5 Ways You Can Be an Ally for Braille Users

Posted on: Jan 11, 2023 | | Written by:

5 Ways You Can Be an Ally for Braille Users

Published on January 11, 2023. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

You may have heard about Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille code. Do you know that his birthday, which falls on January 4, is celebrated as World Braille Day every year to honour him for inventing the code for the (partially or completely) visually challenged? The United Nations declared World Braille Day in a proclamation issued in 2018. The objective of the day is to generate awareness of the Braille system of communication. While technological advancements have brought in many aids that have made the life of the visually impaired easier, not many can afford them. Let's learn more about becoming a better ally and creating a level playing field.

What is Braille

Braille is a tactile system used by the visually impaired to read and write. It is an arrangement of raised dots representing alphabets, numbers and punctuation marks which can be read by touch by people who are totally blind or have a weak vision. Braille is not a language but a code and is available in nearly every language all over the world.

Each Braille symbol or cell comprises six dots which are raised and arranged in two parallel columns; each column has three dots (similar to the number six on a dice). The dot positions have numbers from 1 to 6, and by using one or more of these six dots, 64 combinations are possible. A single cell can be used to form a number, alphabet, punctuation, groups of letters or even a whole word.

Usually, Braille is read with the help of the first or index finger using one or both hands.

Tips for becoming a better ally

1. Bust the myths:

One of the first steps to becoming an ally to Braille readers is busting the myths about Braille, such as:

• With all those dots, Braille is difficult to learn:

On the contrary, the dots in Braille have a logical pattern. Once you know the first 10 letters of the alphabet, you can easily crack the code for the remaining alphabets.

• Only those who are completely blind use Braille:

This is not true because people with low vision can also use Braille when they face difficulty in reading small print. They also use it to label household products.

• Braille has lost its relevance due to audiobooks:

Audiobooks and other reading gadgets are a boon, but they cannot replace Braille. The Braille code helps you to learn punctuation and spelling, how to read a foreign language and also helps in editing texts.

2. Learn what Braille is:

How much do you know about Braille? How is it used? If you are supporting Braille readers, you must educate yourself about it to help correct the misconceptions people may have about using Braille.

3. Braille literacy:

There are many visually impaired, particularly students, who have not learned Braille as they consider it old-fashioned or not useful. The reason is the availability of devices and screen reader technology. However, as allies, we should make them understand or know that it is still extremely important to learn Braille to read and write.

4. Listen to Braille readers:

Listening to Braille readers by watching their videos or following them on social media can help you learn about the issues related to Braille and its accessibility and spread awareness.

5. Making Braille accessible:

Simple steps like adding alt text and image descriptions to web content and social media content, having business cards in both print and Braille, making audio and video transcripts of podcasts, movies, shows, etc., providing restaurant menus in Braille, providing safety and other information in Braille in trains and flights and many more such positive steps may greatly aid those who are visually impaired or have low vision.

Conclusion

Since the invention of Braille by Louis Braille in the 1800s, it has become an invaluable instrument for those who are completely blind and those with low vision to read and write by using their fingers. On World Braille Day, you can do your bit by becoming an ally for Braille readers across the globe. Medical insurance coverage is essential for the visually impaired to cover any issues related to vision loss or other health ailments. If you don’t have a health insurance plan, buy it at the earliest to protect your finances in case of a medical emergency. You can opt for a family floater plan or health insurance for individuals based on your health needs and budget.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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