World Braille Day: History and significance of it for visually impaired

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Over 253 million people had some form of visual impairment in 2015, according to data from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Vision Atlas. Of these, a vast majority suffered from moderate to severe visual impairment (MSVI). As many as 36 million people were considered blind. When counting all forms of near or distance vision impairment, the World Health Organization (WHO) counts 2.2 billion individuals who are affected globally. With a growing number of individuals who suffer from various visual impairments, there is a growing need to ensure that these individuals are able to still participate in society and communicate in accessible formats, like Braille and audio.

People with disabilities (PwD) have a higher chance of experiencing poverty, violence, neglect and abuse. As a result, it is important to ensure that Braille is used as a tool for literacy, autonomy, and employability for these individuals.