Braille is a tactile reading code that enables blind and partially sighted people to access information by touch - increasing independence and enabling the joy of "reading" and writing to continue.
Who still needs braille in our technological world?
Technology is being developed all the time and this is good news for blind and partially sighted people wishing to access information via a computer - potentially giving them the same access to the digital printed word as sighted people, via access technology that enables the text to be presented in an audio or braille form, or by magnification programs.
Braille continues to have a place alongside technology and offers blind and partially sighted people the flexibility to communicate and enjoy a full education in ways technology currently cannot support.
What is braille used for?
Blind and partially sighted people use braille in many situations:
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accessing the printed word - documents, books, signs
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labelling
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writing
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accessing a computer.
Providing braille as a service provider
Although only a relatively small percentage of blind and partially sighted people use braille (around 5%) it is essential that service providers supply their information in a range of accessible formats, to give customers a choice of how they wish to access their information.
These accessible formats should at the very least include audio, braille, large print and well-structured electronic formats.