January 4th is World Braille Day

World Braille Day is celebrated around the world every year on January 4th, which is the anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille.  It was established by the United Nations to raise awareness of the importance of braille in education, communication, and social inclusion. 

Who was Louis Braille?

Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809, in the small village of Coupvray, France.  He lost his sight at the age of 3 while playing with his father’s tools.  At the age of 10, he went to the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris.

Read more about the story of Louis Braille.

See the timeline of Louis Braille’s life.

Did Louis Braille invent the braille code?

Louis Braille formalized a tactile code for the blind, but he is indebted to Charles Barbier, who was an officer in Napoleon’s army, for this invention.  Barbier noticed the need for messages to be transmitted in battle in total darkness and he created a tactile reading system called night writing.  Learn more about night writing.  In 1822 Barbier went to the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris and showed his invention to the students there.  It was a difficult system to master, and Louis Braille refined it to make it easier to us.

How is World Braille Day celebrated?

We have lots of ideas on our website, and we hope you’ll take the time to explore!

See our ideas to celebrate Braille Literacy Month.

Sing the song about Louis Braille’s birthday!