The Canadian Federation of the Blind is celebrating the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille (1809-1852), the inventor of the reading and writing code for the blind that bears his name.

“The ability to read and write Braille competently and efficiently is the key to education, employment and success for blind people,” says Elizabeth Lalonde, President of the Canadian Federation of the Blind.

Despite the undisputed value of Braille, Braille instruction is in decline. Blind children are being denied the opportunity to master this essential skill. Braille is currently taught to only about 10 percent of blind school children. Many blind post-secondary students are unable to receive their text books in Braille.

“We must raise awareness of the importance of Braille literacy, reverse the downward trend in Braille literacy and make sure equal opportunities in education and employment are available to all blind people.”

Braille IS literacy. Reading Braille for the blind is what reading print is for the sighted.

The Braille code, a system of making raised dots on paper to form letters and words that are read by the blind with their fingertips, became dominant in North America during the twentieth century, and served as a gateway to education for the blind.

Braille readers can read up to four hundred words per minute, comparable to the speed of print readers. Braille is also essential for note-taking, mathematics, and the study of foreign languages.

The Federation works to increase awareness of Braille and its importance in the literacy of blind people; one of the Federation’s major goals is to re-emphasize Braille in education for the blind.

The Canadian Federation of the Blind is a grassroots movement of blind people committed to the equality and independence of blind people. The Federation educates the public about the abilities of blind people; promotes learning blindness skills such as Braille and travel with the long white cane, and provides blind people with mentoring, role modeling and a positive perspective on blindness.