World Braille Day : January 4

World Braille Day : January 4

World Braille Day is being observed every year on January 4.

• The day commemorates the birth anniversary of French educator Louis Braille, who invented the Braille language in the year 1809.
• Louis Braille developed the Braille system by modifying Charles Barbie’s Night Write system.
• The first Braille system was published in 1829 – and was adopted by the National Institute for Blind Youth.
• It is observed to raise awareness about the importance of Braille as a means of communication in the full realisation of the human rights of the visually impaired and partially sighted people.
• The day was recognised in 2019 by the United Nations.
• The Braille system, which is based on a series of raised dots that can be read with the fingertips, has given millions of people who are blind or visually impaired the ability to read and write, and has greatly increased their independence and ability to participate fully in society.