RNIB makes final Gateshead stop on UK ‘Braille and Beyond’ library tour to celebrate two hundredth anniversary of braille
Blind and partially sighted people who use braille – the system of raised dots which enables people with sight loss to read through touch – will gather at Gateshead Central Library on Wednesday 24 September to celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of the invention of braille.
The event is organised by leading sight loss charity The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Gateshead Central Library and Sense Ability Matters and marks the final stop on a year-long RNIB ‘Braille and Beyond’ UK tour of libraries to mark the landmark anniversary. It is made possible by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.
People from RNIB, Gateshead and surrounding boroughs are invited along to view a special braille exhibition, try out the very latest in braille technology, hear talks from RNIB and Sense Ability Matters and hear from people for whom braille has transformed their lives. Dave Williams, Chair of The Braillists Foundation will also speak about his lifelong association with braille.
James Bowden, RNIB’s Braille Technical Officer who is blind and a lifelong braille user, said: “Braille is reading designed for our fingers, just like print is designed for our eyes. It’s a vital tool that helps blind and partially sighted people lead fulfilled lives. Braille readers are more likely to be employed than blind people who don’t read braille, and this highlights a critical need to expand braille education, ensuring that more children with vision impairment and adults with sight loss can benefit from this powerful tool.
“Supporting braille education and resources is a crucial step towards an inclusive society. We’re doing the RNIB Braille and Beyond tour to celebrate the story of braille so far, and it will be up to blind and partially sighted people across the UK to write the next chapter.”
Denoise Envy, Library & Heritage Manager at Gateshead Libraries said: “Gateshead Libraries are delighted to be hosting the finale event of RNIB’s Braille 200 tour. We are looking forward to welcoming a range of exhibitions and speakers, sharing the latest innovations, and inviting local schools to experience braille and technology which helps to better support the blind and partially sighted community.”
Notes to editors
All media enquiries including interview requests to 0207 391 2223 or [email protected]. For urgent enquiries out-of-hours, please call 07968 482812.
For more information about the Braille and Beyond tour contact RNIB's Library Liaison Officer, Lara Marshall on [email protected].
More information about the braille courses and resources RNIB offers.