, with proper access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, these numbers can be significantly reduced.
Visually impaired individuals, regardless of their geographical location, age, or background, have an inherent right to education, information, and a life of dignity. These rights are central to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which guarantees the right to education, participation in cultural life, and an adequate standard of living.
Braille plays a pivotal role in ensuring the inclusion of individuals with visual impairments. It enables them to read, write, and access information, empowering full participation in education, work, and social life. Braille is not just a tool; it symbolizes autonomy and empowerment, promoting equality and non-discrimination.
It is crucial that governments and all public service providers ensure accessibility to services through Braille. This responsibility extends beyond educational institutions to healthcare providers, transportation systems, government offices, and media outlets, all of which should adopt Braille as a standard. Public facilities must be equipped with Braille instructions and signage to ensure no one is left behind. This is a vital step in creating inclusive societies where everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy their rights and reach their potential.
On World Braille Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a more inclusive world where all individuals, regardless of their visual abilities, can access resources and opportunities that are their right. The journey toward inclusion continues, and Braille will remain a vital tool in this effort.
Let us advocate for the continued adoption and implementation of Braille across all sectors to ensure the equal participation of people with visual impairments in all aspects of society.
Reaching Blind and Visually Impaired Persons
Even under normal circumstances, individuals with disabilities—over one billion people worldwide—are less likely to access healthcare, education, and employment, and to participate in community life. They are more likely to experience poverty, violence, neglect, and abuse, and are often among the most marginalized in crisis-affected communities.
For the visually impaired, lockdowns during the pandemic posed significant challenges in terms of independence and isolation, especially for those who rely on touch to communicate and access information. The pandemic highlighted the critical need to produce essential information in accessible formats, including Braille and audio. Without this, many individuals with disabilities face a higher risk of contamination due to a lack of access to safety guidelines. COVID-19 also emphasized the importance of digital accessibility for the full inclusion of all people.
World Braille Day, observed since 2019, raises awareness of Braille’s role in communication and the realization of human rights for blind and partially sighted people.
What is Braille?
Braille is a tactile system that represents letters, numbers, and even symbols for music, mathematics, and science using six dots. Named after its inventor, Louis Braille, who developed the system in 19th century France, Braille enables blind and partially sighted individuals to read the same books and periodicals as those printed in visual fonts.
Braille is essential for education, freedom of expression, and social inclusion, as outlined in Article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Related observances
· International Literacy Day (September 8)
· International Day of Sign Languages (September 23)
· International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3)
· Human Rights Day (December 10)
· International Universal Health Coverage Day (December 12)
· International Day of Epidemic Preparedness (December 27)
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