US to Commemorate Braille's 200th

Louis Braille's Bicentennial, Legacy to be Celebrated Across America

Dec 29, 2008

Chapters of the National Federation of the Blind will hold events in January 2009 to honor Louis Braille, whose raised dot language system brought literacy to the blind.

Many state chapters of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) will hold events on or around January 4, 2009 to commemorate the 200th birthday of Louis Braille and to promote braille literacy, which the organization champions as the most vital component ensuring success and independence among blind people.

Other US institutions that serve the blind, including the National Braille Press, will mark the event with the sale of gift items (bookmarks, lapel pins, and note cards) promoting an updated image of Louis Braille to reinforce braille's crucial place in the lives of the world's 180 million blind people.

Release of NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin

Braille’s birthday will see the issuing of 400,000 NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin, a silver dollars that the U.S. Mint will circulate in 2009 only. The coin features Braille’s image and raised dots spelling “BRL,” the contraction for “Braille.” Profits from coin sales (including a $10 surcharge) will help fund NFB’s literacy programs, including Braille Readers Are Leaders, which seeks to increase braille comprehension and instill enthusiasm and pride in its use among blind and visually impaired students.

Braille Bicentennial Events in California, Texas, and North Dakota

The San Joaquin Chapter (Stockton, California) will staff a table at the local Barnes & Noble bookstore to hand out literature, demonstrate the importance and usefulness of braille, and interact with the public via “secret code” messages typed at the bottom of braille alphabet cards.

Fort Worth Chapter Planning “Braille Awareness Day”

The Greater Fort Worth Chapter of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) is planning a “Braille Awareness Day on January 31st in conjunction with 10 cities throughout the State of Texas. Three blind students will read braille books at a local Barnes & Noble bookstore at 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00, and council president Anjie Cook will demonstrate how a braillewriter works. Fort Worth mayor Mike Moncrief has signed a proclamation declaring January 31st as “Braille Awareness Day” to be read at the bookstore. The Fort Worth Cats minor league baseball team will also be in attendance.

North Dakota Vision Services to Celebrate Braille's Birthday Throughout 2009

The North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind plans to celebrate Louis Braille's birthday throughout 2009, beginning with a birthday party in January at which students will decorate a cake with braille letters made from M&Ms or chocolate chips and playing games such as braille Bingo and Braille-O. The school also plans a braille reading competition in which children will keep track of the number of pages they read and will earn incentive prizes, such as braille bookmarks and wristbands.

There are plans to get the word out about Louis Braille by speakers at local service organizations and appearing on local radio shows. A braille refresher course for staff and other interested persons is in the works.

During summer camps for children and teens, there are plans to highlight Louis Braille and read a biography of that hero. Putting up posters around the school and wearing the Louis Braille pin from NBP are other ways to celebrate. It will be an exciting year!

The copyright of the article US to Commemorate Braille's 200th in Blind Students is owned by Andrew Leibs. Permission to republish US to Commemorate Braille's 200th in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.