World Braille Day 2026
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I did this in the name of employment where my "plan b" had a requirement for specific areas of subject matter expertise and the ability to perform at the keyboard when the spotlight is upon you.
Luckily I prevaled in this endeavor and have led a successful work life with a lot more retirement benefit than many other enjoy.
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There is one skill I hope to never require, however. That of Braille.
It would seem that my eyesight has progressively deteriorated since my youth. I recall 20/20 early on then shifting to a need for prescription lenses. After my workday world ended and I retired I opted for readers which I monitor for strength and blue light blocking.
Braille is a touch system of raised dots,that allows blind and visually impaired people to read and write by touch. It was invented by one Louis Braille in the 1820s. It incorporates a six dot matrix called "cells" to represent representing letters, numbers, and punctuation, with contracted forms, aka Grade 2 to save space and speed up reading. This has provided access to information across international divisions and their respective languages. It supports communication technologies which were once unavailble to the visually impared.
Today is World Braille Day.
It is an international day on 4 January and celebrates awareness of the importance of braille as a means of communication in the name of human rights for blind and visually impaired people. The date for the event was chosen by the scum membership of the United Nations General Assembly via a proclamation in November 2018. This corresponds to the birthday of Louis Braille, creator of this writing system.
The first World Braille Day was celebrated on January 4, 2019.