Established two centuries ago by Louis Braille in 1824, braille is a tactile system (not a language) consisting of raised dots which works by using a combination of six dots arranged in a specific pattern to represent letters, punctuation, and numbers
Blind SA established its Braille Services in 1953 and remains the only producer of braille documents in all eleven official languages of South Africa and is the largest braille producer in Africa.
Braille is read from left to right and the reader uses their index fingers to feel what the raised dots make. There are two types of braille namely Grade 1/Uncontracted and Grade 2/Contracted which is more complex as it uses contractions and abbreviations to represent common words and phrases.
In a world where inclusivity remains a critical concern, braille stands as a beacon of hope and progress for the blind and partially sighted.
The Braille division at Blind SA is the largest braille printing facility in South Africa and produces text and technical braille in 11 SA official languages plus electronic braille, large print, MP3 & DAISY (Digital Access Information Systems) formats.
In recognising the vital role that education and information play in the lives of individuals with visual impairments, Blind SA has been a pioneer in producing books, menus, magazines, literature, business cards, and other essential resources in braille. This commitment has empowered countless individuals, providing them with the tools they need to achieve academic and personal success.
The anniversary celebration of 200 years of braille is more than just a commemorative event as it highlights key accomplishments for Blind SA, including the opening of the Antonnette Botha Braille Museum in 2022, Braille training at the Blind SA training centre, innovation of the Lego Braille Bricks which allows for inclusive learning through play for sighted, blind, and partially sighted learners, and also advocacy campaigns that strive to bring out inclusive policies and practices these entail endorsing the Marrakesh Treaty and the Copyright Amendment Bill, which is meant to grant the conversion of print books to braille in terms of the exceptions and limitations crafted in the Constitutional Court Judgement of 2022–Blind SA and Section 27 is still in the battle of making sure the president signs the bill.
With the month of September celebrating Literacy Week, it is vital to note that the raised dots of braille are not just a system to assist the blind to read and write but a fundamental skill that empowers individuals to fully engage in society, access information, and pursue educational opportunities and develop careers.
In addition to this, Blind SA launched Blind SA Bookshare services in 2020 to further expand literature accessibility for those with visual impairments allowing readers to access the e-books in audio, large print, and refreshable braille at no charge, it is the largest online reading platform with over a million titles ranging from educational books, career resources, bestsellers, children’s books, and non-fiction.
Braille has played a significant role in promoting literacy and independence for people who are blind and partially sighted and it continues to be an important tool for education and communication. Louise Braille’s six wonder dots literally placed the written word in the hands of blind people and the establishment plus continued development of Braille services has without a doubt provide blind South Africans with their most valuable educational and cultural asset, this is why Blind SA braille services welcomes the challenge of increased braille production—for we know the world is becoming a better place, a few raised dots at a time.
