As we celebrate 200 years of braille, Dave Williams, RNIB's Inclusive Design Ambassador and chair of the Braillists Foundation, shares his enthusiasm for this life-changing code and his top six braille products.
Braille products play a crucial role in enhancing access to information using our sense of touch. You do not have to be especially young, nor particularly smart to grasp enough braille to play a board game, read a label or enjoy a greetings card from a loved one. And if you are an experienced reader, braille’s versatility means it can be used to study any subject in almost any language. Braille works for computer coding, mathematical and music notation. Plus, braille software is already built-in to most mainstream smartphones, tablets and laptops that can be easily connected to a refreshable digital braille display making more information than ever accessible by touch.
While there is something very absorbing about being read to by a great narrator (or perhaps you have been wowed by one of those impressive AI voices?) there really is also a tremendous sense of independence and empowerment that comes from being able to directly connect with written content, find our own voices and read the written word for ourselves, freeing our ears to hear the people and environment around us.
When it comes to writing braille, you do not even need to know what any of those dots mean to produce a small amount of braille for the touch readers in your life. RNIB has braille products designed for both blind and sighted people, solutions for labelling, shared reading books and much more.
We encourage you to celebrate braille, not just because some blind people use it, but for what braille represents in independence, transforming access to information for millions around the world, and the capacity of blind people to develop the solutions we need to break down barriers. Spreading braille awareness at every opportunity enables you to join us in celebrating two centuries since a Frenchman developed the precious gift of literacy, opening up education, employment and participation in society for blind people across the globe.
In a nod to the six dots that make up a braille cell, here are my half dozen impactful braille products from RNIB that support education, employment and independence.
1. Fingerprint. Braille touch readers have to start somewhere. And developing strong tactile skills like tracking and fine motor are key if you plan to read braille with your fingers. But when you are ready to learn braille by touch, Fingerprint is the most popular braille touch reading course in the UK. Also, check out the other braille courses – Hands On, Take Off, Dot-to-Dot, Abi Books and braille primers – for reference.
2. The Perkins Brailler is a classic and indispensable tool for writing braille. Still going strong after 70 years, the Perkins is renowned for its durability and ease of use. It enables users to produce braille documents on paper quickly and efficiently. I use mine for writing our shopping lists and greetings cards. More portable braille writing frames are also available, there's even the Versa Paperless slate for making short notes.
3. Braille labeller. Organizing and identifying items by touch becomes effortless with a braille label maker. This handy device allows blind or sighted people to create braille labels for household items, personal belongings, and more, fostering greater independence. In my kitchen we put braille labels on the various jars on our spice rack as well as on frozen meals. You can refill with braille label tape in a variety of colours.
4. Braille playing cards. These cards feature braille letters, allowing blind players to join in on the fun and excitement of card games. You only need to know about half the braille alphabet to read these cards by touch. If you are partially sighted, you can also find large print playing cards. Alternatively, there's braille Uno for all the family.
5. Braille Scrabble. This braille and print board game for word nerds can be played together by both blind and sighted people. As well as being a fun and challenging way to sharpen the mind and broaden your vocabulary, Scrabble can also be a tiny bit romantic. I actually proposed to my girlfriend using a braille Scrabble board, and I waited a good ten minutes, heart pounding, while letters were found to compose an answer. I'd used both letter Ys in my question, so I got the answer 'blank E S'. We've now been married nearly 14 years. I've lost more games than I've won, but still enjoy a game now and then. If Scrabble's not your bag, try some of the other braille games.
6. A3 Braille poster. The poster itself shows a print representation of braille, not braille itself. Remember braille is designed to be read with your fingers. So I am glad to say the poster is supplied with a braille alphabet card that does feature tactile braille. The intent here is to celebrate 200 years of braille in your home, office or classroom. This is your chance to spread awareness and understanding of how braille works. So become a braille ally today.
These top braille products from RNIB are designed to empower blind individuals by enhancing our access to information, education, and entertainment. By incorporating these tools into daily life, you can achieve greater independence and enjoyment. Visit the Braille 200 category in our Shop to discover more.
