The uses of braille extend way beyond just reading books. From dialling a phone number to checking a bank statement, the ability to read braille helps blind people be independent in so many ways every day and reduces the need for support.
The need to read
If you are sighted, just think about how often you read during the day, when you encounter signs and maps, or labels on food and drink. Knowing how to write and read braille means that people can label tins of food in the cupboard, read medicine packaging or even just play cards.
Braille isn't just a replacement for writing. It is easy to forget how important colours, logos, symbols and other visual signposting are to working out what something is. Imagine a world where you couldn't rely on the pictures on labels or the symbols on machinery.
Labelling
Being able to label clothing, food stuffs and domestic appliances around the home helps blind or partially sighted people live independently. Items such as washing machines can be almost impossible for a blind person to use unless the controls have raised or clear print markings to indicate the different settings or uses of each knob or dial.
In an ideal world, all controls would be designed with tactile markings and large, clear contrasting letters and numbers so that customers could use them easily but this is not always the case.
Braille gives me independence
Here is what people have told us about how braille enables them to live independently by making the little everyday challenges a bit easier. You can also listen to this audio clip of braille users talking about how braille gives them independence.
"I use my braille note taker for things like notes while I'm on the phone or shopping lists. When I find what I need I run my finger over the dots to flatten them and cross that item off"
"Braille labels safely pinned to my balls of wool ensure that Santas are always red and snowmen are always white"
"It helps me to read my post in private"
"Braille helps me in the kitchen to label my spice jars, I'm able to tell the difference between curry powder and pepper without sneezing!"
"Because of braille, I finally know how to spell houmous!"
"I taught my first girlfriend how to write in Braille so she could send me love letters"
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