All About That Braille

Braille: it's the bumpy bits that Blind people use to read, right? Invented by Frenchman Louis Braille (1809-1852) in 1824, this writing system is known worldwide as an aid for those without vision. It can be found nearly everywhere, from elevators to the tops of fast food drink lids, but that might be all you know about braille. There are some pretty cool facts about the little bumps that connect the visually impaired to both the written word and a world designed around those who have sight. Let me share a few of my favorite nuggets about how braille came to be and why we love it so much, because here at MLC? We're all about that braille.

• Didymus the Blind, a leading fourth century scholar, toyed with methods to help the visually impaired read, including using wooden letters.

• The word braille is not capitalized, but the name, Louis Braille, is, of course.
   
• Charles Barbier de la Serre (1767-1841) was an inventor who wanted to improve literacy opportunities for groups of people who were less likely to be readers, like the Blind or the poor. He invented the prototypes of a stylus and slate, the tools Blind people use to write, as well as a writing system with raised dots he called écriture nocturne, or night writing.
  
  
• Braille is a writing system as opposed to a language. There are variations in braille letters from language to language, just like there are in print letters.
  
  
• There have been many tactile writing systems developed over the years. Several of these have focused on recreating raised Roman letters, like Alston Type, Boston Line Type, and Gall Type, and some have created new symbols entirely, like Moon Type and Lucas Type. Most of these had no way for Blind people to reasonably reproduce them on their own.
  
  
• Braille has grown in leaps and bounds during the computer age. Modern braille users can use Bluetooth to connect smart phones, tablets, and other devices to refreshable braille displays, notetaking devices, and more.

The Mississippi Library Commission's Talking Book Services has hundreds of printed braille books and magazines available for patrons to check out. Our in house brailler is used to braille newsletters, sensory story kits, storywalks, and more, so that Blind Mississippians can connect through print. We can also help patrons who need help brailling on a case by case basis. Talking Books Services is currently working with the National Library for the Blind and Print Disabled on a program that will put braille eReaders in the hands of Mississippians, so watch this space for announcements in the future. If you or someone you know uses braille to communicate, give us a call at 1-800-446-0892 for more information on how we can assist you.

Elisabeth Scott

Reference Librarian