PURPOSE: The World Braille Day observed on January 4th aims to raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication in the full realization of the human rights for blind and partially sighted people. Everyone deserves, and is legally entitled to, information in a format they can understand and this day raises awareness of braille as an additional accessible format.
FORUM: "Honoring the Louis Braille Legacy." World Braille Day 2025. Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols. Braille (named after its inventor in 19th century France, Louis Braille) is used by blind and partially sighted people to read the same books and periodicals as those printed in a visual font. Over the years, technology has enhanced Braille accessibility with innovations like electronic Braille displays and devices. Braille is more than a way to read because it can empower individuals with visual disabilities to help pursue education, participate in their communities, and achieve their goals. Businesses can make a big difference by adding Braille to their spaces. Things like Braille signs, menus, and product labels help customers with visual disabilities feel welcome. Let’s celebrate braille and keep braillists informed with up-to-the-minute braille tools. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #Worldbrailleday, #LouisBraille, #braille, #4January, #Braillecode.
EVENTS: On Saturday, January 4th, for World Braille Day 2025; The United Nations Department of Global Communications, the UNESCO, the DGACM and United Nations Regional Information Centres will host a webinar to mark the birth anniversary of Louis Braille. Classes, workshops, and consultations give you all the support you’ll need to understand and adapt to vision loss. Find offerings for children, youth, adults, and everyone in between. All Offerings.
Upcoming events: On Thursday, January 16, 2025 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT. (Online, In-Person). A Reading and Conversation with Andrew Leland. Andrew Leland will be in conversation with Braille Institute library patron and instructor John Nuanes. Andrew Leland is the author of The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight (Penguin Press, 2023), a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Memoir/Autobiography. It was named a best book of the year by The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Atlantic and others.
Workshop: Friday; January 17 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM PT(Online). Learn About AIRA and Ask Me Anything with Chief Technology Officer Geoffrey Peddle. AIRA is a leading company in the assistive technology space, with a smart phone app that allows people to call agents for specialized remote help, and also offers new free AI features. Chief Technology Officer Geoffrey Peddle will describe how AIRA works.
Workshop Wednesday; January 22, 2025 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM PT (Online session). Artificial Intelligence Technology for the Blind. Learn about Artificial Intelligence (AI) including the good things and not so good things and what the AI revolution is doing for visually impaired people.
Workshop: Friday; January 24 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM PT (Online). Successful Blind Professionals: Advanced Technology for Work. Blind neuroscientist Lucas Nadolskis of UC Santa Barbara and American Council of the Blind policy director Claire Stanley will describe how they use advanced technology in the workplace, and how their advocacy for technical innovation will help more blind people work.
Workshop: Tuesday; January 28, 2025 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM (Online session). Meta’s Smart Glasses. Did you know Meta partnered with Ray-ban to create AI glasses. During this workshop we’ll explore what they are and what they can do.
Workshop: Thursday; January 30, 2025 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM PT (Online session). What is Apple Intelligence using iPhone 16?. Learn how to leverage iPhone 16’s AI-driven features such as intelligent photo descriptions, advanced voice commands, and Siri’s enhanced capabilities. The workshop will focus on how these cutting-edge tools can promote greater independence and accessibility in your daily life.
Virtual Class Schedule: Get the information on the Winter 2025 Remote Classes.
In-Person Class Schedule: Get the information on the Winter 2025 In-Person Classes.
Workshop Schedule: Get more information upcoming Workshops.
PUBLICATION: World Braille usage: a survey of efforts towards uniformity of Braille notation.
PODCASTS: It’s crucial to understand the importance of visualizing stories with yours fingers. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Join the World Braille Day 2025 campaign to celebrate the achievements of individuals with visual disabilities and to support efforts to create a more accessible society for all. Get the communication materials!
SHOP
Visually challenged people require braille books in order to read. However, not many books are available in braille due to cost and inefficiency. Translating a 500 page book into braille nearly doubles the thickness. EAP is a technology that can dynamically change the surface pattern by way of an electromagnetic signal – simulating braille text. Not exactly a new idea but a nice executive nonetheless.
Tactile Graphic Line Slate
This one-of-a-kind slate helps you create raised lines for tactile graphics onto various media (braille paper, vinyl, foil, and drawing film)
The Tactile Graphic Line Slate and specially designed two-ended stylus accommodate the tooling of common tactile line types for creation of tactile graphic displays by transcribers, teachers, and students. Use this lightweight slate to embellish tactile maps, graphs, charts, number lines, etc., with the following line types:
Large dotted line
Small dotted line
Wide solid line
Dashed line
Thin solid line
Vertical bar line
Combinations of the available lines also generate unique, discernible line paths (e.g., dot-dash-dot). The pointed end of the stylus is used to tool the small dotted line, dashed line, thin solid line, and vertical bar line; the rounded end of the stylus is ideal for tooling the wide solid line and large dotted line.
The Tactile Graphic Line Slate mimics the design and function of a typical braille slate, making its use intuitive and user-friendly. Its blue-tinted transparent plastic allows both visual contrast against the drawing surface/paper and positioning of lines in relation to surrounding tactile elements on the page.
The accompanying Instruction Booklet provides tips and techniques for using the Tactile Graphic Line Slate with various types of drawing media (braille paper, vinyl, heavy-gauge foil, and drawing film).
Measures: 12 x 2 1/2 inches.
56$
Slate
Braille DateBook Filler Paper and Tabs
Replacement item for Braille DateBook. Contains 250 sheets of punched, 4 x 6 inch white braille paper. Also includes a set of white paper tabs.
20 $
Braille DateBook Filler Paper and Tabs
Math Drill Cards: Division Cards (Nemeth)
Handy math skill reinforcing cards in five separate sets. The cards in the Number and Math Sign set have a math sign or number sign in braille and large print and braille on opposite sides. Large print/braille math operations cards have a math fact and the fact with the answer on opposite sides. Braille is Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics.
3 1/2 x 2 inches; low-glare paper; black printing; orientation corner cut.
Note: Some assembly required. Storage box not included. These cards can be used with APH’s Card Chart, 1-03550-00.
26$
Handy math skill reinforcing cards in five sets, sold separately.