(B) Braille (#AToZChallenge 2021)

The blogging from a to Z April Challenge letter B graphic appears at the top center of the image. Text underneath reads braille — The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge letter B graphic can be found here.

Braille should not be thought of as a language. Instead, braille is actually a code. Braille is is a code made up of tactile dots. Each letter or number or punctuation mark or symbols in math and music is represented by a combination of raised dots. For example the letter (a) in braille is 1 raised dot.

Braille uses cells containing spaces for 6 dots. Dots 1, 2 and 3 are on the left column from top to bottom and dots 4, 5 and 6 are in the right column from top to bottom. A combination of dots are raised in each cell to represent each letter. To form the letter (a) in braille only dot 1 would be raised.

The image below shows the letter (a) in braille. The dot filled in black is the dot that would be raised on the page.

Image shows 2 columns with 6 dots 3 dots in each column. The first dot on the top left is black and the others are white. — This image is a screenshot from the Brailliac: Braille Tutor app

Braille is read by touch as the pads of fingers identify the dots so it practice to begin to recognize each letter and then entire words and symbols.

Image shows fingers on a page as a person reads braille. — Image is by Myriams-fotos via Pixabay

Braille can fill the gaps that exist between audio and print and helps those that are blind or have low vision have access to the same materials that are in print.

You may often find braille on elevators or even on or next to hotel room doors. I recommend the Brailliac: Braille Tutor available for Android and for iPads on the Apple app store as a great resource for learning braille.

My theme for the 2021 #AToZChallenge is life with low vision. I hope to give an overview of what is to be visually impaired.