World Braille Day honours Louis Braille's enduring legacy |04 January 2024

Ms Lablache handing over Braille equipment to a visually impaired girl on behalf of the Seychelles Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired (Sabvi)

In a world that often takes the gift of sight for granted, January 4 holds special significance as it marks World Braille Day – an occasion dedicated to honouring the life and revolutionary contributions of Louis Braille, the inventor of the tactile writing and reading system that has illuminated the lives of millions of visually impaired individuals worldwide.

World Braille Day commemorates the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, a remarkable Frenchman whose own encounter with visual impairment as a child became the catalyst for a ground-breaking invention. The day not only celebrates his life but also serves as a reminder that those with visual impairments deserve the same standard of human rights as everyone else.

Louis Braille's journey began tragically when, at a young age, he lost his eyesight due to a mishap with his father's awl. Undeterred by his circumstances, Braille found solace and purpose at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in France. It was there that he dedicated himself to creating a tactile language that would empower the blind to read and write independently.

The system Louis Braille developed, named after its creator, consists of raised dots arranged in cells of six. This ingenious design allows a fingertip to perceive an entire cell unit with a single touch, enabling swift navigation from one cell to the next. Despite being blind himself, Braille's brilliance illuminated a path of accessibility for visually impaired individuals globally.

Regrettably, Louis Braille did not witness the widespread adoption of his creation, as he passed away in 1852, two years before the Royal Institute began teaching the Braille system. However, his enduring legacy continues to shape the lives of millions.

In recognition of Louis Braille's monumental contribution, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared January 4 as World Braille Day in November 2018. The inaugural celebration took place the following year, marking the occasion as an international holiday.

The chosen date for World Braille Day, Louis Braille's birthday, symbolises not only his remarkable life but also the global impact of his invention. The day provides an opportunity for people worldwide to come together, celebrating not just an invention but a tool that has empowered the visually impaired community and paved the way for equal access to information.

As we commemorate World Braille Day on January 4, we have to acknowledge Louis Braille's visionary spirit and the profound impact of his invention. In doing so, we honour the resilience of the visually impaired community and reaffirm our commitment to a more inclusive world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can enjoy the full spectrum of human rights.

One of the biggest supporters of the visually impaired in Seychelles, Brigitte Lablache, explained that braille is a language, the main means of communication for those who lack proper eyesight.

“Personally, I see that braille has helped me out a lot, to learn how to write and read. I learned it since the age of 14.”

Regarding the difficulty of braille, Ms Lablache explained that it is not necessarily difficult to learn, but rather, like everything else, the person’s mind has to be willing to learn it.

She noted that she did not personally find it difficult because she started learning it from a very young age. However, those who lose their vision much further in their lives, might find it slightly more difficult. This is because when it comes to their sense of touch, this becomes the biggest challenge for them.

She commented on the fact that there need to be the ability to recollect and learn what each point represents, especially when it comes to writing braille.

Her message to the people is to not look at braille as an obstacle, but rather, to look at it as an open door “to be able to communicate with the outside world”.

“I encourage them to learn Braille,” she said.

She cited the fact that braille is very helpful especially for situations such as when going to the pharmacy, the medications will have little points on them which means that it is braille. Even packets of soup have it.

“Soon the restaurants might even have it on the menu, ATM machines and so on.”

She conveyed that it is not necessary to learn braille grade 2 but one can stick to grade 1 which is the alphabet.

Ms Lablache used to teach braille every Thursday in 2023 and hopes to continue in 2024. More recently, she was on Praslin to raise awareness about the language among visually impaired individuals.

Compiled by Sunny Esparon