Braille Awareness and Literacy

“The Braille Name Game”

“The Braille Name Game” is a learning activity to help raise awareness about braille, and encourage and promote the importance of braille literacy for people who are blind or visually impaired. Players can use the braille alphabet to fill in the braille cells to spell their name, and then type the matching letter below the braille cell.

Anyone can play “The Braille Name Game.” Players can choose to fill in the activity sheet online and print out their name in braille. Players can also print out blank activity sheets and fill in cells by coloring or decorating. Be creative and have fun learning about braille!

The Braille Name Game

The Braille Name Game Example

Braille Name Game tips for screen reader users:

• There are two lines of twelve cells each, so keep this in mind when planning the length of your name.
• Leave a cell blank to create a space between names.
• Use your Tab key to move from cell to cell in each group of six cells.
• Use your space bar to check the dots you want in each cell.
• When you get to the Edit box where you need to type in the print letter, you will need to turn on the Form Field. Remember to turn it off again before tabbing to the next cell group.

The Importance of Braille Literacy

“Should someone who is blind learn to read and write braille?”  The answer is unequivocally YES!

Braille is relevant. It is the only true form of reading and writing for people who are blind. According to the National Library Service (NLS), braille literacy increases access to education, allows for fuller participation in society, and drastically increases the odds of employment. Yet, studies suggest less than 10% of people who are legally blind in the United States can read braille, and many children who are blind have no opportunity to learn it.

For children who are blind, learning to read and write braille is vital in their education and learning. Learning braille can even prove useful to adults and seniors who lose their vision later in life for daily living activities and to enhance their quality of life. Learning braille is not a punishment and it is not a last resort but a tool of equality, independence, and liberation.

OLBPD is committed to taking a proactive role in promoting the importance of braille literacy here in Ohio. In addition to being a circulating library for braille books and magazines, OLBPD also provides additional braille literacy references on our Additional Service Resources web page. This page contains links to consumer groups who advocate and encourage braille literacy, such as the American Council of the Blind of Ohio and the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. Educators and parents can find direction to seek support for braille education for their students and children from the State of Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio State School for the Blind. Likewise, there are also links to agencies in Ohio who may also offer braille education and support services.

The National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Print Disabled has a NLS Factsheet: About Braille posted on their web site where anyone interested can learn more about braille, including more about Louis Braille and the history of braille.