World Braille Day

World Braille Day is observed to raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication for blind and partially sighted people.

Why is it important?

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.

Braille is essential in the context of education, freedom of expression and opinion, as well as social inclusion, as reflected in article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Background

Eye conditions are remarkably common. The World Health Organization estimates that globally, at least 1 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment that could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed.

Persons with vision impairment are more likely than those without to experience higher rates of poverty and disadvantage. Not meeting their needs, or fulfilling their rights, has wide-reaching consequences: vision loss often represents a lifetime of inequality, poorer health, and barriers to education and employment.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted in 2006, has advanced the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The Convention considers Braille essential for education, freedom of expression and opinion, access to information and social inclusion. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015, further pledges that no one will be left behind in the aim to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives.

source: un.org

January 4

In November 2018, the General Assembly decided to proclaim 4 January as World Braille Day, recognizing that the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms relies on an inclusive written promotion. January 4 was selected in recognition of the birth of Louis Braille, born on January 4th, 1809.

source: un.org

Why Awareness matters

World Braille Day is a reminder of the importance of accessibility and independence for people who are blind or visually impaired. Today's reality is that many establishments such as restaurants, banks, and hospitals don't offer braille versions of their print materials like menus, statements, and bills. Because of this, people with blindness or visual impairments often don't have the freedom to choose a meal on their own or keep their finances private.

This day spreads awareness about braille and other accessible forms of communication. Everyone deserves (and is legally entitled to) the same accommodations and service, regardless of ability. Let's remember that and do our part to make our workplaces more accessible for everyone.

Did you know?

Castle Sant'Elmo, a popular tourist attraction, not only offers a sweeping view of the Italian city of Napoli from the top. The fortress is home to an art installation by Paolo Puddu titled "Follow the Shape", a handrail embossed in braille which includes a poetic description of the view.

Castel Sant'Elmo, Naples - Italy

Braille literacy

Some 2009 data from NFB (National Federation of the Blind) has shown that fewer than 10 percent of the 1.3 million people who are legally blind in the United States are Braille readers. Further, a mere 10 percent of blind children are learning it. Each year as many as 75,000 people lose all or part of their vision.

However, researching the facts about braille literacy in America is difficult because there is very little data after 2009. This insufficient data suggests that there is still a lack of understanding of the importance of braille literacy. So, the future of literacy for students with blindness and visual disabilities depends on education, advocacy, and action.

What is blindness?

Many people regard blindness as the inability to see at all or, at best, to discern light from darkness. The National Federation of the Blind takes a much broader view, and encourages people to consider themselves as blind if their sight is bad enough—even with corrective lenses—that they must use alternative methods to engage in any activity that people with normal vision would do using their eyes.

The United States Bureau of the Census question about "significant vision loss" encompasses both total or near-total blindness and "trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses."

The statutory definition of "legally blind" is that central visual acuity must be 20/200 or less in the better eye with the best possible correction or that the visual field must be twenty degrees or less.

There are no generally accepted definitions for "visually impaired," "low vision," or "vision loss."

Interpreting the Data

Several different agencies collect, analyze, and report data on estimates of eye diseases and conditions. United States government agencies—including the Bureau of the Census, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics—use sophisticated statistical techniques that lead to population estimates with great accuracy. Find a summary here.

The data below is from WHO, which provides a global perspective.

Prevalence

Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment. In at least 1 billion – or almost half – of these cases, vision impairment could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed.

This 1 billion people includes those with moderate or severe distance vision impairment or blindness due to unaddressed refractive error, cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and trachoma, as well as near vision impairment caused by unaddressed presbyopia.

In terms of regional differences, the prevalence of distance vision impairment in low- and middle-income regions is estimated to be four times higher than in high-income regions. With regards to near vision, rates of unaddressed near vision impairment are estimated to be greater than 80% in western, eastern and central sub-Saharan Africa, while comparative rates in high-income regions of North America, Australasia, Western Europe, and of Asia-Pacific are reported to be lower than 10%.

Population growth and ageing are expected to increase the risk that more people acquire vision impairment.

Causes

Globally, the leading causes of vision impairment are: uncorrected refractive errors, cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, corneal opacity, trachoma

There is substantial variation in the causes between and within countries according to the availability of eye care services, their affordability, and the eye care literacy of the population. For example, the proportion of vision impairment attributable to cataract is higher in low- and middle-income countries than high-income countries. In high income countries, diseases such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration are more common.

Among children, the causes of vision impairment vary considerably across countries. For example, in low-income countries congenital cataract is a leading cause, whereas in middle-income countries it is more likely to be retinopathy of prematurity. As in adult populations, uncorrected refractive error remains a leading cause of vision impairment in all countries amongst children.

Impact

Young children with early onset severe vision impairment can experience delayed motor, language, emotional, social and cognitive development, with lifelong consequences. School-age children with vision impairment can also experience lower levels of educational achievement.

Vision impairment severely impacts quality of life among adult populations. Adults with vision impairment often have lower rates of workforce participation and productivity and higher rates of depression and anxiety. In the case of older adults, vision impairment can contribute to social isolation, difficulty walking, a higher risk of falls and fractures, and a greater likelihood of early entry into nursing or care homes.

Vision impairment also poses an enormous global financial burden. For example, the annual global costs of productivity losses associated with vision impairment from uncorrected myopia and presbyopia alone were estimated to be US$ 244 billion and US$ 25.4 billion, respectively.

What can be done?

While a large number of eye diseases can be prevented, this is not possible for all. Each eye condition requires a different, timely response. There are effective interventions covering promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation which address the needs associated with eye conditions and vision impairment; some are among the most cost-effective and feasible of all health care interventions to implement. For example, uncorrected refractive error can be corrected with spectacles or surgery while cataract surgery can restore vision.

Treatment is also available for many eye conditions that do not typically cause vision impairment, such as dry eye, conjunctivitis and blepharitis, but generate discomfort and pain. Treatment of these conditions is directed at alleviating the symptoms and preventing the evolution towards more severe diseases.

Vision rehabilitation is very effective in improving functioning for people with an irreversible vision impairment that can be caused by eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, consequences of trauma and age-related macular degeneration.

source: who.int

Louis Braille (1809-1852)

Louis Braille was a French educator and inventor of a reading and writing system for use by people who are visually impaired. His system remains virtually unchanged to this day.

Louis has an interesting story. At the age of 3, Louis Braille punctured his eye with an awl, or leather embosser, leading to a severe infection that eventually caused him to lose his vision in both eyes. Ironically, an awl is similar to the stylus, a tool used today to emboss braille by hand.

In recent years, more toys have become available in braille including a Rubik's Cube, the popular card game UNO, and LEGOs.

Don't be Blind!

As a leader, it is your responsibility to promote employees wellness.

You may educate your employees and promote health literacy, you may start new policies to hire people with a vision impairment, or you could carry out a vision wellness screening at the workplace.

You may also provide them opportunities to take a regular break between work, implement biophilic design concepts for the workplace, and participate to volunteering activities.