Louis
Braille invented the Braille tactile code in 1829. Over the years, Braille has
evolved in different parts of the world into local “dialects”. In the 1990s it
was realized that a drastic overhaul of the Braille code was needed to create a
code that was universally serviceable. After years of adapting the code and
translating materials into the new singular code, the Unified English Braille
Code was finalized in 2007. This code makes it much easier to produce,
translate, teach and learn Braille.
Some
people may see Braille as outdated, especially in the age of technology, where
a computer can read aloud to us and transcribe our thoughts as we talk out
loud. But for the people who actively use Braille, it serves as a form of
independence and heightens their quality of life. For these people, Braille is
the foundation to literacy and can only aid in their growth and how they
communicate with others.
While
we don’t have any Braille users at our library specifically, there is one
library in our system that houses books in Braille, so we do have access should
we ever need it. There is also the Talking Books Library from the DPI should we ever have someone who
wants to use this service. But we also have an ugly gem that we have yet to get
rid of. We are the only library in our system that owns Roly Goes Exploring by Philip Newth from 1981. While it is not
necessary to keep this book for our patrons, it does still get used regularly
and it has been rebound and is in good physical condition. This unique book is a teaching tool for both
blind and sighted children. Each spread has a page with text on the top half
and Braille on the bottom. The other page of the spread is a green cardstock
page with basic shapes cut out so the visual children can see a story and the
visually impaired can feel the story. Sometimes,
it is better to hold onto something (GASP! I know you are all shocked I would
ever admit such a thing), especially if there is no newer copy or better
alternative title. And since this book is out of print and people still like to
use it, AND because it is such a unique title, we hang on to it.
There are also some great books available that
show children how people with vision impairments see the world. The Black Book of Colors by Menena
Cottin (2008) is one such book, using tactile learning with descriptions of
colors based on imagery. And then there
are the educational books about Braille. This copy of All About Braille by Laura Jeffrey is from 2004. That is 15 years
old. Changes have come and gone in those 15 years. Braille, like any code or
language, has evolved. Therefore, these educational books should be updated, if
you can find new books on the subject.
Sources
Snellings,
Meredith. The Evolution of Braille.
2019. https://www.cviga.org/sightseeing/evolution_of_braille/
Photos
from Amazon.com and littlespark.in
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